Matter of history

I loved Paul Giamatti as John Adams, but apparently he is not a student of history [“Imperfect for the Role,” April 13]. He speaks of dropping his cigar ashes “all over the Oval Office.” The Oval Office was nonexistent during Adams’ brief time in residence in the newly constructed Executive Mansion. The Oval Office was part of the West Wing addition by Theodore Roosevelt [whose original office was rectangular before the oval redesign during the Taft administration].

David Lundin

San Diego