InterContinental the Willard Washington D.C.

The InterContinental the Willard Washington D.C. is a great choice for places to stay with kids in DC - it is a luxurious and historic hotel located in the heart of the city, directly across from the White House. Even if you aren't staying here, it is worth a visit for its historical significance. Originally built in 1818, the hotel has played host to many famous guests over the years, including Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, the hotel is often referred to as the "Residence of Presidents" because almost every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce has stayed there. In 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln famously stayed at the hotel on his way to his inauguration, and it was during his stay that he first met with his future Secretary of State, William H. Seward. The hotel was also the location of the Peace Conference of 1861, which attempted to prevent the outbreak of the Civil War. The term "lobbyist" originated from the practice of people gathering in the lobbies of government buildings to try to influence lawmakers. This practice dates back to the early 1800s, when people would wait in the lobbies of the Willard Hotel in Washington D.C. to talk to lawmakers. The term became widely used in the late 1800s to describe individuals or organizations that work to influence government policies and decisions on behalf of a particular interest group. Today, the term "lobbyist" is commonly used to describe a person who works to influence lawmakers and government officials in order to shape public policy in favor of their clients.

Located directly across from the White House, this hotel has had a major role in American History. It was the location where Martin Luther King Jr completed his "I Have a Dream" speech and it is the birthplace of the term lobbyists, coined by Ulysses S. Grant who once spent time smoking cigars and sipping brandy in the lobby of the Willard while power brokers attempted to court him.