5 Strange Things Stolen From the White House

Even in the beautiful and sophisticated setting of the White House, there's always a chance that some visitors might try to take things home with them. Who wouldn't want a little piece of such an important event? After all, getting invited to a fancy state dinner, an awards luncheon, or a medal ceremony at the White House doesn't happen every day. These special occasions can lead to some guests making questionable choices, like slipping small items into their pockets or purses. Because of this, the White House sometimes sees a few cases of petty theft at its events. Let's dive into a list of strange items stolen from the Executive Mansion.

1. Linen Napkins

Eleanor Roosevelt loved to throw big tea parties, often inviting hundreds of guests at once. With so many people around, it was pretty easy for some of them to take home little treasures from the White House. Henrietta Nesbitt, who worked as a White House housekeeper from 1933 to 1945, shared her thoughts in her 1948 book, "White House Diary."

She mentioned how tempting it was for guests to swipe the beautiful, hand-sewn presidential and U.S. shields. "The monogram cost as much as a napkin. I hate to think what linen replacement cost, making up for the napkins some White House guests took with them when they departed, because of the monograms," she wrote. "They took the guest towels for the same reason, so when I replaced those, I purposely got the cheapest and left off the monograms. How did they have the nerve!"

Eleanor Roosevelt, 1943. Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Public domain

2. Floorboards

Sometimes, the culprits were not visitors to the White House, but members of the staff. One interesting character was William H. Crook (a felicitous surname, it seems), who started as a bodyguard for President Abraham Lincoln and ended up working at the White House for over 40 years.

During a renovation in 1902, he stashed some old floorboards away from Lincoln's office and later made them into about a dozen walking canes that he sold. According to historians, Crook was flooded with requests for more canes, but he couldn't make any extra because he was out of "supplies."

3. Easter Eggs

During the 2006 Easter Egg Roll at the White House, an unexpected surprise unfolded that added a dash of drama to the festive day. As East Wing aides went about their duties, they stumbled upon something curious: a group of volunteers had been sneaking away wooden commemorative eggs and coloring books, hiding them beneath the Porta-Potties.

Instead of causing a scene or embarrassing the volunteers, the aides quickly came up with a clever solution. They reassigned the sneaky group to serve egg salad at the food tent, turning a potentially awkward situation into a humorous twist. It was a clever way to keep the event running smoothly while maintaining the spirit of fun and community.

4. Hand Towels

Barbara Walters, the well-known television personality, was known for taking washroom towels during her visits to the White House. Michelle Obama joked about it later saying it's always "a tremendous joy" to host Walters, "as she tries to steal various items," adding "Barbara, you can take what you want whenever you want it," as reported by HuffPost. Meryl Streep, the Oscar-winning actress, is also a repeat offender. She first admitted to grabbing hand towels when she visited the White House as a Kennedy Center honoree in 2011.

Not everyone gets away with White House paper towel theft, though. Lea Berman, White House social secretary during George W. Bush's presidency, shared a wild story about one particularly bold visitor. She recalled how a woman actually stuffed presidential paper towels into her pants and shirtsleeves. Berman joked that by the time the woman left, she was "walking like the Michelin Man," all puffed up with her secret stash, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch. When Berman and her team checked the washroom afterward, they found it completely cleaned out — everything was gone! She noted, "There's a fine line between petty theft and vandalism," highlighting just how far some people will go for a piece of history.

5. Nails and Pieces of Gilt

During the White House renovations under President Theodore Roosevelt, passersby couldn't resist sneaking onto the construction site and picking up little treasures like nails and pieces of fancy gold gilt.

Fifty years later, during another big renovation during President Harry S. Truman's time, officials decided to take action to prevent a similar looting spree. The Truman administration created special souvenir kits to sell, hoping to keep things in check. These kits offered different items at various prices. For just 25 cents, you could get a hand-split piece of yellow pine from inside a plaster wall, but if you wanted a chunk of brick or stone, it would set you back $100.

However, there was a catch: anyone who bought a kit had to promise to either keep it or give it away for free. This clever idea showed that even when people are tempted to take a piece of history, the White House found a way to make sure those treasures stayed in good hands!

The White House has seen its fair share of strange thefts, each one a quirky reminder that even the most prestigious place in America can't escape the allure of collectibles. From presidential paper towels to pieces of history taken during renovations, these odd incidents reveal a playful side to power and fame. These tales of theft remind us that the desire for a tangible piece of the past can lead to some truly amusing — and sometimes absurd — moments in the heart of American politics.

References: Theft a Reality at the White House | All of the Things People Steal When They Visit the White House | Michelle Obama To Barbara Walters: You Can Steal Whatever You Want From The White House (VIDEO)