Although he had no formal training, White was tutored by local architect Albert H. Beers and designed thousands of buildings for developer Harry Wardman.

[2][3] As real estate developer Harry Wardman's chief architect from 1905 to 1911, Beers designed around 1,000 houses and 70 apartment buildings.

The combination of Beers' tutoring and working with prolific developer Wardman resulted in White becoming a skilled architect, designing a variety of building types.

White's professional relationship with Wardman continued for 25 years, although he began working with other developers in 1917 including Victor Cahill, Anita Eckles, Zachariah T. Goldsmith, Fred Gore, Joseph A. Howar, Karla King, and Ernest G.

[5] During his career White designed over 5,000 houses, 51 apartment buildings, hotels, commercial properties, and even an affordable bomb shelter meant to hold 30 people.

[3][7] In addition to Clifton Terrace, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, White's most well known work is the original 1200-room Wardman Park Hotel, built in 1917 and modeled after The Homestead resort in Virginia.

Griffin filed for divorce in 1923, two years after the couple first separated, and told the court White had left their home at The Ambassador and was living in an apartment on G Street NW where "misconduct with several women" took place.

[8][15] A year later his girlfriend Carolyn Wildman of Washington, D.C. attempted to make a purchase at a Baltimore jewelry store with one of the counterfeit bills and was arrested.