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There was no designated office area -

Although the Oval Office is the President's workroom, there was no designated office area during the first 100 years of White House history. 

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The Lincoln Bedroom -

During the 1800s, most Presidents worked and lived in the same rooms.

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Time for change -

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt got tired of the White House being so cramped and ordered the West Wing to be built.

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The West Wing -

However, there still wasn't an Oval Office, and Roosevelt's command center became the Roosevelt Room, which was square.

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The first version of the Oval Office -

It was President William Howard Taft who ordered the first version of the Oval Office to be constructed in 1909.

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From round to oval -

Taft ordered the Oval Office to be built from what used to be the secretary's office. Since part of the room was already round, it was turned into an oval.

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The popularity of oval-shaped rooms -

Oval rooms were really popular in the early days of American democracy. Even George Washington had oval-shaped rooms in his home in Philadelphia, which allowed guests to mingle easily.

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Closer to operations -

It's believed that Taft's desire for an Oval Office right in the middle of the West Wing showed his desire to be more involved with the day-to-day operation of the presidency.

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The original location -

President Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't like the location of Taft’s Oval Office because it was in the center of the West Wing and without any windows.

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The current location -

So in 1934, he relocated the Oval Office to the southeast corner of the West Wing, where it remains today.

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The Oval Office in size -

Today, the Oval Office is 35 feet (10.9m) long and 29 feet (8.8m) wide, providing room for both private work and public meetings.  

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The decor -

Each incoming president decorates the Oval Office to suit their own personal tastes.

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The ceiling -

One of the permanent fixtures in the Oval Office is the Presidential Seal on the ceiling.

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The meeting spot -

Across from the president's desk is the fireplace with two Martha Washington chairs. This is where the president meets with foreign leaders.

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Entering the Oval Office -

In some TV shows, it seems like the Oval Office is disconnected from the rest of the White House. In reality, there are four doors leading to the rest of the West Wing.

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"Hidden" doors -

Two doors on the north side of the Oval Office are designed to blend into the wall.

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The Resolute Desk -

Most presidents since JFK have used the same desk since his presidency. It's called the Resolute Desk.

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Part of history -

The Resolute Desk was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880. It was built from the oak timbers of the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute.

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The Oval Office rug -

Apart from paintings and colors, each President famously gets to redesign the Oval Office rug to their own liking.

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The presidential seal is a must -

Regardless of the design, though, the middle of the rug carries the presidential seal.

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The symbolism of the presidential seal -

The seal in the rug contains an eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and a bunch of arrows in the other. Before World War II, the eagle was looking towards the arrows. However, President Truman decided that the eagle should instead look towards the olive branch to represent a future of peace. 

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Keep it how it is -

President Jimmy Carter is one of the few presidents who didn't redecorate the Oval Office.

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Nautical-themed decor -

President John F. Kennedy had the Oval Office covered with ocean and Navy-themed decor. 

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Inspirational decor -

Bill Clinton had two busts of his favorite presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, on his desk. 

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Personal touch -

Preferring a touch of antique gold, President George W. Bush also hung up lots of pictures of his native Texas.

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A modern Oval Office -

President Barack Obama switched things up and favored a mix of traditional and modern art.

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Two things that nobody ever moves -

The presidential flag remains to the president's left, and the US flag is always on the president's right.

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Inspirational words -

President Truman had a sign on his Oval Office desk that read, "The buck stops here," meaning that you have to take responsibility for something and won't pass the responsibility on to someone else. 

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Popular slogan -

Both President Reagan and President Clinton had the slogan "It can be done" on their desk.

Sources: (White House History) (PBS Learning) (National Archives) 

See also: Fascinating little-known facts about life in the White House

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