The West Bedroom in 1992, looking northeast (HABS)
The "Blue Bedroom"Two bedrooms on the north side of the second floor are part of small suites with their own bathrooms. The west bedroom connects to the Closet Hall to the east as well as to the small Beauty Salon to the west. This room was used once as a bedroom by Willie Lincoln. Here, Mary Lincoln lay in shock following her husband's assassination, refusing to enter their own suite.
It was later occupied by President Andrew Johnson and son Andrew Jr., Robert and Charlie Taft, Joseph Lash (friend of Eleanor Roosevelt), Reathel Odum (secretary to Bess Truman), John F. Kennedy Jr., Chuck and Lynda Johnson Robb and their daughter. It was Amy Carter's play room. Later it became the Reagans' gym, but the first Bush family changed it back to a guest bedroom. Mrs. Hoover wrote of her experience with the room:
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The West Bedroom in 1992, looking southwest into the Beauty Salon (HABS)
Amy Carter in her playroom in 1978, putting Misty Malarky Ying Yang to bed (Carter Library)
Lucy Johnson in 1966 (Life)
Lucy Johnson in 1966 (Life)
Mrs. Johnson in 1965 (Life)
Two views of John Jr.'s bedroom around 1963, looking north (Life | Getty)
Jackie Kennedy with John Jr. in his bedroom in 1962 (NARA - Cecil Stoughton)
John-John's bedroom in 1962, looking north (Kennedy Library - Robert Knudsen)
John-John's bedroom in 1962, looking west (Kennedy Library - Robert Knudsen)
John-John's bedroom in 1962, looking southeast (Kennedy Library - Robert Knudsen)
The West Bedroom in 1952, after the Truman reconstruction, looking northwest (Truman Library)
The West Bedroom in 1952, after the Truman reconstruction, looking northeast (Truman Library)
The West Bedroom in 1948, before the Truman reconstruction, looking southeast (Truman Library)
The West Bedroom in 1948, before the Truman reconstruction, looking southwest (Truman Library)
Reathel Odom, secretary to Bess Truman, sitting in a winged chair in her room in 1948 (NARA)