The White House, a symbol of American democracy, has been home to more than just presidents. Its hallowed halls have witnessed a fascinating array of historic firsts, from groundbreaking technological advancements to quirky presidential pets.
Here are some 15 remarkable “firsts” that have taken place within the walls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
1. First Electric Light Switches
President Benjamin Harrison and his wife Caroline were the first to have electric lights installed in the White House in 1891. However, the couple reportedly feared electrocution and refused to touch the light switches themselves.
2. First Car
In 1909, President William Howard Taft became the first president to have a car, a White Motor Company steam-powered automobile, at the White House. He was given a budget of $12,000 (over $360,000 today) for vehicles during his term.
3. First Radio Address
On February 22, 1924, Calvin Coolidge became the first president to broadcast a radio address from the White House, reaching millions of listeners nationwide. His speech commemorated George Washington’s birthday.
4. First Presidential Skinny-Dipper
John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, was known for his early morning swims in the Potomac River – in the nude. (ref) Adams believed in the health benefits of “air baths” and often shocked unsuspecting onlookers during his daily dips.
One can only imagine the Secret Service’s reaction if a modern president attempted such a revealing routine.
5. First Television Broadcast
Harry Truman’s address at the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco on September 4, 1951, was the first transcontinental television broadcast in U.S. history, transmitted from the White House to the West Coast.
6. First Website
In 1994, the Clinton administration launched the first White House website. (ref) It featured online chats, biographical sketches, and virtual tours of the executive mansion.
7. First Bowling Alley
In 1947, the first White House bowling alley was built as a birthday gift for President Truman. Bowling enthusiast Richard Nixon later moved it to the Executive Office Building.
8. First Movie Theater
The East Terrace cloakroom was converted into a movie theater under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942. Ronald Reagan, a former actor, renovated it in 1983.
9. First Christmas Tree
President Franklin Pierce brought the first Christmas tree into the White House in 1856. First Lady Frances Cleveland began the tradition of holding Christmas receptions for the public in 1887.
10. First Indoor Plumbing
President John Quincy Adams had the first bathroom with indoor plumbing installed in the White House in 1833. The “bathing room” had cold water only; hot water wasn’t added until 1853.
11. First Dog
President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams were the first to keep a dog in the White House. Their mixed-breed dog was named Juno.
12. First Presidential Photograph
In 1843, President John Quincy Adams became the first president to be photographed, though the image was captured after he had left office. James Polk was the first incumbent president to be photographed in 1849.
13. First Typewriter
The first typewriter was used in the White House in 1880 during the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes. It was a Fairbanks & Co. model.
14. First Telephone
Installed in 1877, the White House’s first telephone was connected directly to the Treasury Department. Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to use this cutting-edge technology.
15. First Solar Panels
Jimmy Carter had 32 solar panels installed on the White House roof in 1979. These panels were later removed by Ronald Reagan, only to be reinstalled (in a different form) by Barack Obama in 2014.
16. First Twitter Account
Barack Obama’s team created the first official presidential Twitter account (now X), @POTUS, (ref) in 2015. It currently has over 130 million followers today.
17. First TikTok Video
While not technically from within the White House, Joe Biden’s team posted the first presidential TikTok video in 2023. This foray into short-form video content shows how even the highest office in the land must adapt to changing media landscapes.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
