The White House is the official residence of the President of the US at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. Its site was chosen by first President George Washington with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, and it was designed by James Hoban. The cornerstone was laid in 1792, and the building was completed by 1800. John Adams was the first president to move in. In 1814, during the War with Britain, invading British troops burned down the building, similarly to the Capitol. The characteristic North and South Porticoes were added by 1825. The West Wing, the heart of the federal executive, was built in several stages between 1900 and 1930s to accomodate the growing administrative staff of the President. Between 1948 and 1952, the White House underwent an extensive renovation, during which President Harry Truman had to move out of the building with his family.

Today, the West Wing houses the President’s Oval Office, the Cabinet Room and the offices of his staff. Under the West Wing, there is the Situation Room equipped with up-to-date communication equipment, where the National Security Council gathers in time of national or international crises. Under the East Wing there is an underground bunker (built during World War II), which is today the Emergency Operations Center.