The president said that the “distinctive oval design… reflects both practical and ceremonial purposes.”
President Donald Trump proclaimed the White House Oval Office a National Monument last week under the Antiquities Act, which “authorizes the President, in the President’s discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be national monuments.”
The president’s proclamation stated, “The room’s distinctive oval design, first introduced in the West Wing under President William Howard Taft and refined in the early 1930s, reflects both practical and ceremonial purposes. Its architecture, finishes of lasting character, and continuous association with the Presidency give the Oval Office exceptional and unique value in illustrating the history of the United States.”
President Trump continued, “The Oval Office possesses an unmatched and unique combination of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and an association with historical events that are embedded in our national consciousness.”
He added, “The White House and its grounds are Federal property administered as part of the President’s Park by the National Park Service and are already recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Nonetheless, the Oval Office merits specific recognition and protective management as a discrete historic structure of national significance.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For President Trump as he considers sites for designation as national monuments.
- For the president and officials in his Cabinet as they seek to protect historic sites and landmarks.
Sources: UPI News, The White House
