The Oval Office desk has been a symbol of power and authority for every US President since the 20th century. The desk has undergone many changes over the years, reflecting the personal style and preferences of each President.
The first Oval Office desk was used by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. It was a large, ornate desk made of oak wood. Wilson chose this desk because he wanted a space that felt more like a study than a formal office.
Many Presidents have left their mark on the Oval Office desk, from adding their own personal touches to completely replacing the existing desk. For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt installed a built-in desk drawer to store important documents.
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The Oval Office Desks
The Resolute Desk has been a favorite among U.S. presidents since President Rutherford B. Hayes received it as a gift from Queen Victoria in 1880.
It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's President's Study desk, and he requested the addition of a front panel bearing the presidential seal to conceal his legs.
Nearly every U.S. president since Hayes has opted to use the Resolute Desk, including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Barack Obama continues to use it today, and in 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented Obama with a pen holder made from the Resolute's sister ship, the HMS Gannet.
The Roosevelt Desk was commissioned by Teddy Roosevelt during his presidency and was used by several subsequent presidents, including Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and Eisenhower.
Nixon preferred to conduct business in the nearby Old Executive Office Building, but Dick Cheney used the desk during his tenure as Vice President.
The Hoover Desk was installed in the Oval Office in 1930, after a fire damaged the West Wing during President Herbert Hoover's administration.
FDR used the Hoover Desk during his tenure, but it hasn't gotten much love since.
The Johnson Desk was chosen by Lyndon B. Johnson, who brought in a desk that no president had used before.
The C&O Desk was created for the owners of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Co. in 1920 and was used by George H.W. Bush during his tenure as Vice President and President.
Bush's press secretary had to make a statement on the desk, saying, "He had it as vice president, and he got used to it, found it comfortable, thought it was attractive."
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Desks by President
The Resolute Desk has been a favorite among U.S. presidents, with nearly every president since Rutherford B. Hayes opting to use it. It was given to Hayes in 1880 by Queen Victoria as a token of goodwill and friendship.
The Resolute Desk has been used in various capacities, including as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's President's Study desk, where he requested the addition of a front panel bearing the presidential seal to conceal his legs.
Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all used the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, with Barack Obama continuing to use it today. In 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented Obama with a pen holder made from the Resolute's sister ship, the HMS Gannet.
Teddy Roosevelt commissioned the Roosevelt Desk, a mahogany desk that was used by several presidents, including Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and Eisenhower.
Nixon preferred to conduct business in the nearby Old Executive Office Building, using a desk he had altered to conceal recorders that caused the Watergate scandal. Dick Cheney used the Roosevelt Desk during his tenure as Vice President.
The C&O Desk, created for the owners of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Co. in 1920, was particularly attached to by George H.W. Bush. He had used it during his tenure as vice president and had it brought over to become his Oval Office desk when he became president.
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Other Desks
The Resolute Desk is not the only desk that's been used in the Oval Office. The Queen had three desks made from the timbers of the Resolute ship, one of which was given to President Rutherford B. Hayes.
This desk has been a favorite among U.S. presidents since Hayes, with nearly every one using it in the Oval Office or private residence.
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