Opinion> Hillary Clinton> Talking It Over 1998 01 20

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Talking It Over

The White House is the only executive residence in the world that is regularly open to visitors without charge. More than 1.5 million come through each year, and the President and I are committed to keeping it open.

Sadly, last week, on one of the public tours, a woman pulled a can from her purse and sprayed reddish-brown paint on two busts and the wallpaper in the Blue Room. The Ceracchi busts, which were acquired by the White House in 1817, are of Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Columbus. The good news is that, with the help of a National Gallery conservator, the paint is coming off.

Unfortunately, we haven't had as much luck with the wallpaper, and it remains to be seen whether we will be able to replace only the damaged strips or will have to re-paper the entire room. Those of you who have visited the White House — or seen one of the televised tours — probably remember the Blue Room, the oval centerpiece of the main floor and one of my favorite places in the White House.

When I moved here in 1993, I learned that the Blue Room needed attention. I should not have been surprised. Imagine the wear and tear of over a million visitors each year, members of the press with their heavy equipment, and the constant moving of furniture for state dinners. The draperies and upholstery in the room, last refurbished in 1972, had become soiled, worn and sun-damaged and needed to be replaced, as did the badly worn Chinese carpet.

Over the course of the next two years, I met with the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, a group of historians, curators, designers and concerned citizens, to review, discuss and choose fabric samples and textures. You can imagine how nervous I felt about making final decisions on such a public and important room. But I've been delighted with the outcome. The walls are now papered with a rich chamois-colored design from the early 19th century, an excellent backdrop for the historical portraits of some of our early presidents. Bold borders pick up the blue-and-gold silk of the new upholstery and curtains.

None of this could have been accomplished without the help of the White House Endowment Fund, a non-profit charitable organization created to provide permanent support for the White House collections of fine art and furnishings and to preserve the historical character of the public rooms.

Congress appropriates funds for the daily operation and maintenance of the White House. But until the creation of the Endowment Fund, refurbishing projects and acquisitions were paid for primarily by appeals for private contributions.

It was Rosalynn Carter who, in 1979, first initiated the effort to establish a permanent endowment for the White House and Barbara Bush who, in 1990, created the current fund with its goal of raising $25 million. I inherited that responsibility, and I'm proud to say that, with the help of many wonderful people, we not only have met but have now exceeded that goal.

This week, the President and I hosted a dinner to thank the members of the Endowment Fund's Board, including former and current chairs Dottie Craig and Nancy "Bitsy" Folger. They, along with all the men and women — and even children — who have contributed to the fund have made a gift to America's future. And what better gift than the assurance that the beauty and history of the White House will be preserved and carried with us as we enter the next century?

It is hard to think of a building that has touched more of America's history. Every President, with the exception of George Washington — who chose the location and approved the design — has lived in the White House. Since John Adams moved in on Nov. 1, 1800, there has been no issue of importance to our republic that has not been considered, discussed, debated or resolved under its roof. I think of President Lincoln struggling to find ways to hold the Union together, Eleanor Roosevelt reporting back to her husband on what she saw in her travels around the country, President Kennedy playing with his children, my husband deliberating over crucial issues from Iraq to Bosnia to balancing the budget.

To date, in addition to the refurbishment of the Blue Room, earnings from the Endowment Fund have paid for marble restoration and carpeting in the East Room, new rugs in the Red Room and the acquisition of important works of art.

The White House is America's home — a living museum. Though the President and I are privileged to live here, we know that we are short-term tenants. Now, with the help of the White House Endowment Fund, we will leave confident that future visitors will be able to experience the same pride that the President and I feel every day in these magnificent rooms.