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President George Washington signed an Act of Congress declaring that the federal government would reside in a district and chose the site for the new residence
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The first cornerstone was laid
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President John Adams and his wife Abigail were the first residents of the White House.
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President Thomas Jafferson held the first Inaugural open house in 1805. He welcomed the people who attended the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol and opened the house for public tours, it has remained open ever since.
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The White House survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814, during the War of 1812.
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There was another fire in the West Wing in 1929 while Herbert Hoover was President.
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On January 21 1993, President Clinton's open house renewed a venerable White House Inaugural tradition, two thousands citizens were selected by lottery to be greeted in the Diplomatic Reception Room by Président Clinton and Mrs. Cliton and the Vice President and Mrs. Gore.