In this photograph, President George W. Bush speaks on the telephone as senior staff convene in his office aboard Air Force Once following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city on September 11, 2001. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush speaks with White House press secretary Ari Fleischer (left), and senior advisor to the president Karl Rove (center) aboard Air Force One following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city on September 11, 2001. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft. This photograph was taken by White House photographer Eric Draper during the flight from Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska to Andrews Air Force Base near Prince George's County, Maryland.

This photograph, taken by Pete Souza on September 11, 2009, shows Reggie Love (left), personal aide to President Barack Obama, and White House physician Dr. Jeffrey Keuter (right) en route to a wreath-laying ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, in commemoration of the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Love checks messages on his cell phone and BlackBerry, while Dr. Kueter looks out the window. Both men are seated in a limousine in the presidential motorcade, the seats are embellished with the Presidential Seal. In 2002, President George W. Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, taken by Jack E. Kightlinger on July 31, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson sits in the Cabinet Room listening to a recording sent by his son-in-law Capt. Charles S. Robb, who was deployed on active duty to Vietnam. The president is pictured hunched forward and facing downward, his forehead resting against his hand. On the far side of the room stands a bust depicting Johnson's predecessor, President John F. Kennedy.

In this photograph, taken on December 25, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson talks on the telephone at his Texas ranch while First Lady Lady Bird Johnson consults a newspaper nearby. During his first Christmas as commander-in-chief, the president made both personal and business phone calls to friends, professional associates, and former presidents.

This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows workers inspecting a new elevator in the sub-basement. This work was part of President Harry S. Truman's large-scale 1948-1952 renovation of the White House.

This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows workmen inside the new White House ventilation system being installed above the tunnel in the new basement. The photograph was taken to underscore the size of the system. This work was part of President Harry S. Truman's large-scale 1948-1952 renovation of the White House.

This black and white photograph is of President William Howard Taft using the telephone.

This telegraph key, made for President William Howard Taft in 1909, was used by several presidents to transmit messages for opening events and conventions.

This seascape was done by an unknown artist around 1850. The painting depicts a ship from the Atlantic Telegraph company presumably laying the telegraph cable between Ireland and Newfoundland, Canada that connected the North America to Europe. The original cable was finished in 1858.