Technology in the White House

A few days ago, I posted about how it’s likely Obama will have to give up his Blackberry. This came to my attention in a New York Times article. Well, the Times did a related post looking at past presidents and noting how some of them had access to cutting edge innovations before the public at large.

For example:
Yet there was a time when the White House was a veritable house of the future. The sitting president enjoyed running water and central heat long before most Americans. Telegraph machines were introduced in 1866 by President Andrew Johnson (a year before his impeachment on technical — not technological — grounds), and electricity has been coursing through presidential wires since 1891.

Also noted in the article: Harry Truman got the honor of being the first president to broadcast over TV (in 1947). And Jimmy Carter installed solar panels in the ’70s. (Less forward-thinking Ronald Reagan had these ripped out when it was his turn to sit in the head honcho seat).

A website dedicated to the history of the White House offers some other notable improvements in the lives of presidents throughout history.

1801 — Thomas Jefferson does away with the outhouses and installs two indoor water closets. These did not feature running water, though.

1809 — James Madison puts in a heating system — “the gravity-based Pettibone furnace.”

1833 — Running water is installed. Initially this was to supply drinking water and protect against fire (the White House was torched by the Brits in 1814 and then rebuilt so the precaution had a catalyst). Flowing H2O soon inspired another change:

“Very soon, a ‘bathing room’ was established in the east wing to take advantage of the fine water supply. The room featured a cold bath, a shower, and a hot bath heated by coal fires under large copper boilers.”

1860s — “a new spring-bell system enabled Lincoln to signal the reception room and his secretaries without leaving his desk.”

1879 — Rutherford B. Hayes installs the first telephone. However, since hardly anyone has a phone, hardly anyone calls. And — this is great — his phone number was: 1. Yes, that’s it. Just 1.

1880 — The White House gets its first typewriter.

1881 — The first air conditioner of sorts is installed to bring comfort to the dying Garfield. “The device forced air through a box with screens that were kept wet with cold ice water and cooled the president.”

1881 — First elevator!

1891 — Electricity. “President and Mrs. Harrison refused to operate the switches because they feared being shocked and left the operation of the electric lights to the domestic staff.”

1912 — Now we’re talking — culinary improvements thanks to Mrs. Taft: A ‘Forty-quart Peerless Ice Cream Freezer,’ with a direct current motor and a twelve-foot long Imperial French Coal Range were added to the large kitchen.”

1920s — Vacuum cleaners and radio make the neighbors jealous.

Plenty more happened in the ninety years since, and it’s all compiled in splendid detail at the White House History site.

One last surprising answer: Q Who automated the White House with computers? A Same president who went for solar panels — Mr. Peanut, Jimmy Carter.