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Resolute Desk
Custom made mahogany furniture made by Glenn Furniture.
The Resolute desk, also known as the Hayes desk, is a nineteenth-century partners desk used by several U.S. presidents in the White House, including the five most recent ones. Here are some key points about this historic desk:
- Origin and Materials:
- The 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.
- The ship, HMS Resolute, was abandoned in the Arctic while searching for Sir John Franklin and his lost expedition. It was later found, repaired, and returned to the United Kingdom as a goodwill gesture from the United States.
- The skilled joiner William Evenden likely crafted the desk based on a design by Morant, Boyd, & Blanford.
- Design and Modifications:
- The Resolute desk is a double pedestal partners’ desk, measuring 32.5 inches in height, 72 inches in width, and 48 inches in depth.
- It has been modified twice: a kneehole panel was added in 1945, and a 2-inch-tall plinth was added in 1961.
- The desk’s history is intertwined with American presidents, from its use in the President’s Office to its placement in the Oval Office.
- Rediscovery and Legacy:
- Jacqueline Kennedy rediscovered the desk and had it brought to the Oval Office in 1961.
- After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the desk went on a traveling exhibition with artifacts from the Kennedy Presidential Library.
- President Jimmy Carter brought the desk back to the White House in 1977, where it has remained since.
- Replicas and Significance:
- Many replicas of the Resolute desk exist, displayed in presidential libraries, museums, and private homes.
- Its rich history and connection to U.S. leadership make it an iconic piece of furniture in American political lore.
In summary, the Resolute desk stands as a symbol of historical continuity and diplomatic goodwill between nations, serving as a functional and revered piece of furniture in the White House.
