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 The White House has a unique and fascinating history. It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the war of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman’s presidency, the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Trumans lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago. Presidents can express their individual style in how they decorate some parts of the house and in how they receive the public during their stay. President Jefferson also opened the house for public tours, and it has remained open, except during wartime, ever since. In addition, he welcomed visitors to annual receptions on New Year’s Day and on the Fourth of July. In 1829, a horde of 20,000 Inaugural callers forced President Andrew Jackson to flee to the safety of a hotel while, on the lawn, aides filled washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to lure the mob out of the mud-tracked White House. The president would lift federal regulations that hamper faith-based institutions from involvement in the delivery of services to the needy Expand the federal charitable deduction to taxpayers who do not itemize Permit a credit against state taxes for contributions to charities addressing poverty Permit individuals over 59 to contribute IRA funds to charities, without having to pay income tax on the amount withdrawn Raise the cap on corporate charitable deductions from 10% to 15% of a company''s taxable income Provide civil liability protection for corporate in-kind donations of equipment or facilities to charities Expand ''Charitable Choice'' to all federal social service programs, allowing religious organizations to be eligible for funding on the same basis as any other provider, without impairing their religious character. Technology and the New Economy. The president elect understands that hard-working entrepreneurs created the New Economy, not government. But, as he has shown in Texas, which leads the nation in high-tech job growth, government can create an environment in which entrepreneurs flourish: an environment that encourages innovation, rewards risk-taking, and promotes equal opportunity. Thus, as President, he will support the growth of the New Economy by cutting taxes, encouraging investment in R&D, curbing frivolous lawsuits, pursuing free trade and implementing sensible export controls. To ensure that all Americans share in the benefits of the New Economy, the president elect will reform education through high standards and accountability, accelerate e-government, and increase access to assistive technologies for Americans with disabilities. a list of american presidents with information about them
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