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Roosevelt Room
Roosevelt Room
Roosevelt Room
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The Roosevelt Room's location in the West Wing

Key Information

A Trump administration meeting in the Roosevelt Room in April 2025

The Roosevelt Room is a meeting room in the West Wing of the White House, the residence of the president of the United States, in Washington, D.C. Located in the center of the wing, across the hall from the Oval Office, it is named after two related U.S. presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who were both major contributors to the West Wing. The room is commonly used for staff meetings and to announce the appointment or nomination of new staff members.[1]

History

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Early construction and design (1902)

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In 1902, Congress passed an appropriations bill that, in addition to repairs and refurnishing, called for the construction of a temporary office building west of the White House. This led to the removal of government offices from the East Wing and allocated extra space for additional rooms.[2]: 185  Theodore Roosevelt hired Beaux-Arts architect Charles Follen McKim of the New York architectural firm McKim, Mead & White to both rearrange, redecorate, and refurnish the interior of the White House and also to build a discreet office structure on the west.[2]: 185-186 [3]: 17–18 [4]: 39  The original structure, some of which is still extant in the present West Wing,[citation needed] was originally intended to be temporary.[3]: 18 

Subsequent modifications

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Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, in addition to expanding the office wing, constructed the Oval Office, leaving the space previously occupied by the president's desk freely available.[5]: 10  However, despite a fire breaking out in the West Wing on Christmas Eve 1929 during the Hoover administration,[2]: 210 [6] instead of expanding the West Wing as planned, Hoover elected to have the building reconstructed and repaired to avoid public criticism in light of the recent stock market crash.[3]: 21 [7]: 116  In 1933, early in the Franklin Roosevelt administration, the new president began a series of meetings with staff architect Eric Gugler to enlarge and modify the West Wing as planned previously by his predecessor.[2]: 214 [3]: 21  When Franklin Roosevelt relocated the Oval Office in 1934, this windowless room received a skylight; while it was initially lit with sunlight from an installed shaft, this would later be replicated in August 1988 with fluorescent light.[5]: 10 

Decorations

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The "Fish Room"

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The "Fish Room" during the Kennedy administration (1963)

Franklin Roosevelt referred to the leftover windowless space as the "Fish Room" and used it to store his fishing trophies as well as a tropical fish aquarium.[1][5]: 10  His successors, Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy reportedly disliked this name, with Eisenhower preferring to call it "that room over there".[1] Continuing the fish theme, President Kennedy hung a mounted sailfish he had caught in Acapulco on his honeymoon.[1][5]: 10 

Nixon's 1969 rededication to Roosevelts

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On March 12, 1969,[8][9] President Nixon gave the room its current name, the Roosevelt Room, to honor Theodore Roosevelt who started the West Wing and Franklin D. Roosevelt who enlarged it to its current size.[1] Portraits and mementos of both Roosevelts[5]: 10  were placed in the room. The room prominently displays Theodore Roosevelt's 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the Russo-Japanese War and his posthumous 2001 Medal of Honor.[1]

Continuing in Nixon's direction, it is a tradition to display memorabilia and portraits of both Roosevelt presidents. Often, Alfred Jonniaux's Portrait Painting of Franklin D. Roosevelt (1958)[10] and Theodore Roosevelt's equestrian portrait by Tade Styka titled Rough Rider (c. 1909) will be displayed prominently in the room.[4]: 349  It also displays cast bronze bas-relief plaques depicting profile busts of Theodore Roosevelt by James Earle Fraser and Franklin D. Roosevelt[11] by John M. DeStefano.[5]: 11-12 

A number of other paintings are also often on display in the room, such as Crossing the River Platte (c.1871) by Worthington Whittredge[4]: 166-167  and View of the City of Washington from the Virginia Shore (1858) by William Macleod.[4]: 128-129 [5]: 11-12  President Reagan displayed Looking Up The Yosemite Valley by Albert Bierstadt, on loan from the Haggin Museum.[12]

The east wall of the room is a half circle, with a centered fireplace and doors on either side. The room has no windows and is lit by a false skylight. A large conference table seating a maximum of 16 is located in the center. The room is painted a buff color with white trim. A triglyph molding, similar to that found in Independence Hall, encircles the room. The furniture is mostly 20th-century reproductions of Chippendale and Queen Anne style furniture.[citation needed]

The south wall is lined by a flag of the United States and flags representing the president, the vice president, and those representing the U.S. Armed Forces with campaign streamers attached.[1]

In August 2017, President Trump undertook a major renovation of the West Wing; while initially only intending to make repairs and upgrades to the HVAC and IT systems, additional work on the interior paint and carpet was completed. Consequently, the beige Obama-era carpet of the Roosevelt Room was replaced with a more detailed gray and white geometric design, and two large, golden eagles purchased from a Maryland antique shop by a GSA West Wing historian were placed upon pedestals.[13][14][15]

Usage

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The space occupied by what is now the Roosevelt Room exists in the location of Theodore Roosevelt's first West Wing office and a corresponding anteroom. When Taft instead moved to the Oval Office, the space became a waiting room. After Franklin Roosevelt's 1934 remodeling, he assigned it its current role as a centrally located conference room across the newly repositioned Oval Office,[5]: 10  delegating the room for National Security Council meetings or as a holding room for distinguished visitors to the president.[16]

Kennedy used the room as a spillover space for small meetings and other gatherings.[1]

His successor, President Johnson, declaring the space "Presidential Reception Room",[5]: 10  used the room for radio and television broadcasting. In 1965, a proposal by ABC, CBS, and NBC to set up permanent television and radio equipment for broadcasting was under consideration by the Johnson administration.[17] However, the plan fell through since the room was considered too small.[18] In 1969, Nixon would assign this purpose to a newly constructed room in the West Wing: James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.[19]

After his rededication as the Roosevelt Room, President Nixon used it as a space for members of Congress and other important callers.[1]

The Roosevelt Room continues to be used for staff meetings and has increasingly been used to announce the appointment or nomination of new staff members. Unlike the rest of the West Wing, it does not exist for some specialized purpose but serves a more general role as a room for presidential activities fully equipped for teleconferencing.[1] The room is used as a preparation room by large delegations meeting with the president, before entering the Oval Office.[citation needed]

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See also

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References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Roosevelt Room

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Roosevelt Room is a windowless conference room in the West Wing of the White House, located directly opposite the Oval Office and serving as a primary venue for presidential staff meetings, briefings, and ceremonial events such as bill signings. Originally established in 1902 as the site of President Theodore Roosevelt's executive office upon the initial construction of the West Wing, the space was reconfigured in 1934 during Franklin D. Roosevelt's expansion of the wing, which added a second floor, enlarged basement, and other facilities. In 1969, President rededicated and renamed it the Roosevelt Room to honor Theodore Roosevelt's role in commissioning the West Wing's original build and Franklin D. Roosevelt's contributions to its modernization and enlargement. The room features artwork and artifacts evoking both presidents, including portraits, busts, and nautical decor reflecting Theodore Roosevelt's naval interests, and it has hosted key policy discussions across administrations without major structural alterations since its renaming.

History

Origins and Construction (1902)

In 1902, President initiated the construction of the to alleviate overcrowding in the residence by relocating executive offices to a new structure westward of the main building. This project involved demolishing the existing conservatories, or greenhouses, originally built during the Jefferson administration, which had been used for plant cultivation but were repurposed to accommodate growing administrative needs. The , initially designated as the Temporary Executive Office Building, was erected as a one-story edifice to house the president's office and support staff, marking a deliberate shift of functions away from the residential core for enhanced . The specific space now comprising the Roosevelt Room originally served as Theodore Roosevelt's first office within the newly built . Roosevelt, emphasizing practical administrative reforms, personally oversaw aspects of the expansion to streamline executive operations amid the expanding demands of the federal at the . Construction reflected contemporaneous engineering priorities, incorporating durable materials suited to temporary yet functional use, though designed with awareness of the main White House's fire vulnerabilities exposed in prior inspections. By November 6, 1902, the facilities were operational enough for Roosevelt to convene the first Cabinet meeting in the adjacent Cabinet Room, underscoring the rapid implementation driven by urgent space constraints. This foundational development under Roosevelt's directive laid the groundwork for the modern executive complex, prioritizing causal efficiency in separating official duties from private living quarters without reliance on subsequent expansions.

The Fish Room Period (Pre-1969)


Following the 1934 expansion of the West Wing, funded by the Public Works Administration and directed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the room received a skylight and was repurposed as the Fish Room, where Roosevelt displayed mounted fishing trophies from his expeditions and maintained a tropical aquarium. This utilitarian adaptation accommodated Roosevelt's personal interests in angling while providing storage and informal space amid the broader West Wing enlargement, which added offices to house the expanding executive bureaucracy driven by New Deal initiatives. The 1934 modifications, including the skylight installation and overall infrastructural updates to plumbing and electrical systems in the , enabled functionality for increased staff but exemplified ad-hoc adjustments to the facility's original design rather than a visionary overhaul, contributing to persistent maintenance demands on the structure over subsequent decades. Through the presidencies of (1945–1953) and (1953–1961), the room retained its designation as the Fish Room, serving primarily as a casual lounge and repository for presidential trophies with no major documented alterations, underscoring its role in practical, low-formality adaptations adjacent to the Oval Office. President (1961–1963) perpetuated the aquatic motif by mounting a he caught off , , on the walls, while employing the space as the Conference Room for meetings. The room continued in this capacity under (1963–1969), functioning as an informal gathering area without significant redesign until its redesignation.

Nixon's Rededication and Bipartisan Naming (1969)

In 1969, President renamed the West Wing's Fish Room as the Roosevelt Room to recognize the contributions of both and to the executive office complex's development. , a Republican, initiated the West Wing's construction in 1902 after a fire destroyed the temporary State, War, and Navy Building annex used for executive functions. , a Democrat, oversaw its expansion during , which included reinforcing the structure and integrating the Oval Office into the wing. Nixon's decision emphasized bipartisan acknowledgment by installing portraits of both presidents, despite their differing political affiliations and policy approaches, with Theodore representing early 20th-century executive initiative in infrastructure and Franklin extending federal administrative capacity amid economic challenges. This naming occurred amid Nixon's early administration efforts to invoke historical precedents for governance continuity, as announced on March 13, 1969. The redesign shifted the room's character from Franklin Roosevelt's personal collection of fishing trophies and an aquarium—retained by subsequent administrations as the "Fish Room"—to artifacts and decor honoring the Roosevelts' architectural legacies, such as nautical items evoking Theodore's naval interests and items tied to Franklin's naval service. This change prioritized institutional history over individual memorabilia, aligning with Nixon's view of the space as a venue for principled decision-making rooted in executive precedents.

Modifications in Later Administrations

Following its rededication in , the Roosevelt Room experienced limited modifications, primarily involving functional enhancements to furnishings rather than structural overhauls. Administrations from Carter through maintained the room's core layout, with periodic rotations of artwork and minor updates to seating to accommodate varying meeting sizes, emphasizing practicality over aesthetic reinvention. For instance, Kittinger Furniture supplied sideboards and chairs suited for conference use, reflecting a continuity in procurement from established American manufacturers without necessitating wholesale replacements. In the Obama administration, a notable update occurred in 2012 when Harden Furniture installed a new 16-foot-long black cherry conference table, designed to better support expanded group discussions while preserving the room's traditional aesthetic. This change addressed logistical needs for larger delegations without altering the space's architectural integrity. Similarly, under Trump in 2017, renovations included refreshed paint, carpets, and heating systems across meeting rooms, alongside additions like a dozen new side chairs featuring eagle motifs and two large statues, costing part of a $1.75 million overall effort focused on overdue after nearly three decades. These adjustments prioritized operational efficiency, countering perceptions of extravagant partisan redecorations by tying updates to tangible wear-and-tear remediation. Preservation efforts have sustained the room's original 1902-era wood beams and paneling from Theodore Roosevelt's expansion, avoiding costly remodels that could disrupt daily functions. No major structural changes have been documented through the Biden administration and into 2025, underscoring a of continuity for reliability in high-stakes briefings and decisions, with confined to routine upkeep rather than ideological redesigns. This approach aligns with fiscal restraint, as expansive alterations in federal spaces have historically drawn for potential bureaucratic excess absent clear operational justification.

Physical Description

Location and Architectural Features

The Roosevelt Room occupies a central position on the ground floor of the West Wing, directly utilizing the footprint of President Theodore Roosevelt's executive office established during the wing's construction in 1902. This placement ensures proximity to the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, with access provided through secure internal corridors that prioritize operational efficiency and protection from external threats. Architecturally, the room spans approximately 35 feet in length by 25 feet in width, dimensions that support its role in hosting meetings for up to 20 individuals. Lacking natural windows, it relies on artificial illumination, including a simulated , to maintain a controlled environment conducive to confidential discussions while reducing potential security vulnerabilities. Structural elements trace to the build, featuring a integrated into the design for functional warmth and aesthetic continuity, alongside robust framing that has withstood subsequent West Wing expansions and renovations without compromising integrity. The absence of exterior openings and inherent compartmentalization reflect first-principles for endurance and isolation, distinguishing it from more exposed areas of the complex.

Decorations, Furnishings, and Artifacts

The Roosevelt Room centers around a long conference table designed to seat up to 16 individuals, flanked by upholstered chairs typically supplied by Kittinger Furniture, known for their use in official settings. This table, measuring approximately 16 feet, supports the room's primary function as a meeting space while maintaining a formal, enduring aesthetic; a black cherry version was custom-crafted by Harden Furniture in 2012 during the Obama administration to replace prior iterations. Walls feature prominent portraits honoring both and , including a depiction of Theodore as a Rough Rider positioned above the mantelpiece, symbolizing his conservation legacy and military vigor, alongside representations of Franklin's wartime leadership. These bipartisan elements, established following the rededication, emphasize historical continuity over stylistic shifts, with additional artifacts such as nautical charts and select presidential memorabilia evoking the Roosevelts' shared themes of executive resolve and natural stewardship. American flags stand in the room's corners, reinforcing national symbolism, while furnishings prioritize durability and low-maintenance materials like and to align with fiscal restraint in executive operations. Updates have been incremental rather than transformative; for instance, the Trump administration's 2017 West Wing renovation included refreshed table and seating elements costing part of a $1.75 million allocation for official furnishings, without altering core thematic displays. Such modifications preserve the room's authenticity as a repository of Roosevelt-era artifacts, avoiding extravagant redesigns across administrations.

Usage and Role

Primary Functions as a Meeting Space

The Roosevelt Room functions principally as an all-purpose conference venue within the , accommodating Cabinet meetings, senior staff briefings, and informal consultations among presidential advisors. Equipped with a center supporting secure audio-visual presentations and video conferencing, it enables efficient handling of deliberations and operational coordination without reliance on external facilities. Its strategic placement directly across from the Oval Office—part of the West Wing's compact layout designed in 1902—facilitates rapid access for the president, minimizing logistical delays in transitioning from solitary to collective input. This proximity supports streamlined decision-making processes, as evidenced by routine use for early-morning senior staff gatherings and ad hoc Cabinet subgroup sessions. The room's windowless design, inherited from the original executive office structure to prioritize internal security over external views, bolsters confidentiality for classified discussions, distinguishing it from residence-based spaces prone to interruptions. This configuration embodies a practical separation of administrative work from the president's living quarters in the , reducing disruptions and enhancing focus on governance tasks.

Notable Events, Decisions, and Presidential Associations

In 1969, shortly after renaming the room, President Richard Nixon used it for key announcements, including the April 21 appointment of Donald Rumsfeld as director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, aimed at refocusing anti-poverty efforts through private sector involvement. On November 26, Nixon signed H.R. 14001, amending the Military Selective Service Act to implement a random draft lottery system, which reduced perceived inequities in conscription during the Vietnam War era and was enacted to stabilize military recruitment amid public protests. During the Reagan administration, the room hosted strategy sessions on , such as meetings with steel industry executives in late 1983 amid efforts to address import competition and industry decline through tariff considerations and initiatives. Reagan also convened bipartisan discussions there, including a September 1981 meeting with members to negotiate reconciliation measures that contributed to the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, facilitating tax cuts totaling 25% across income brackets over three years. These gatherings underscored the room's role in forging legislative compromises, with outcomes linked to subsequent GDP growth averaging 3.5% annually from 1983 to 1989. In later administrations, the Roosevelt Room served bipartisan functions without partisan-specific controversies. President held off-the-record briefings with journalists there, such as a September 6, 2011, session with columnists ahead of his American Jobs Act proposal, which sought $447 billion in stimulus spending but faced congressional gridlock, highlighting inefficiencies in executive-legislative coordination. President Donald Trump conducted a February 2017 listening session with health insurance CEOs to discuss modifications, informing that expanded short-term plans and reduced mandates, resulting in coverage shifts affecting millions per HHS estimates. Across presidencies, the space supported operational continuity in deliberations, enabling rapid responses like Reagan's 1983 cabinet-level reviews on defense spending increases that preceded a 7% real-term rise.

References

  1. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/interactive-tour/roosevelt-room
  2. http://www.tysto.com/west-wing/roosevelt-room.htm
  3. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/history/life/rooseveltroom.html
  4. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/fotoware?id=110F5733FBED4C26%2520B661D3310E2C4C03
  5. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/fotoware?id=F5CA91DA876640F9%25208EF4E5B40049C4F5
  6. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-west-wing-1900-1924
  7. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/10/white-house-ballroom-proud-presidential-legacy/
  8. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/theodore-roosevelts-white-house
  9. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/about/inside-white-house/west-wing-tour
  10. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/history/life/westwing.html
  11. https://livingnewdeal.org/sites/white-house-west-wing-expansion-washington-dc/
  12. https://twitter.com/WhiteHouseHstry/status/1296167588037304321
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1969/03/13/archives/nixon-renames-fish-room.html
  14. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/fotoware?id=233EA00DA27D4A60%2520A895237E739C3492
  15. https://www.kittinger.com/white_house.htm
  16. https://www.syracuse.com/news/2012/02/made_in_cny_harden_furniture_u.html
  17. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a10366986/trump-white-house-renovation-details/
  18. https://www.kittingerfurniture.com/white-house
  19. https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouseHistory/photos/the-roosevelt-room-previously-known-as-the-fish-room-is-one-of-the-west-wings-mo/1259233360768591/
  20. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-spent-1-75-million-presidential-furniture-redecorations-n814551
  21. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/press-room/press-timelines/decorating-the-white-house
  22. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-now-the-oval-office/
  23. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/results/leadership/sept14cardtranscript.html
  24. https://www.nps.gov/whho/planyourvisit/upload/WHHO_FD_2015-508-accessible-resize.pdf
  25. https://blog.nixonfoundation.org/2011/04/21-april-1969-rn-dr-oeo/
  26. https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/research/almanac/november-26-1969
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hQj1GR5b7s
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PlE0GDWgxg
  29. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/us/politics/calculated-candor-inside-obamas-off-the-record-briefings.html
  30. https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/27/politics/donald-trump-barack-obama-leaks
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