Advertisement

The Oval Office Through the Years, in Photos

  • <p>In honor of Joe Biden's first day in the Oval Office, <em>T&C</em> takes a look back at how the presidential office has changed over time.</p>
    1/20

    The Oval Office Through the Years, in Photos

    In honor of Joe Biden's first day in the Oval Office, T&C takes a look back at how the presidential office has changed over time.

    Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>The Oval Office desk belonging to President Franklin D. Roosevelt is shown on the day of his death.</p>
    2/20

    April 12, 1945

    The Oval Office desk belonging to President Franklin D. Roosevelt is shown on the day of his death.

    Thomas D. McAvoy/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>President John F. Kennedy smiles as he speaks on the phone in the Oval Office.</p>
    3/20

    1961

    President John F. Kennedy smiles as he speaks on the phone in the Oval Office.

    Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>John F. Kennedy Jr. plays under the Resolute Desk.</p>
    4/20

    October 15, 1963

    John F. Kennedy Jr. plays under the Resolute Desk.

    Liaison Agency - Getty Images
  • <p>Lyndon B. Johnson sits at the Oval Office desk, posing for one of his first official photographs following the death of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy.</p>
    5/20

    November 30, 1963

    Lyndon B. Johnson sits at the Oval Office desk, posing for one of his first official photographs following the death of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy.

    Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>President Richard Nixon used a rug designed by his wife that featured the presidential seal in gold on a flag blue background.</p>
    6/20

    September 19, 1969

    President Richard Nixon used a rug designed by his wife that featured the presidential seal in gold on a flag blue background.

    Bettmann / Getty - Getty Images
  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>President Gerald Ford, who stepped into the presidency after Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974, sits in the Oval Office.</p>
    7/20

    August 1974

    President Gerald Ford, who stepped into the presidency after Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974, sits in the Oval Office.

    David Hume Kennerly/ Getty Images
  • <p>President Ronald Reagan takes one last look back at the Oval Office as he leaves for the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush.</p>
    8/20

    January 20, 1989

    President Ronald Reagan takes one last look back at the Oval Office as he leaves for the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush.

    Dirck Halstead / Hulton Archive - Getty Images
  • <p>President George H.W. Bush switched to a steel blue and cream color palette. </p>
    9/20

    January 22, 1990

    President George H.W. Bush switched to a steel blue and cream color palette.

    Susan Biddle/White House/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Little Rock, Arkansas-based designer Kaki Hockersmith decorated President Bill Clinton's Oval Office.</p>
    10/20

    September 3, 1993

    Little Rock, Arkansas-based designer Kaki Hockersmith decorated President Bill Clinton's Oval Office.

    Dirck Halstead/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>President Bill Clinton takes a call in the Oval Office.</p>
    11/20

    1997

    President Bill Clinton takes a call in the Oval Office.

    Diana Walker / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>President George W. Bush meets with former South African President Nelson Mandela.</p>
    12/20

    May 17, 2005

    President George W. Bush meets with former South African President Nelson Mandela.

    Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images - Getty Images
  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>President George W. Bush's desk is shown in an empty Oval Office.</p>
    13/20

    September 1, 2005

    President George W. Bush's desk is shown in an empty Oval Office.

    Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>President George W. Bush meets with President-elect Barack Obama.</p>
    14/20

    November 10, 2008

    President George W. Bush meets with President-elect Barack Obama.

    Eric Draper/The White House via Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>Former President George H.W. Bush, President-elect Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter pose together in the Oval Office.</p>
    15/20

    January 7, 2009

    Former President George H.W. Bush, President-elect Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter pose together in the Oval Office.

    David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>New furniture is shown on the date of President Obama's second Oval Office address of his presidency.</p>
    16/20

    August 31, 2010

    New furniture is shown on the date of President Obama's second Oval Office address of his presidency.

    Brendan Smialowski-Pool/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>President Obama edits his remarks prior to making a televised statement announcing that the United States had killed terrorist Osama Bin Laden.</p>
    17/20

    May 1, 2011

    President Obama edits his remarks prior to making a televised statement announcing that the United States had killed terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

    Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images - Getty Images
  • <p>British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump meet beside a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Oval Office.</p>
    18/20

    January 27, 2017

    British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump meet beside a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Oval Office.

    BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images - Getty Images
  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>President Trump's newly renovated Oval Office is shown after a <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a10366986/trump-white-house-renovation-details/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:17-day White House renovation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">17-day White House renovation</a>.</p>
    19/20

    August 22, 2017

    President Trump's newly renovated Oval Office is shown after a 17-day White House renovation.

    Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images - Getty Images
  • 20/20

    The Oval Office Through the Years, in Photos

    Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images
<p>In honor of Joe Biden's first day in the Oval Office, <em>T&C</em> takes a look back at how the presidential office has changed over time.</p>
<p>The Oval Office desk belonging to President Franklin D. Roosevelt is shown on the day of his death.</p>
<p>President John F. Kennedy smiles as he speaks on the phone in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>John F. Kennedy Jr. plays under the Resolute Desk.</p>
<p>Lyndon B. Johnson sits at the Oval Office desk, posing for one of his first official photographs following the death of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy.</p>
<p>President Richard Nixon used a rug designed by his wife that featured the presidential seal in gold on a flag blue background.</p>
<p>President Gerald Ford, who stepped into the presidency after Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974, sits in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>President Ronald Reagan takes one last look back at the Oval Office as he leaves for the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush.</p>
<p>President George H.W. Bush switched to a steel blue and cream color palette. </p>
<p>Little Rock, Arkansas-based designer Kaki Hockersmith decorated President Bill Clinton's Oval Office.</p>
<p>President Bill Clinton takes a call in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>President George W. Bush meets with former South African President Nelson Mandela.</p>
<p>President George W. Bush's desk is shown in an empty Oval Office.</p>
<p>President George W. Bush meets with President-elect Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Former President George H.W. Bush, President-elect Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter pose together in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>New furniture is shown on the date of President Obama's second Oval Office address of his presidency.</p>
<p>President Obama edits his remarks prior to making a televised statement announcing that the United States had killed terrorist Osama Bin Laden.</p>
<p>British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump meet beside a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>President Trump's newly renovated Oval Office is shown after a <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a10366986/trump-white-house-renovation-details/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:17-day White House renovation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">17-day White House renovation</a>.</p>
Town & Country

In honor of Joe Biden's first day in the Oval Office, T&C takes a look back at how the presidential office has changed over time.

From Town & Country