RICHARD M. NIXON

"I'm unusual in one respect. I never used the Oval Office for creative work. Never. I signed things, or I'd have a meeting, a ceremony, or a discussion of schedules there. I found that as far as sitting down and doing the kind of work I do in writing a book and so forth, I used the EOB (Executive Office Building) or the Lincoln Sitting Room."

JIMMY CARTER

"When I was living at the White House, I got up quite early in the morning to go to the Oval Office and read the secretary of state's nightly report, the local newspapers and my paperwork. I tried to deter visitors until 8 a.m. when (national security adviser Zbigniew) Brzezinski brought in the daily CIA intelligence report."

RONALD REAGAN

"The little study up in the private quarters, the one next to the bedroom, was particularly nice. ... The Oval Office was more formal and I used it for ceremonies and visitors. The little study is where I did much of my real work."