Oval Office

The Office of the President

The Oval Office is the president's formal workspace, where he confers with heads of state, diplomats, his staff, and other dignitaries; where he often addresses the American public and the world on television or radio; and where he deals with the issues of the day.

Size of the room:

• Long axis: 35' 10" (10.9m)
• Short axis: 29' (8.8m)
• Height: 18' 6" (5.6m)

History of the Executive Office

(Detailed article)

In 1909, William Howard Taft established an oval office in the the old Executive Office Building while expanding Theodore Roosevelt's original "temporary" structure of 1902. Prior to that, most presidents worked out of what is now the Lincoln Bedroom.

In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt further expanded the West Wing and moved the Oval Office to the southeast corner, in part to make it easier for him to get in and out of it in his wheelchair. Since its completion in 1934, the modern Oval Office has changed very little except in its furnishings.

Each president has decorated the Oval Office to suit his tastes. Among the features that remain constant are the white marble mantel from the original 1909 Oval Office, the presidential seal in the ceiling, and the two flags behind the president's desk—the US flag and the president's flag. President George W Bush has selected several paintings depicting Texas scenes by Texas artists for his office. Many are on loan from museums in San Antonio and El Paso.

The President's Desk

(Detailed article)

Many presidents have used the famous Resolute desk in the Oval Office or in their private studies. This desk was made from wood taken from the ship HMS Resolute and was given to President Rutherford Hayes by Queen Victoria of England in 1880.