Inside the Presidency (National Geo) Great Read!

[janx]

History always makes a sharp turn in Washington when a new American President takes the oath of office, and so it will once again on January 20, 2009. There will be new Cabinet members, a new Congress, a new foreign policy, a new style in the East Wing, new embarrassing relatives (if the past is any guide), and new first friends.

But many other things in the private world of the President of the United States will stay remarkably the same. The maids on the permanent White House housekeeping staff will make the presidential bed, just as they always have. The kitchen staff will still peel potatoes and scramble eggs. The gardeners will have planted 3,500 tulip bulbs to bloom in the Rose Garden in the spring.


Much more at:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/01/president/bumiller-text

[FrenchieCat]

1. After 8 long ass years, I'm now officially interested in articles such as this one!

thank you for it! :)

[janx]

2. My thoughts exactly, Frenchie.

Most of the pics are from the Bush administration, but notice the very last pic...and keep in mind that this is what awaits Obama and the presidents who will come after him.

You're very welcome.

[Cha]

12. That's kinda what I said to myself

when I was going to click to reply. I love it..suddenly everything about history and government is interesting to me.

[firedupdem]

3. Bookmarking...thanks for this. n/t

[janx]

4. You're welcome. See the photos!

Take the quiz! It's amazing.

[calimary]

5. It is a great read! Thoroughly enjoyable and informative.

I particularly loved the last line - where barbara bush the crone was "gently" reminded that "Presidents come and go. Butlers stay." Haughty entitlement-jonesed bitch. I'm glad SOMEBODY pointed that out to her ladyship. Imagine - cut down "gently" by "the help." SWEET!!! Not to mention well-deserved!

:toast:

[janx]

6. The truly awesome thing about the White House is that

it doesn't belong to any president. The people provide it for the president and his/her family. It really galled me each time GWB posted that arrogant seal at his Texas ranch: The Western White House. He seemed to think that he was the White House...?

I also found it amazing that one family moves in and the other moves out--sometimes within only a few hours on inauguration day.

[Captain Hilts]

7. They used to sleep in the previous tenants' beds. The Roosevelts slept in the Hoovers'

beds, but replaced them because they were too short for them.

[janx]

8. Oh God, now I want to read a book about the history of the White House.

You and this article have whet my appetite!

[Captain Hilts]

9. There was none of this 'we've got to completely re-decorate for millions of dollars' crap. nt

[janx]

10. I've always hated reading about that.

Politics aside, I especially hated reading about what the Bushes did to the Lincoln bedroom. I know it wasn't Lincoln's bedroom, etc., but they spent a lot of money on some garish redecorating. I'd like to think that any first family would keep things as simply historical as possible--if you know what I mean. That's my conservative side, in the real meaning of the term. ;-)

[Jennicut]

16. That is kind of creepy. I do hope the Obamas and Bidens get new beds

and I am sure they will.

[calimary]

11. That's something well worth remembering. It's THE PEOPLE'S house.

Actually, for the last eight years, it's been Al Gore's house, at least in my mind. Just had a bunch of redneck lowlife squatters in it for awhile, holding the place (and all the rest of us) hostage.

[Captain Hilts]

14. It seems like Al's fallen off the edge of the earth and been consumed by dragons. nt

[Cha]

13. Rec'd~ Fascinating and I still

find it incredible that we're gearing up for an Obama Prez!

Happy 2009, Janx:fistbump::party:

[janx]

17. Same to you, Zidzi.

2009...:party:

[AtomicKitten]

15. All will be made new again! Thanks for posting this interesting read.

I have gone from not giving a crap to not being able to get enough of this stuff!

K&R
:bounce:

[Cha]

19. Precisely~ From a horrible web of lies

and mass killing for politics to a reality based team who actually want to do the very best they can for us and the Planet.

:fistbump::party: 2009 AtomicKitten:)

[AtomicKitten]

20. I can't wait (and neither can the planet)!!

Happy 2009 to you too!

Yes we did. :fistbump:

[Lugnut]

18. Bookmarking for later. Thank you. n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

21. Embarrassing relatives? He's related to DDDDDick Cheney, ferchrissakes!

"Embarrassing" doesn't even begin to cover it.

[janx]

22. I think the part in the article about embarrassing relatives

referred to every president. This article is not about any one president per se.