The man was an Individualist. a Colonel, New York City Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, Vice President to William McKinley, President of the United States from 1901- 1909, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, & Decorator.
What?
Yes, Rough and Ready found a shabby, not chic, White House full of Victoriana when he succeeded the assassinated McKinley . Treading lightly, remember his motto
"Walk softly & Carry a Big Stick."
the aesthete? the Rough Rider roughing it in Cuba
Teddy, Mr President to his personal pick for the White House redecoration- McKim, Meade and White, with principal architect Charles McKim personally in charge. McKim took off and literally stripped the House of floors & walls. Roosevelt's instruction- Return the White House to its Federal Roots. McKim must have nodded and then preceded to imbue the residence with his own brand of sophisticated, elegantly appointed classical interiors. Within a year the noted New York firm had detoured along the Federal- by way of the Georgian.
TR at his WH desk
An extensive remodel to say the least!
What is most fascinating-The Results. A stunning period in the White House-overlooked in favour of the sweep Jacqueline Kennedy made when she was an occupant in the 1960's. Likely much of her design changes worked over the rooms that Teddy did up.
Let's take a look.
the ENTRANCE HALL before the Rough Rider Redux
after THE ENTRANCE HALL
ROOSEVELT'S STATE DINING ROOM
the BLUE ROOM
the GREEN ROOM
the RED ROOM
the WEST WING SITTING HALL before Teddy
THE SITTING HALL
after Teddy took down the stairway
When you are asked if you can do a job,
tell 'em,
'Certainly I can!'
Then get busy and find out how to do it.- TRoosevelt
INDEED Teddy! My design philosophy when I started job hunting 25+years ago.
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go see all the plans and pictures HERE ,all the tinted photographs are from the same site.
photographs of the Rough Rider HERE
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