apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

In the early days of the committee, experts were rarely consulted. ''Before the Reagan administration, almost all the members were political appointees and didn't have any training in the decorative arts,'' Mr. Wilmerding said. ''The depoliticizing of the committee was very good.''

Though the committee seldom met during the Reagan administration -- Clement Conger, then the White House curator, had been critical of the work done by Mrs. Reagan's decorator, Ted Graber -- it was revitalized by Barbara Bush, who also supported the creation of the White House endowment with money from wealthy donors. It stands at $28 million today and provides funds for acquisitions and for redecorating the public rooms, which are in constant use for official functions. Though Congress is responsible for the upkeep of the house, it no longer controls the purse strings for redecoration, which can be useful for a president who doesn't share the political orientation of the Congressional majority. As honorary chairwoman of the Preservation Committee, Mrs. Clinton attended all nine meetings.

Ruffles and Flourishes to Hail the New Chief