Feb 2, 2009: Resolute Desk

You've seen it, or at least pictures of it.
It's been the President's desk in the oval office since Mrs JFK had it dragged out of the Treaty Room of the White House and decided JFK would use it.
I suspect JFK said, "Yes dear".

Metafilter has the history of the desk and why it's called the "Resolute Desk".



The plaque on the desk reads;

I saw a story on the history channel about this very thing. I forgot though so I can't say.

Unfortunately all I can think of is how I can't stand those yellow curtains.

I feel so blond.

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Originally Posted by skysidhe Unfortunately all I can think of is how I can't stand those yellow curtains.

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Originally Posted by skysidhe Unfortunately all I can think of is how I can't stand those yellow curtains. I feel so blond.

I wonder how much loose change there is in those couch cushions.

None, the people that park on those cushions have people, who have people, to handle all the monetary things.

That history is very cool. Great post.

Is that a little black boy crouched and hiding behind the desk?
He may be looking for change.

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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce I wonder where the other two are now?

Connoisseurs of bad Nicholas Cage movies ( are there any good Nicholas Cage movies) will know the Resolute desks feature heavily in National Treasure 2, along with one of the other Statues of Liberty.

Bet those are some rocket proof windows behind the President's chair.

Maybe, but the oval office (if you look at a floor plan of the White House on the same site) is not exposed to any public lines of sight. There are berms of dirt and lots of heavy vegetation. You can't even see it from the rooftops of nearby buildings. The President is truly hidden in the rose garden.

The site is actually pretty cool if you want an idea of what the White House looks like inside.

Excellent info you guys - most interesting!

wow. wasted far too much time at that White House site!

me too. I was there for at least 45 mins. very cool - I'll def go back. Lots there to peruse

If you look closely at the bottom of the Resolute desk, you can see that they added about 3 inches to it to raise it up higher. During the Kennedy years, that spacer was primitive looking and all black. Today it closely matches the rest of the desk in color. (See the actual IOTD above.)

The desk in this photo is a copy of the original. The original was deemed too valuable for everyday use. So there was a copy made by a cabinet maker in Bucks County Pa. I can't recall his name at this moment, but he made gifts for President Carter to give to foreign dignitaries also. I'll look up his name and get back to you.

Well, there are duplicates of this desk made for presidential libraries. Is that what you are thinking of?

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Originally Posted by glatt If you look closely at the bottom of the Resolute desk, you can see that they added about 3 inches to it to raise it up higher. During the Kennedy years, that spacer was primitive looking and all black. Today it closely matches the rest of the desk in color. (See the actual IOTD above.)

That may well be it. I was in this guys shop in Bucks County, and he was such a pompous ass. We were there as art students, to see how a professional wood worker set up his shop, and all he talked about was this desk that he made for the president. Maybe it was for the "past" president.

That would clearly be a case of a pompous ass making a desk for a pompous ass.

I was fortunate enough to spend about 6 years working within a few feet of this desk. A few more fun facts....This is not a replica desk. The replicas that were talked about in previous posts were made for presidential libraries. The picture above is from the Clinton Oval Office. The previous post about the desk being raised 3 inches for President Reagan is correct. The panel on the front of the desk is not original to the desk. This was added for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was put there, at his request, because he did not want people to see the condition of his legs due to his paralysis. The panel is hinged and there is a lever to open and close it for air circulation. If you remember the historic pictures of JFK junior and his sister playing under the desk, shows it opened.

Welcome to the cellar, Cruise

Cool info, cruiser. Thanks! Welcome.

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Originally Posted by cruiser3300 I was fortunate enough to spend about 6 years working within a few feet of this desk. A few more fun facts....This is not a replica desk. The replicas that were talked about in previous posts were made for presidential libraries. The picture above is from the Clinton Oval Office. The previous post about the desk being raised 3 inches for President Reagan is correct. The panel on the front of the desk is not original to the desk. This was added for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was put there, at his request, because he did not want people to see the condition of his legs due to his paralysis. The panel is hinged and there is a lever to open and close it for air circulation. If you remember the historic pictures of JFK junior and his sister playing under the desk, shows it opened.

A desk?

I thought it was a huge cigar box.

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Originally Posted by capnhowdy A desk? I thought it was a huge cigar box.

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Originally Posted by capnhowdy A desk? I thought it was a huge cigar box.