I’d assumed this was in reference to the rebuilding after the White House was burned in the war of 1812, I had no idea about this reconstruction which is really fascinating.
This article was fascinating and led me to follow other links. I had no idea that the modern Brady Press Briefing Room sits on top of a pool that was built for FDR. Supposedly, the space for the pool is now home to servers [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_S._Brady_Press_Briefin...]
This is neat, I didn’t know it was entirely reconstructed like that. I love the pics in this article as well.
I think it speaks to something about historic preservation as well - a lot of people who are into it just want something that looks nice on the outside. I’m glad they didn’t tear the whole thing down.
President Truman publicly expressed praise for the completed work, but the night of his return to the White House he wrote in his private diary: "With all the trouble and worry it is worth it – but not 5½ million dollars! if I could have had charge of the construction it would have been done for half the money and in half the time!"
