# President's China **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-china/276004 "2004-11-22T00:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-china/276004/1 "2004-11-22T00:04:38Z")
My wife and I finally had a moment to sit down and watch our video tape of TV Land’s re-airing of CBS’ tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy. In it, she says the china used in the State Room is from Eisenhower’s day being that anything older is lacking a complete set. Granted, that was 1962. But, in 1980 when Reagan took office, Mrs. Reagan made a big stink about wanting to move her china in before The Carters had to move out. So, what happened from 1962 to 1980 to today? Is the Eisenhower china still used, or it “BYOC” (Bring Your Own China)??? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-china/276004/2 "2004-11-22T03:20:26Z")
Random newspaper cites: A 1930 article which said that the (Teddy) Roosevelt china was still used for some State dinners. It also said that a 1700 piece set of dishes was purchased during WWI from the American maker Lenox. 1960–The White House china, up until “five President’s ago” was produced by Haviland. 1968–(under Johnson) "The 140 guests ate their dinner on the new White House china. 1996 story–"The official White House china made for President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1931 by Lenox in Trenton was a milestone. As an economizing gesture during the Depression, the Great Seal of the United States was printed as a colored decal rather than hand painted in gold. Nancy Regan’s set was 4,372 pieces, and cost $209,000(private money). The article also offered that FDR’s cost $9,300…Truman’s $28,000… ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-china/276004/3 "2004-11-22T14:16:08Z")
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/china.html](http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/china.html) > [@](#): > > Almost every past President is represented in the China Room either by state or family china or glassware. The collection is arranged chronologically, beginning to the right of the fireplace. Even the earliest Presidents received government funds to purchase state china. However, by a special clause in the appropriation bills, “decayed furnishings” could be sold and the proceeds used to buy replacements. Such “furnishings” included state china, and during the 19th century the cupboards were frequently swept clean and the contents carted off to auction. The money could then be used to order a new china service that better suited the President and his family. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-china/276004/4 "2004-11-22T15:17:17Z")
The rules concerning Presidential furniture (and china) go way back and vary. Some of the early guys took all the stuff with them as they left, sort of like what I do at the Motel Six. Rules then required accountability. In the memoirs of the Chief Usher (pronounced ‘butler’) during the JFK Administration was the was that Jackie asked for and got budget to order a new set of china, each bearing a state flower. When Lennox delivered them, all the flowers were smeared blobs. The rules said they could not order new ones, but could replaced damaged ones. So Jackie, the usher (and maybe some of the guys from the loading dock) went into a room and smashed all the offending plates and then ordered new ones as replacements. Anyway, nowadays the china is bought with private money, but it becomes public property and cannot be removed when the President is.