No Opening the Windows
There’s a lot of restrictions when it comes to residing in the US’s most historical and well-known White House. Some of these restrictions might seem odd to the public, including that no windows can be opened, which Michelle Obama mentioned missing.
No Opening The Windows
Michelle’s Experience
The former First Lady, Michelle Obama, has gone on to state that she missed being able to open a window and let some fresh air in during her time in the White House. She even joked in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres about spending some time by a window when she moves out of the White House.
Michelle’s Experience
A Presidential Funeral
One of the first things a president of the US needs to take care of is when coming into office is his funeral. This might sound shocking by insiders have revealed that this funeral plan is developed in case something occurs during their presidency.
A Presidential Funeral
Planning a Presidential Funeral
A presidential funeral typically lasts for five days and is lined with arranged ceremonies. Due to this, such a burial is a massive ordeal. In total, eight US presidents have passed away during their team and four of these presidents were assassinated.
Planning A Presidential Funeral
Moving into the White House
This might be a surprising revelation, but the First Family is required to pay for their move into the White House. During this process, the family can choose the moving company they want. However, these movers aren’t allowed inside the White House.
Moving Into The White House
Moving Day
After the moving truck arrives at the checkpoint, it falls on the First Family’s own hands to move everything inside the White House. Only the residence staff can help with the move at this point. This procedure also applies when moving out of the White House.
Moving Day
The Rule for Driving
The First Family isn’t allowed to drive. None of the members can drive on public roads for safety reasons. Lyndon B. Johnson was the last US President who was allowed to drive on public roads. However, these members of the First Family can drive on private roads.
The Rule For Driving
The Interior Design
The White House isn’t equipped with its own interior design. Due to this, it’s the First Lady’s responsibility to hire one. This hiring process is conducted as soon as the family moves into the White House. This interior designer then needs to follow the interior design rules of the White House.
The Interior Design
The Role of the Interior Design
This chosen interior designer is responsible for redesigning and organizing the White House. However, this interior designer doesn’t have the authority to redesign the historical rooms, as these can never be touched. A curator is included in White House staff ensures that the ancient artifacts are properly cared for.
The Role Of The Interior Design
The Infamous Football
During the president’s travels, he always brings ‘The Football’ with him. This isn’t an actual football, but a briefcase that contains contents unknown by the general public. However, it’s extremely important and many believe it has nuclear codes in case of an attack.
The Infamous Football
The Easter Egg Roll
The White House tradition known as the Easter Egg Roll started in 187, but many suspect this tradition to have started during President Lincoln’s time. During this event, children roll Easter eggs with a spoon on the White House lawn.
The Easter Egg Roll
Easter Sunday
The event is held annually on Easter Sunday and the only time this event has been called off is during major construction on the White House and wartime. First Lady Nancy Reagan began the custom where all participants receive a wooden Easter egg spoon after the event.
Easter Sunday
Assess to Rooms
A common misconception that the public believes is that the First Family has complete control over the White House. This isn’t true as the White House can be seen as a museum and there are various rooms that members don’t have access to, such as the Lincoln Bedroom.
Assess To Rooms
The Rules for Decorating
When it comes to re-decorating, the First Family is required to get approval from the historical committee for some decoration changes in the White House. This is the committee that oversees the White House. However, the family can freely decorate the second and third floors.
The Rules For Decorating
The Beast
In addition to the White House, the president of the US also receives a new car. This vehicle is called by many names including ‘Cadillac One,’ ‘The Beat,’ and ‘First Car.’ Its design includes bulletproof glass that’s reinforced with armor that can withstand a bomb.
The Beast
The Christmas Trees
First Lady Jackie Kennedy started a tradition in 1961 that involves Christmas tree themes. This tradition continues until today. The first Christmas tree theme was Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker’ and was introduced during her husband’s first year in office. Other themes have included ‘Antique Toy’ and ‘American Flower Tree.’
The Christmas Trees
January 20th
The date January 20th is significant because this is when a new president is inaugurated. The predecessor is remaining in the residence until January 19th, so the newly-elected president can only move in on January 20th and has a mere 12 hours to do so.
January 20th
The Procedure for Moving in
Many security issues come with moving into the White House. For these security risks, the new First Family is only allowed 12 hours to move into their new residence. The fastest record goes to the Obamas who took five hours to move into the White House.
The Procedure For Moving In
Eating Expenses
The presidents of the US don’t live on the hard-earned money from taxpayers. Instead, the president and his family are required to pay for their dry cleaning, toiletries, groceries, food, as well as other personal services and items they deem necessary.
Eating Expenses
Pardoning a Turkey
The White House is home to an ongoing ceremony that entails the sitting president to pardon a turkey on Thanksgiving. This presentation is a tradition that dates back to 1940. Ronald Reagan was the first president to pardon a turkey.
Pardoning A Turkey
Continuously Under Surveillance
There’s no doubt that an individual loses some of their common liberties when they become a member of the First Family. One of these common liberties is having the freedom to go somewhere by yourself. You’re constantly being monitored by the secret service as a member of the First Family.
Continuously Under Surveillance
The Secret Service
The secret service has an essential role to guard the President constantly. In addition to the US president, this secret service is also responsible for guarding all the members of the First Family and the vice president’s family. These family members are always watched by the secret service.
The Secret Service
No iPhones are Allowed
A US president doesn’t have access to the newest and latest technology. This is done to maintain security. Barack Obama was the first president to own a smartphone during his term, which was a Blackberry. However, it wasn’t any ordinary Blackberry.
No IPhones Are Allowed
Obama’s Blackberry
Although Barack Obama was given access to a smartphone, this wasn’t any phone. It was heavily modified and encrypted to ensure nobody could remotely access it. In an interview with Oprah, Obama reviewed that his phone could be compared to a phone you got a three-year-old to play with.
Obama’s Blackberry
The Decoration Budget
One hundred thousand US dollars is reversed for the redecoration of the White House. Due to this, the First Family doesn’t have the means to entirely redesign the entire property. Any expenses above this budget need to come out of the family’s pockets.
The Decoration Budget
Past Presidency Decoration Projects
The Carters used this entire decoration budget and added an extra $50,000 from their pocket. On the other hand, the Reagans choose to not use the allocated budget and all expenses for redecorating came out of their own wallets.
Past Presidency Decoration Projects
Convertible Vehicles
It’s widely known that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while he was riding in a convertible. Due to this, any president after this incident is prohibited from sitting in a convertible vehicle. This only shows how dangerous it is to take on being the president of the US.
Convertible Vehicles
Secure Lines of Communication
One of the most crucial rules for any sitting president is that they only make calls from secure lines. This concerns private and personal calls. All incoming and outgoing calls for the US present are directed on a secure line for national security purposes.
Secure Lines Of Communication
Addressing Security Vulnerabilities
A White House expert has revealed that smartphones belonging to high-level government officials are targets for foreign intelligence services, including the US president. For this reason, the US government goes through significant efforts to ensure these phones remain updated to address security vulnerabilities.
Addressing Security Vulnerabilities
Every Minute of the Day is Scheduled
It’s not an exaggeration to state that every minute of the president’s day is scheduled. For many reasons, it’s almost impossible to squeeze something into this schedule if it isn’t planned. Obama tried to organize an impromptu basketball game but it was stopped by the secret services.
Every Minute Of The Day Is Scheduled
The Correspondents’ Dinner
It isn’t a rule for the US president to come to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. However, it is a tradition that they attend for some humor that’s at their own expense. Pop culture icons, athletes, comedians, and journalists are the individuals who typically attend this event.
The Correspondents’ Dinner
Earning Additional Money
The sitting US president isn’t permitted to earn additional income outside of their government salary, which is four hundred thousand dollars each year. If a president owns their own business, they need to separate from this entity when taking on the role of president.
Earning Additional Money
The Rules for Social Media
The First Children don’t have much access to social media accounts. During their time in the White House, Malia and Sasha weren’t allowed Twitter accounts and had limited access to Facebook. However, Michelle seemed to like this restriction as she doesn’t want her kids to partaking in Facebook.
The Rules For Social Media
The Protection of the US President
After the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, the US Congress passed a law that officially made the secret service responsible for the protection of the US president and their family. However, some members of the First Family refuse to be protected by the secret service.
The Protection Of The US President
Car Windows
The First Family is escorted in an armored vehicle. The windows of this armored car aren’t allowed to be opened. However, there are some rare moments where these car windows are opened, but this is only when the car is on private property.
Car Windows
The First Ladies
It’s a White House tradition for the incoming and outgoing First Ladies to sit down and have tea together after an election. In a recent event, Michelle Obama had met Melania Trump to discuss the unusual life in the White House.
The First Ladies
Breaking the Law
Although it might seem like the US president is above the law, it only makes sense for these individuals to abide by these laws as they are the ones who sign the bills into laws. For this reason, US presidents are like any other American citizen when it comes to lawbreaking.
Breaking the Law
The Declaring of War
The president might have tremendous amounts of power. However, he can’t declare war on another country. Only the US Congress has the power to declare war, as this is part of the Constitution. The last time war was declared was during the Second World War.
The Declaring Of War
The Annual Hanukkah Party
President Jimmy Carter began hosting an annual Hanukkah Party in 1979. However, the president lit the menorah outside the White House. In 2001, President George Bush was the first present to light the menorah inside the White House during this party.
The Annual Hanukkah Party
The Grand Piano
The First Family has the freedom to redecorate most rooms in the White House, some furnishings can’t be touched. We have already listed a few. However, one of the most famous is the Grand Piano. It can be played by never removed from its place.
The Grand Piano
