What is the Blair House?
The Blair House is the building officially known as The President’s Guest House. It is located on Pennsylvania Avenue across the street from the White House and its principal use is as a guest house for foreign chiefs of state and heads of government visiting the President. It is named the Blair House after the Blair Family who owned he residence and lived there from 1835 until 1943. In 1943 it was purchased from the family by President Franklin Roosevelt for use as a guest house for foreign leaders. The Blairs were the nearest neighbor of every President from Andrew Jackson through Franklin Roosevelt. A great deal of American history occurred in the house when the Blairs lived there. The term “kitchen cabinet” was born in the house when Andrew Jackson’s friends and advisors would gather in the Blair’s kitchen. For a wonderful website about the Blair House, including an interactive tour, visit www.blairhouse.org. Q: When a chief of state, head of government or foreign dignitary from an
