The photograph (left) was taken of me in The Blue Room placing the finishing touches on The White House Christmas Tree during the mid 1980's. The Christmas Tree on display in The Blue Room stands 25 feet in height. I loved being part of this assignment everytime I went to The White House. The First Lady would select a special person of some interesting background or large interior decorating business to be in full charge of the operation of this tree. We will be his assistants and he would explain in full detail at a prior meeting what he wanted for the theme for that Christmas Tree. The First Lady along with her personal White House staff would decide the decorating theme to use for each Christmas. It was so exciting to see the beautiful antiques we used to work with from all the administrations in the past dating back to John Adams. It felt like I was going back in time when the country had just reformed from the colonies. The Blue Room formed the most elegant architectural feature of James Hoban's plans for The White House. It has always been used as a reception room except for a brief period during the administration of John Adams when it served as the south entrance hall. All the furnishings were destroyed in the fire of 1814. When President Monroe redecorated The Blue Room after the fire, he used the French Empire style, which is the present decor. The color blue was introduced during the administration of Martin Van Buren in 1837; he redecorated the oval salon and began the tradition of the "Blue Room". The photo (left) is from the Reagan Administration.
The Blue Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House. It is distinct for its oval shape. The room is used for receptions, receiving lines, and is occasionally set for small dinners. It is traditionally decorated in shades of blue. With the Yellow Room above it and the Diplomatic Room below it, the Blue Room is one of three oval rooms in James Hoban's original design for the White House. (view the video at the bottom of this webpage on The Blue Room interior)
The room is approximately 30 feet by 40 feet. It has six doors, which open into the Cross Hall, Green Room, Red Room, and South Portico. The three windows look out upon the South Lawn. It is a beautiful view of Washington from the window, I always enjoy looking out there and viewing the lovely landscaping of the White House lawn. One time it was snowing and the lawn was truly a winter wonderland of beauty. When the Queen of England came to the White House for America's Bi-centennial celebration on July 7th, 1976, I was there on that grand historic day, viewing all the "pomp and circumtances" inside from a Blue Room window. There was a full honor guard and military reception on the South Lawn given to The Queen and Prince Phillip during Her Majesty's State Visit to the White House at 11:45 am. I remember as if it was yesterday when the Presidential Helicopter landed on the South Lawn with the Royal Family. I was there on that beautiful historic afternoon to decorate the Queen's Tent Reception State Dinner in the Rose Garden for that evening given by The President and Mrs. Ford. I witnessed the complete "red carpet" White House welcome to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip with The President and Mrs Ford greeting the royal couple as they descended from the aircraft. This historic event will always be in my memory as the greatest event I have ever seen at the White House.
