In this photograph taken circa 1962, President John F. Kennedy sits at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. The desk was made from the oak timbers of the British ship H.M.S. Resolute and sent as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880. For her first redecoration of the Oval Office in early 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and interior designer Sister Parish had the desk relocated from the Ground Floor to a place of prominence in the Oval Office.

This photograph of the Oval Office with recently-installed new carpet and drapes was taken by Cecil Stoughton on November 23, 1963, the day after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy and French interior designer Stéphane Boudin selected the carpet and drapes. Although the restoration of the White House is most closely associated with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, President Kennedy himself guided the choices for the redecoration of the Oval Office. Tragically, he never saw the completed room, as the curtains and carpet were being installed while he was in Dallas in November 1963.

This photograph of the Oval Office after it was redecorated by interior decorator and socialite Sister Parish was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on August 14, 1961, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Parish utilized green draperies and carpet that were installed in 1947. The centerpiece of the room, the carved oak Resolute Desk, was presented to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1880. Before 1909, the president's office was located in the Executive Mansion. During the William H. Taft administration, the West Wing doubled in size from the 1902 renovation and included a presidential oval office. In 1934, during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, the West Wing was expanded and renovated, with the Oval Office relocated to the West Wing’s southeast corner.

This is the lower detail of John Shaw's 1797 desk and bookcase. The pieces were a gift of the Hendler Foundation, in memory of Lionel Manuel Hendler, in 1963.

This mahogany tambour desk and bookcase made by John and Thomas Seymour was modeled after English designs. The desk has urn-shaped ivory keyhole escutcheons and the rich veneers and inlays characteristic of the Seymours. The desk was the gift of an anonymous donor and the White House Historical Association to the White House in 1974.

This mahogany desk and bookcase was built in 1797 by John Shaw, the most prominent cabinetmaker in Annapolis, Maryland. It has a delicately carved and pierced pediment and inlaid conch shell on the fall board. These pieces were a gift of the Hendler Foundation, in memory of Lionel Manuel Hendler, in 1963.

This mahogany desk and bookcase was built in 1797 by John Shaw, the most prominent cabinetmaker in Annapolis, Maryland. It has a delicately carved and pierced pediment and inlaid conch shell on the fall board. This is a detail photograph of that inlaid conch shell. The pieces were a gift of the Hendler Foundation, in memory of Lionel Manuel Hendler, in 1963.

This is the upper detail of John Shaw's 1797 desk and bookcase. The delicately carved pediment is one of Shaw's finest works. The pieces were a gift of the Hendler Foundation, in memory of Lionel Manuel Hendler, in 1963.

This is the makers mark on John Shaw's 1797 desk and bookcase. The book case was a gift of the Hendler Foundation, in memory of Lionel Manuel Hendler, in 1963.

This mahogany cylinder desk and bookcase, made of kingwood and striped maple, has gilded mounts and pulls, mirror plate, and glass. The desk was a gift of the White House Historical Association in 2000.

This mahogany desk and bookcase was built between 1815 and 1820 and is attributed to Duncan Phyfe of New York. The gothic arched mullions and the cylinder front with fold-out writing surface are characteristic of Phyfe's furniture. Phyfe was born in Scotland and emigrated to New York in 1784. He became one of the premiere cabinet makers in the United States during the first half of the 19th century, known for blending the previous English Neoclassical and Regency styles together in a distinctive way. Phyfe benefited from his location in New York City on Fulton Street, where he was able to ship his furniture out to the southern States and the rich cotton magnates there, as well as to international ports.

This mahogany secretary was built in the late 18th century by Baltimore cabinetmaker Joseph Burgess. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. Bates Littlehales photographed the secretary in the Family Dining Room in April 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This mahogany secretary was built in the late 18th century by Baltimore cabinetmaker Joseph Burgess. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. Bates Littlehales photographed the secretary in the Family Dining Room in April 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration.

This writing desk is believed to have originated from Baltimore, Maryland. The desk features contrasting inlay and veneer as well as eglomise painted oval panels. It was placed in the Green Room during the John F. Kennedy administration. Bates Littlehales photographed the desk in March 1962.

This photograph is of the mahogany secretary built in the late 18th century by Joseph Burgess, a prominent Baltimore cabinetmaker, in the Green Room of the White House. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.

This photograph is of the mahogany secretary built in the late 18th century by Joseph Burgess, a prominent Baltimore cabinetmaker, in the Green Room of the White House. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.

This photograph is of the mahogany secretary built in the late 18th century by Joseph Burgess, a prominent Baltimore cabinetmaker, in the Green Room of the White House. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.

This photograph is of the mahogany secretary built in the late 18th century by Joseph Burgess, a prominent Baltimore cabinetmaker, in the Green Room of the White House. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.

This photograph is of the mahogany secretary built in the late 18th century by Joseph Burgess, a prominent Baltimore cabinetmaker, in the Green Room of the White House. This piece from the White House Collection features a satinwood inlay on the consoles of the pediment and the tracery on the glass doors. Zebrawood was used on the drawers and doors of the side compartments. The center oval in each glass door is mirrored glass. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.

This fall-front desk and armchair once belonged to future president James Monroe. He purchased the desk in Paris while he was United States Minister to France and later brought it with him to the White House. The armchair was made in the United States after a French design popular while he was in Paris. They are both part of the collection at the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library.

This color photograph shows a desk that is a replica of the desk that President James Monroe used to sign the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, in which he pledged to protect American interests in the Western Hemisphere. First Lady Lou Hoover acquired the replica desk for the White House Collection in 1932. The china displayed in the photograph was made by the Parisian firm Dagoty, likely during the first decade of the 19th century, and is believed to be a part of the Madisons' personal service. The butterfly painting is the work of artist Albert Bierstadt, made during an 1893 visit to the White House.

This February 1982 color photograph by National Geographic Service photographers depicts the Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The desk in the center is known as the Resolute desk and has been used by many presidents in their office. The desk was made from the oak timbers of the British ship H.M.S. Resolute and sent as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880. Beyond the Resolute desk are photographs of the Reagan family. Note the Rose Garden covered in snow outside.

This circa 1962 photograph depicts the Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, during the administration of President John F. Kennedy. The desk in the center is known as the Resolute desk and has been used by many presidents in their office. The desk was made from the oak timbers of the British ship H.M.S. Resolute and sent as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880.

This 2001 photograph depicts the Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, during the administration of President George W. Bush. In the center of the photograph is the Resolute desk that has been used by many presidents in their office. The desk was made from the oak timbers of the British ship H.M.S. Resolute and sent as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880. Beyond the desk are Bush family photographs.

This color photograph depicts the Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, during the administration of President George W. Bush. In the center of the photograph is the Resolute desk that has been used by many presidents in their office. The desk was made from the oak timbers of the British ship H.M.S. Resolute and sent as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880. Beyond the desk are Bush family photographs. The sculpture to the left is Frederic Remington's modeled 1895, cast 1903 bronze sculpture The Bronco Buster. To the right is Nison H. Tregor's 1957 bronze bust of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.