The Adams Family Gets a New House
On this day of November 1, 1800, 210 years ago today, John and Abigail Adams moved into the newly built President's Mansion (which would later be renamed "The White House" by Teddy Roosevelt).
The first President, George Washington, had lived in two Executive Mansions in New York City, first at 3 Cherry Street from April of 1789 until February of 1790, and then at 39 Broadway Avenue until August of 1790. For the next 10 years Philadelphia served as the national capital and Washington lived in a mansion on Market Street. Pennsylvanians built a Presidential mansion in an attempt to become the permanent capital city, but when John Adams became president, he too stayed in the Market Street mansion.
On Saturday, November 1, 1800, John Adams became the first president to reside in the newly constructed building. On Adams' second day in the house, he wrote a letter to his wife Abigail, containing a prayer for the house. It went:
"I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."
When Theodore Roosevelt became president, he had Adams's blessing carved into the mantel in the State Dining Room.
The Adams' moved into the house just prior to election day in 1800, an election he would lose to Thomas Jefferson. They moved out in April, prior to Jefferson's inauguration. (Adams was incensed with Jefferson at the time, over what he considered to be a dirty election campaign. He didn't even stay for Jefferson's inauguration. Adams didn't like the new home. He complained that it was too cold and too big. He said that it was "big enough for two emperors, one pope, and the grand lama in the bargain."
The first President, George Washington, had lived in two Executive Mansions in New York City, first at 3 Cherry Street from April of 1789 until February of 1790, and then at 39 Broadway Avenue until August of 1790. For the next 10 years Philadelphia served as the national capital and Washington lived in a mansion on Market Street. Pennsylvanians built a Presidential mansion in an attempt to become the permanent capital city, but when John Adams became president, he too stayed in the Market Street mansion.
On Saturday, November 1, 1800, John Adams became the first president to reside in the newly constructed building. On Adams' second day in the house, he wrote a letter to his wife Abigail, containing a prayer for the house. It went:
"I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."
When Theodore Roosevelt became president, he had Adams's blessing carved into the mantel in the State Dining Room.
The Adams' moved into the house just prior to election day in 1800, an election he would lose to Thomas Jefferson. They moved out in April, prior to Jefferson's inauguration. (Adams was incensed with Jefferson at the time, over what he considered to be a dirty election campaign. He didn't even stay for Jefferson's inauguration. Adams didn't like the new home. He complained that it was too cold and too big. He said that it was "big enough for two emperors, one pope, and the grand lama in the bargain."