WHITE HOUSE TO GET FRESH COAT OF PAINT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 2, 1921, workmen at the White House were preparing to give the Executive Mansion its first coat of paint in two years.
The renovation project was timed for when President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding would be away from the mansion for a period of ten days.
In addition to painting the outside of the building, renovation of several interior rooms was scheduled as well as construction of a porte-cochere* "for the convenient handling of an automobile."
*porte-cochere, 17th century literally a 'coach gateway, a covered entrance large enough for a vehicle to pass through. A portico at the White House is often confused with a p-c where a raised vehicle ramp gives a portico the functionality of a porte-cochere.
SOURCE
"Work of Making White House White is Begun," The New York Tribune, August 2, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
