With the departure of Donald J. Trump and Michael Pence and the arrival of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris a short history lesson as to how the origin of the term “White House” came into existence as the four years (or more) residence of Our Nation’s First Family may be in order.
Our first presidential building was a grey Virginia freestone (a stone that can be cut easily with a chisel without splitting). It stood from around 1800 when John Adams became the first president to occupy said building until 1814 when the British torched it in retaliation for Americans burning Toronto.
Under James Madison as the fourth president (1809-1817) it was painted white to cover up the fire damage caused by British troops.
However, the residence was not given its present title until the administration of the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (1901-1909) began printing its image on the Executive Mansion stationery in 1901.
Now you know!
(Excerpts from “The Little Book of Answers” – Author – Doug Lennox – (2003) – MFJ Books – New York, NY 1001.)