large. 1850s. 1860s were a good time for the willard's henry willard beck pierce when he was running for president and when franklin pierce won president, pierce became the first president to visit the willard hotel the willard would house many almost all of them from that then the hotel was called the residence of presidents in addition to having congressmen, senate and businessmen stay at the hotel the village decided to the foreign dignitaries a particular was the japanese delegation. the japanese had never left their homeland and were headed to the united to visit with president buchanan and to sign the treaty of amity commerce.that at the time there was no blair house to house foreign dignitaries and that task fell to the willard congress to appropriate its $50,000 for the willard to refurbish and redecorate to accommodate our guests from japan. rooms were re carpeted with red carpets. there was a pantry built in kitchens and then a floor of 60 rooms was given to the on. the japanese entered through ladies entrance on 14th street and security hired to help take of any wayward wha