A ceremony Wednesday on the South Lawn kicked off a celebration of President John Adams' arrival at the new presidential home 200 years ago

Ceremony marks White House's 200 years as 'symbol of leadership'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When President John Adams moved into the White House in 1800, few rooms were habitable, the furniture was in disarray, and fires had to be kept burning to help dry out the plaster.

It was quite a different scene on Wednesday, as President Clinton, government officials, historians and Adams' descendants gathered outside the immaculately maintained presidential home in Washington to celebrate its 200th anniversary.

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"These walls carry the story of America," Clinton said of the building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public at no charge. About 6,000 visitors a day tour its stately rooms.

The mansion, at the heart of the nation's capital, is modeled on an Irish country house and also is unusual because it serves as both the president's home and office.

George Washington commissioned the house but never lived in it. It has had two major structural renovations in two centuries, first after British forces burned it during the War of 1812 and its blackened walls were painted white, and again during the Truman administration when it was declared structurally unsafe.

Clinton recalled the countless historic events that have taken place at the White House: It was there that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his fireside chats.

Noting some of the historic events that occurred there, President Clinton said the White House walls "carry the story of America"

"For two centuries now, Americans have looked to the White House as a symbol of leadership in times of crisis, a reassurance in times of uncertainty, a continuity in times of change, a celebration in times of joy," Clinton said.

Historian David McCullough read from a letter Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that said: "May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."

He lived in the mansion designed by architect James Hoban for less than four months before losing the presidency to Thomas Jefferson.

"I think how pleased he and Abigail would be if they were here to see how we've gathered today," McCullough said, "to see the country they so loved still independent, still united and thriving, still strong, still free, and this grand old house looking so magnificent."

White House mansion turns 200
October 30, 2000
White House furniture has own political baggage
October 27, 2000
National Portrait Gallery taking 'Portraits of the Presidents' on tour
September 8, 2000

The White House
The American Experience: David McCullough
John Adams (1797-1801)
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