The White House Makeover

Welcome back to Time Tellers. In this episode, Renee and Dan guide listeners through the White House’s dramatic transformations—from James Hoban’s original plan and the 1814 burning to Teddy Roosevelt’s 1902 modernization, Truman’s gutting rebuild, Jackie Kennedy’s museum-quality restoration, the rise of fortress-like security, and the present controversy over a glass-walled ballroom that tore down the East Wing. Through vivid anecdotes, sharp arguments, and surprising details, they show how each renovation reflected the needs, ambitions, and anxieties of its time. As donors, preservationists, lawmakers, and presidents collide, the story becomes a debate over who controls national memory and the built symbols of power. Tune in for history, scandal, and the personal moments that make the People’s House a never-ending work in progress.