Construction Begins (1792) – President George Washington oversaw the White House's construction, though he never lived there. John Adams became its first resident in 1800.
British Burning (1814) – During the War of 1812, British troops set fire to the White House. First Lady Dolley Madison saved a portrait of George Washington before fleeing.
Lincoln and the Civil War (1861-1865) – Abraham Lincoln led the nation from the White House through the Civil War, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Teddy Roosevelt’s Renovation (1902) – Roosevelt modernized the White House, adding the West Wing and officially naming it “The White House.”
FDR’s Fireside Chats (1933-1945) – Franklin D. Roosevelt used radio broadcasts from the White House to connect with Americans during the Great Depression and World War II.
Truman’s Reconstruction (1948-1952) – Structural weaknesses forced a complete renovation of the White House while Harry Truman lived across the street.
JFK Assassination (1963) – The White House became the center of national mourning after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, symbolizing a shift in American history.
Watergate Scandal (1972-1974) – President Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal, marking a major crisis in presidential accountability.