By Thomas F. Schwartz
The first telephone installed at the White House was on May 10, 1878, and appropriately given the number “1.” As the number of telephones increased, a new number was issued in 1900, and the White House number became “Main 6.” Again, with the increased number of telephone users, a new number was issued for the White House, “National 1414.” Unfortunately, some callers transposed the numbers confusing it with a popular Russian-themed club “Trokia” whose number was “National 4141.”
Herbert Hoover was the first President to have a telephone in the Oval Office on his working desk; previous Presidents had to walk down the hall to make a phone call. Hoover’s extension was number “30,” because there were already 29 other extensions in use throughout the White House.
Among the papers of Hoover’s press secretary, Theodore Joslin, is a memorandum detailing the history of telephones in the White House. Dated April 2, 1931, it states:
The White House was one of the original subscribers for telephone service when the first switchboard in Washington was opened on December 1, 1878. There were only fifty subscribers in the Capital City at that time. One telephone was sufficient to meet the needs of the Chief Executive and his entire staff.
More than fifty years have passed. The telephone has taken its place not only as a national necessity but as world necessity as well. The telephone service at the White House has kept pace with growth and development of telephone service.
In February, 1898, there was one telephone and one extension. The main station was located in the telegraph room and the extension was on the secretary’s desk. When the President was called to the telephone, or wished to make a call, it was necessary for him to use either the secretary’s telephone or that in the telegraph room. The Spanish American War showed the need of a more comprehensive service and within a few weeks after the declaration of war a small switchboard was installed with two trunk lines and three stations.
In 1912, nearly twenty years ago, it was estimated sixty thousand calls were received at the White House during the year. And this figure does not include out-going calls. At that time a one-position switchboard served the Executive Offices with a relatively small number of stations and trunk lines.
In 1924 the President’s offices were served by four trunk lines and twenty-six stations in addition to the departmental tie lines. The record of calls for this and previous years was destroyed by the fire in 1929.
In 1929, when the Executive Offices were remodeled the historic one-position switchboard which had served for so many years was retired from service and a new two-position switchboard, especially built to meet the President’s needs, was installed. The number of stations was materially increased in addition to many special circuits for the use of the President. It was at this time a telephone was installed on the President’s desk for the first time.
With the new equipment the volume of business increased, for the administration made constant use of the telephone facilities.
The fire which damaged the Executive Offices on Christmas Eve, 1929, played havoc with the telephone facilities, but temporary service was ready for use in less than two hours after the first alarm of fire.
By seven o’clock on Christmas morning a new switchboard had been installed in the White House proper with all stations and trunk lines ready for service. The following day it was decided to establish temporary offices in the State, War and Navy Building. By Saturday morning, the date set, a temporary two-position switchboard in place in the new offices with all lines and states installed and ready for service.
When repairs were completed in the Executive Offices the switchboard was re-installed in its present location.
At the present time the switchboard is equipped with one hundred and two working lines.
The record of the yearly number of calls prior to 1926 was destroyed by the fire in the winter of 1929. The record from the year 1926 on is as follows:
1926—38,449 calls made, and 114,347 calls received.
1927—38,460 calls made, and 115,380 calls received.
1928—37,760 calls made, and 113,280 calls received.
1929—65,301 calls made, and 261,204 calls received.
1930—77,055 calls made, and 308,220 calls received.
The figures for calls made are actual records but do not include inter-communication calls. The figures for calls received are conservatively estimated, no records being available