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01of 14Vice President Harris’s Temporary HomeLorenzo Bevilaqua/Walt Disney Television via Getty; Dmitry KirsanovTASS via GettyDue to necessary renovations at Number One Observatory Circle —the official residence of the vice president in Washington, D.C.— Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will temporarily be living at another famous political property: Blair House, an aide for Harris tells PEOPLE.Perhaps best known as the “President’s Guest House,” Blair House is a fully-staffed compound where guests of the President stay when invited to the U.S. for diplomatic visits.
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Vice President Harris’s Temporary Home
Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Walt Disney Television via Getty; Dmitry KirsanovTASS via Getty
Due to necessary renovations at Number One Observatory Circle —the official residence of the vice president in Washington, D.C.— Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will temporarily be living at another famous political property: Blair House, an aide for Harris tells PEOPLE.
Perhaps best known as the “President’s Guest House,” Blair House is a fully-staffed compound where guests of the President stay when invited to the U.S. for diplomatic visits.
02of 14The Design’s Hidden SecretRobert Knopes/Education Images/Universal Images Group via GettyComposed of four interconnected townhouses — two on Pennsylvania Avenue (where the White House is located) and two on Jackson Place — Blair House is composed of 120 rooms spread across an astonishing 60,600 square feet.The distinct 19th-century facades of each townhouse have been preserved, so they still appear as separate buildings from the outside.
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The Design’s Hidden Secret
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Composed of four interconnected townhouses — two on Pennsylvania Avenue (where the White House is located) and two on Jackson Place — Blair House is composed of 120 rooms spread across an astonishing 60,600 square feet.
The distinct 19th-century facades of each townhouse have been preserved, so they still appear as separate buildings from the outside.
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The Origin
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Built in 1824, the original Blair House belonged to Dr. Joseph Lovell, the first surgeon general of the U.S. Army. In 1837, the home gained political significance when Francis Preston Blair, his wife Eliza and their three kids moved in.
04of 14A New AdditionAP/ShutterstockIn 1859, Blair built one of the now-adjoining townhouses, called Lee House, for his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee.Blair’s eldest son, Montgomery, was later appointed to Lincoln’s cabinet as Postmaster General.
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A New Addition
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In 1859, Blair built one of the now-adjoining townhouses, called Lee House, for his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee.
Blair’s eldest son, Montgomery, was later appointed to Lincoln’s cabinet as Postmaster General.
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Becoming the Guest House
Prior to the purchase, esteemed visitors would typically spend one night in the White House, and then would be sent to a hotel or embassy for the rest of their visit.
06of 14Roosevelt’s InfluenceAFP via GettyPresident Franklin Roosevelt was one of the main supporters of the purchase of Blair House, believing that the U.S. needed a designated residence for foreign dignitaries.According toBlair House’s official website, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill also played an interesting role in Roosevelt’s push for the acquisition of the home.“Winston Churchill’s frequent trips to Washington helped convince President Franklin Roosevelt of the need for official diplomatic housing,” the site reads. “Franklin Roosevelt, Jr., recalls the morning his mother found the prime minister wandering towards the family’s private quarters at 3 a.m., trademark cigar in hand, to rouse the sleeping president for more conversation. He met Eleanor first, however, who firmly persuaded him to wait until breakfast.”
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Roosevelt’s Influence
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President Franklin Roosevelt was one of the main supporters of the purchase of Blair House, believing that the U.S. needed a designated residence for foreign dignitaries.
According toBlair House’s official website, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill also played an interesting role in Roosevelt’s push for the acquisition of the home.
“Winston Churchill’s frequent trips to Washington helped convince President Franklin Roosevelt of the need for official diplomatic housing,” the site reads. “Franklin Roosevelt, Jr., recalls the morning his mother found the prime minister wandering towards the family’s private quarters at 3 a.m., trademark cigar in hand, to rouse the sleeping president for more conversation. He met Eleanor first, however, who firmly persuaded him to wait until breakfast.”
07of 14The First GuestAP/ShutterstockThe first foreign dignitary hosted in Blair House was President Manuel Prado of Peru, pictured here (center) with Roosevelt (right) in May 1942.By 1943, there were so many people visiting that the government purchased Lee House next door in order to make room for more guests.
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The First Guest
The first foreign dignitary hosted in Blair House was President Manuel Prado of Peru, pictured here (center) with Roosevelt (right) in May 1942.
By 1943, there were so many people visiting that the government purchased Lee House next door in order to make room for more guests.
08of 14"The Truman White House"George Skadding/The LIFE Picture Collection via GettyPresident Harry S. Truman — pictured here with Churchill — actually lived at Blair House for four years of his two-term presidency, due to extensive renovations that took place at the White House. It earned the nickname “The Truman White House” for this reason.On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to assassinate Truman while he was in Blair House. Police officers and Secret Service members stopped any gunfire from reaching Truman, and Torresola was killed and Collazo wounded.
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“The Truman White House”
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President Harry S. Truman — pictured here with Churchill — actually lived at Blair House for four years of his two-term presidency, due to extensive renovations that took place at the White House. It earned the nickname “The Truman White House” for this reason.
On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to assassinate Truman while he was in Blair House. Police officers and Secret Service members stopped any gunfire from reaching Truman, and Torresola was killed and Collazo wounded.
09of 14The A-List Guest BookWilliam J Smith/AP/ShutterstockMany foreign dignitaries have been hosted since Blair House became the President’s guest house, each of whom have signed the home’s guest book. Many guest book entries have been digitized, and can be readonline.Several entries fromQueen ElizabethII have been recorded. Here, she is seen leaving Blair House with Truman’s daughter, Margaret.
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The A-List Guest Book
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Many foreign dignitaries have been hosted since Blair House became the President’s guest house, each of whom have signed the home’s guest book. Many guest book entries have been digitized, and can be readonline.
Several entries fromQueen ElizabethII have been recorded. Here, she is seen leaving Blair House with Truman’s daughter, Margaret.
10of 14A Modern, Pre-Inauguration TraditionAlamyIn addition to hosting foreign dignitaries, Blair House also serves as a home for the presidents-elect and their families prior to their inauguration — a tradition that started with President Jimmy Carter, seen here in the home’s Truman Study in January 1977.According toUSA Today, Carter was the first president since Roosevelt to come from outside of Washington, so he used Blair House as a place to set up and prepare for his new administration.Most U.S. presidents have followed his lead since.
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A Modern, Pre-Inauguration Tradition
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In addition to hosting foreign dignitaries, Blair House also serves as a home for the presidents-elect and their families prior to their inauguration — a tradition that started with President Jimmy Carter, seen here in the home’s Truman Study in January 1977.
According toUSA Today, Carter was the first president since Roosevelt to come from outside of Washington, so he used Blair House as a place to set up and prepare for his new administration.
Most U.S. presidents have followed his lead since.
11of 14State FuneralsDavid Hume Kenerly/GettyBlair House also serves as a place for the family of a deceased former President to stay during a state funeral.“It is at Blair House where the family receives condolence calls from former Presidents and First Ladies, foreign leaders, and friends,” reads the house website.Here, First Lady Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton are seen greeting former First Lady Betty Ford at the home on January 1, 2006, after the state funeral for former President Gerald Ford.
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State Funerals
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Blair House also serves as a place for the family of a deceased former President to stay during a state funeral.
“It is at Blair House where the family receives condolence calls from former Presidents and First Ladies, foreign leaders, and friends,” reads the house website.
Here, First Lady Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton are seen greeting former First Lady Betty Ford at the home on January 1, 2006, after the state funeral for former President Gerald Ford.
12of 14Alternative UsesPablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/ShutterstockMedia interviews also oftentimes take place in Blair House, typically in the Jackson Place Conference Room. Here, PresidentBarack Obamais seen leaving the property after an interview discussing the Affordable Care Act in January 2017.It often serves as a meeting space for events related to foreign affairs, as well. For example, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted a summit of the G-8 Foreign Ministers in 2012.
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Alternative Uses
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Media interviews also oftentimes take place in Blair House, typically in the Jackson Place Conference Room. Here, PresidentBarack Obamais seen leaving the property after an interview discussing the Affordable Care Act in January 2017.
It often serves as a meeting space for events related to foreign affairs, as well. For example, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted a summit of the G-8 Foreign Ministers in 2012.
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Diplomatic Affairs
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Many of these distinguished guests are welcomed into the Blair Drawing Room, which was part of the original 1824 home and was designed to hold large gatherings.
(Fun fact: Francis Preston Blair’s aforementioned daughter, Elizabeth Blair, was married to Samuel Phillips Lee in the room in 1843!)
Here, Obama is seen hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and colleagues in the space in September 2015.
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What Vice President Harris Can Expect
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Today, Blair House is a thoughtful mix of old and new — full of modern amenities yet imbued with memories of the many important figures who have passed through its doors.
source: people.com
