The White House: Inside Story

JIMMY CARTER

I WENT INTO THE WHITE HOUSE WITH A FEELING OF CHALLENGE AND EXCITEMENT BECAUSE OF THE OVERWHELMING HISTORY. THOMAS JEFFERSON LIVED THERE. LINCOLN MET IN THE SMALL ROOM THAT BECAME ONE OF MY FAVORITES, AND I WOULD STUDY AT NIGHT IN WHAT HARRY TRUMAN HAD USED AS HIS OFFICE, SO I--I WAS FILLED WITH ADMIRATION FOR THE HISTORY OF MY COUNTRY AND THE HISTORY OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

JOHN F. KENNEDY

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

RONALD REAGAN

WE ARE A UNITED PEOPLE, PLEDGED TO MAINTAINING A POLITICAL SYSTEM WHICH GUARANTEES INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

WHATEVER AMERICA HOPES TO BRING TO PASS IN THE WORLD MUST FIRST COME TO PASS IN THE HEART OF AMERICA.

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF.

GERALD FORD

MY FELLOW AMERICANS, OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER.

BILL CLINTON

AN IDEA INFUSED WITH THE CONVICTION THAT AMERICA'S HEROIC JOURNEY MUST GO FOREVER UPWARD.

CARTER

THE AMERICAN DREAM ENDURES. WE MUST ONCE AGAIN HAVE FULL FAITH IN OUR COUNTRY...

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

I WILL LEAD, AND I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN.

GEORGE H.W. BUSH

...OF UNITY, DIVERSITY, AND GENEROSITY, SHARED AND WRITTEN TOGETHER. THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

"HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYING

LAURA BUSH

ONE OF THE REALLY GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY IS THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER. IT'S A WONDERFUL SYMBOL FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD. THERE IS A GREAT CONTINUITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

NARRATOR

TO USHER IN THAT TRANSFER, NEW PRESIDENTS TAKE PART IN A RITUAL PROCESSION DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE TO THEIR OFFICIAL RESIDENCE. IT WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT, GEORGE WASHINGTON, WHO UNDERTOOK THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXECUTIVE MANSION IN A BRAND-NEW CAPITAL CITY.

MAN

ITS LOCATION WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM. IT WAS MORE OR LESS THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY. GEORGE WASHINGTON DIDN'T WANT THE CAPITAL TO BE IN THE EAST, IN--IN, UH, NEW YORK OR PHILADELPHIA, SO HE APPROVED THE BUILDING, THIS NEW CITY, AND HE SET ABOUT GETTING IT DESIGNED HIMSELF.

NARRATOR

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON LAID THE CORNERSTONE FOR THE HOUSE IN OCTOBER OF 1792, AND EVEN TODAY, THE BUILDING REFLECTS HIS VISION.