The Oval Office as Visual Policy

The Oval Office is one of the most visual aspects of the US Presidency. Since the 1960s the decorative choices made within have been used to intentionally signal a president's message. While this is the case, there has been very little scholarship done to analyze the Oval Office with the interpretive lens it deserves. This project examines critical messages of power, policy, and personality in the Oval Office. 

"Power" is manifested when the office holder uses the office to represent his authority as the primary focus. Examples include Richard Nixon, who used the space to intimidate visitors and make them feel small, as well as Reagan and Clinton. 

"Policy" is when authority is still in play, but a more specific message is being portrayed. President Biden, for one, decorated his office with art of Civil Rights leaders, showing his dedication to the Democratic party and to Civil Rights in general. Other instances include Truman and Eisenhower.

"Personality" is when the president leans into his relatability as a figure rather than authority. Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy decorated with icons of their personal pasts. President Carter, conversely, maintained many of the decorations of his predecessor showing his monetarily conservative and humble sides. 

While this is not an exhaustive categorization, it is a step in the process of analyzing the space with the critical lens it deserves but has not yet had.