Visiting the White House, but in Brookville

There is a memorable Life Magazine photograph of John-John, Pres. John F. Kennedy’s son, as a toddler in the Oval Office. Playing inside the desk where his father is working, he pauses after opening the door attached to the front panel of the desk. The history of why the panel was created goes back to Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, who requested it be added to the Resolute Desk, as it is called, to hide his leg braces. Gifted by Queen Victoria in November 1880, the Resolute Desk may be the most recognizable pieces of furniture in the White House, perhaps due to the Kennedy photograph. Yet, when touring the President’s House in Washington D.C., visitors are not permitted into the Oval Office so have never seen the desk except in photographs. But as of last summer, they can see an exact replica of it in Brookville.

A life-size reproduction of the White House, that includes the Oval Office, Situation Room, Press Briefing Room and all of the famed home’s other rooms are available to tour in financier E.F. Hutton’s former home on the campus of Long Island University. Visitors can experience a guided tour of “The White House Experience at the Roosevelt School” by appointment Monday through Friday, and yes, it includes a replica of the Resolute Desk, which visitors can sit behind to pretend they are the President of the United States.

Similar replicas providing a White House experience are at the George Washington Presidential Library in Mount Vernon; the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas; and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.

But the White House in Brookville is the only replica on the east coast. And unlike the others, it now includes the Museum of Democracy, the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical and political campaign memorabilia. The museum includes over a million objects representing every president from George Washington to Joe Biden, reflecting the history of politics and political reform in America and seeking to clarify the issues of civil rights, women’s rights and social justice. The current exhibit, “Hail to the chief! Electing the American President,” will be on display until next year.

The White House Experience was created by LIU in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants, which includes grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great, great grandchildren of former presidents. The Museum of Democracy, which opened inside the White House Experience in April 2023, is a collection belonging to the Wright Family, who had a traveling exhibit but wanted a permanent home.

It was LIU’s president, Kimberly Cline’s idea to turn Hutton’s former home, which was in disrepair, into the White House Experience. She realized the importance of civic education and thought it would be a perfect conduit for people of all ages to experience. And she believed it would be beneficial to the students at LIU as well.

“Long Island University is a national leader in presidential studies, service learning and civic education,” Cline said. “The establishment of the White House Experience directly provides a forum for our students to further study the foundation and evolution of our country. Through these initiatives, we can educate and inspire the next generation of our nation’s leaders as they learn lessons from history to shape solutions for America’s future.”

Tweed Roosevelt, the great grandson of Theodore Roosevelt, the president of the Society of Presidential Descendants and LIU Roosevelt School’s chairman, supported Cline’s vision.

“The problem is people carry on about their rights, but no one taught them their responsibilities,” Roosevelt said. “The idea is to turn the White House Experience as part of a civic education. If democracy is to survive, people will need to take their responsibility as citizens seriously.”

The White House Experience includes a second floor, like the White House in D.C., where visitors can see several rooms including the First Ladies Room, Red Room and Blue Room. Oval in shape, the Blue Room is perhaps best known. It’s where celebrations, like weddings and ceremonies were held. There are several photographs hanging on the walls of the Blue Room, including one of Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter Lynda Bird when she married Chuck Robb in 1967.

The White House Experience offers school trips where students can be the president and members of the cabinet to deal with a crisis. In the China Room, where china gifted to former presidents are displayed, etiquette classes are given.

“It’s important to provide these skills,” said Andy Person, chief of strategy and advancement at Long Island University. He conducts the tours of the house and museum. “(Children) need to know why it’s important to do things like when shaking hands to make eye contact and which fork to use.”

The Museum of Democracy is located downstairs. One item of interest is a New Hampshire ballot box from Andrew Jackson’s controversial election in 1829. Made of wood, glass and medal, the original paper ballots can still be seen inside the box.

“We talk about how divisive elections are today but that’s not new,” Person said. “Andrew Jackson thought the election was stolen from him. He contested it and won. We overcame it before, and we will again.”

In the 1800’s a parade was held after a presidential election where it was customary to carry a lantern with the image of the winner. Several of these lanterns are on view in the museum, including one of Ulysses S. Grant.

There are also many campaign buttons, which Person said can sometimes tell a story. One is from George Washington’s inauguration which says, “Long Live the President.” Washington’s button indicates that although the colonies had broken away from the King of England the “language was still there,” Person said.

In one room there are campaign dresses made of paper, displaying a variety of candidate’s names, including Richard Nixon, Robert Kennedy and Spiro Agnew. The fad was created in the 1960s to appeal to younger voters, who wore the dresses to campaign parties.

There are also several campaign posters and newspapers, including the infamous Chicago Tribune paper incorrectly claiming “Dewey Defeats Truman,” and whimsical items like slippers and even a nutcracker that includes a candidate’s image or name.

“Our thought is we can be an in-person and virtual library for all presidents,” Person explained. “Thirty do not have a formal presidential library.”

For further information or to make a reservation for a tour, go to The White House Experience Long Island University.