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Wednesdays

(21,124 posts)
22. The biggest construction project on the White House
Tue Oct 21, 2025, 02:00 PM
Tuesday

...was initiated by President Harry Truman, in 1948. The interior supporting beams had not been updated since the 1816 re-build, and by the early 20th century the wooden second floor was sagging perilously in the middle. Truman quipped (I can't remember the exact quote) the First Lady would be hosting an afternoon tea, and he would fall through the floor into the midst of everyone while in his bathtub.

Another consideration was that in the Nuclear Age (the Soviets had The Bomb by 1949), the White House should be able to weather a nuclear attack. So the building was completely stripped of its wooden interior and replaced with steel and concrete, and underground bunkers were also added.

Truman and his family lived in other places nearby for 3 years during construction.

Truman didn't do this unilaterally, and he went through the appropriate channels to get permission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Reconstruction

Here is a photo of the interior during construction.




Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

He's a human wrecking ball. He destroys everything he touches. spanone Tuesday #1
Three year old Godzilla FalloutShelter Tuesday #2
Krasnov can pardon Maxwell gab13by13 Tuesday #3
The NPS has strict guidelines for reviewing any White House construction projects, that hasn't been done here. sop Tuesday #4
They're just making up their own rules, fuck everyone else Nevilledog Tuesday #10
Who's running the machines? Who has the contract? cbabe Tuesday #5
I wonder the same thing. Imagine leaving for work saying, "Bye honey, going to tear down some of the White House now" halobeam Tuesday #14
Clark Construction was selected to head the construction project, McCrery Architects designed it. sop Tuesday #17
Contact info for architects? cbabe Tuesday #18
Here: sop Tuesday #19
Thanks. Call: cbabe Tuesday #20
I figure name-redacted is going for a version of the Concorde fallacy... Hugin Tuesday #6
I wonder if maybe he's competing with Putin PatSeg Tuesday #7
Plenty of room for 'balls' Prairie_Seagull Tuesday #8
Plenty of room hannah Tuesday #9
I'm not getting the funny part. Maru Kitteh Tuesday #12
It's compensating. Prairie_Seagull Tuesday #23
And no one stops him. Martin68 Tuesday #11
Somebody needs to direct the backhoe operator to the Oval Office, unannounced. generalbetrayus Tuesday #13
Clark Construction, McCrery Architects jeffreyi Tuesday #15
Demolition company cbabe Tuesday #16
KnR Hekate Tuesday #21
The biggest construction project on the White House Wednesdays Tuesday #22
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Just so we're all clear o...»Reply #22