NEW YORK—A re-creation of the Oval Office, furnished with Reagan-era decor, has opened its doors in Manhattan.
The New-York Historical Society decided to give their visitors a “classical interpretation” of the Oval Office. To name a few replicated items: on a bookcase, The Bronco Buster sculpture by Frederick Remington; on the floor, the Reagan-era carpet; and on The Resolute Desk, a jar of jelly beans—President Ronald Reagan’s signature treat.
Curator Marci Reaven said public interest in the presidency blew up after the 2016 election, and the museum took that as an opportunity.
“So we wanted to take advantage of that and offer an experience—both an immersive experience and a more traditional museum experience—to help people learn about U.S. government, about American democracy, and about the president,” Reaven told NTD News.
Reaven said their re-creation is very accurate. The museum even contacted the Ronald Reagan Library in California for help in finding items, according to the Wall Street Journal. But it wasn’t easy.
“I think the item that gave us a lot of challenge was the telephone,” Reaven said.” That’s an old-school telephone, it’s hard to find these days.”
Fortunately, she said a telephone museum in California had the phone they were looking for and were nice enough to share it with them.
Why the Reagan Administration?
But why the Reagan-era? Well, the curator said it has a distinct style.
“Now, the Reagans took the job of redecorating the Oval Office very seriously … But Nancy Reagan got involved particularly ambitiously,” said Reaven.
First Lady Nancy Reagan went as far as hiring her friend and interior designer from California Ted Graber to help remodel it and other rooms in the White House. Graber worked in the “‘Hollywood Regency / Hollywood traditional’ style pioneered by his original mentor and partner William ‘Billy’ Haines,” according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
He was one of several decorators that worked for the Reagans.
The re-creation is actually part of the “Meet the Presidents” exhibition. And outside of the presidential office, presidential memorabilia, including the actual Bible used during the inauguration of George Washington in 1789. It’s a huge Bible.
Through the exhibit, Reaven said she hopes visitors gain a better understanding of how weighty and serious the president’s job is. And while the Reagan-era is over, this re-creation and exhibition is here to stay—permanently—in the museum.