Jackie Kennedy renovates the White House

In 1962, cameras were allowed into the White House for the first televised tour of the American president’s renovated residence. And acting as the guide was one of the country’s most famous first ladies, Jackie Kennedy.

When her husband became president in 1961, Jackie had been disappointed with the “dreary” furnishings in the 132-room mansion.

So, she announced a plan, not to redecorate, but to restore the 18th century building to reflect its history and heritage.

At the end of the project, she invited correspondent Charles Collingwood on a tour for a CBS TV special. Jane Wilkinson has been through the archives.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.

We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.

You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.

(Photo: Jackie Kennedy in the state dining room. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images)