Beyond Books homepage

Hello, GUEST
Log in

BackLinksNext
Study Questions
Add to Portfolio
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary
Click to hide Teasers
By the Numbers
There are 238 miles of electrical wire in Air Force One. The specially coated wire keeps the President in constant contact with any part of the world, 24/7. The wires inside the jet can resist the electrical force of a thermonuclear blast in the event of war.
Go to http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/af1/

Fun!
President Nixon filled in the presidential swimming pool to make room for more reporters. Gerald Ford, an avid swimmer, immediately had a new pool dug upon his arrival in the White House.
Go to http://www.americanpresidents.com/facts.html

Did You Know?
Chelsea Clinton made it a habit to invite her friends over from time to time to watch a movie in the Presidential Theater. Mr. and Mrs. Clinton agreed to host the event on one condition; she must sweep up the popcorn!
Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Do It Yourself
Who has eyes like a hawk, instant reflexes, and blinding speed? Superman? No. A Secret Service agent! Want a job protecting the President? Then grab your dark sunglasses and pickup an application on this website.
Go to http://www.treas.gov/usss/index.htm?opportunities.htm&1

Search BB
Beyond Books Home Programs Your Desk Portfolios Help
PoliticalFest 2000
Life in the White House
Cite this page Printer-friendly page

3c. It's Good to Be President

The "flying Oval Office" -- better known as Air Force One -- has 4,000 square feet of interior floor space and features two galleys capable of serving dinner for 50 flyers.
It's good to be President of the United States. Oh sure, you're chief of police for the world, have to ensure the domestic tranquility of 260 million Americans, be responsible for the globe's largest nuclear arsenal, face the scrutiny of the press 24/7, and have most people think that they could do a better job than you. Then there's the issue of how posterity will judge your presidency.

But think of the perks!

How about your own private retreat, Camp David? Franklin Delano Roosevelt established this paradise in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland in the 1930s. The 125-acre compound nestled in the woods features several cottages named after trees and is set in an intimate, private atmosphere. It was here that FDR fished with Winston Churchill, that Ike practiced putting, where George Bush and Soviet Premier Gorbachev pitched horseshoes.

White House Lanes, the Presidential bowling alley, is just one of the many perks available to the President in the White House. Others include a swimming pool, movie theater, and golf green.
It is also a place where political theory is pitched and discussed among world leaders in a less formal atmosphere. Nixon and Brezhnev talked détente here and perhaps most famously President Carter held meetings with Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat that led to the signing of the Camp David Accords and a major step toward peace in the Mideast.

What if a President doesn't find the woods relaxing? Then the chief of state can stay at home in the White House which features a variety of recreation facilities. There is a tennis court, putting green, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater billiard room and a bowling alley.

July 12, 1957 marked the first time a President had ever flown in a helicopter. President Eisenhower first inquired about the use of helicopters for transportation, but the idea was rejected by the Secret Service. Later, the Secret Service reversed its decision and purchased two Bell UH-13-J helicopters. Since then, the helicopter is just one of the many vehicles in the President's garage.
What does a President do if he wants a midnight snack? No need to head out to McDonald's and scarf down Big Mac's. The White House has five full-time chefs and can crank out food around the clock.

And if a President is thirsty? Well, Thomas Jefferson had a wine collection at the White House. Lyndon Johnson preferred the soft drink Fresca and had a soda tap installed at the White House.

Since the early '60s, the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford has supplied each President with a customized limo properly titled the "President Continental."
Ever since the early 20th century when William Taft converted the White House stables into car garages, American Presidents have had a fascination with transportation. And though Presidents from TR to Ronald Reagan have enjoyed getting around by horseback, the preferred mode of practical transport is the presidential limo.

The most recent limo features a rear seat that can be raised and lowered automatically, retractable foot stands for Secret Service men, two two-way radio telephones and a master control panel for power accessories. The car, which is more than 21 feet in overall length, is an elongated version of the 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible.

When flying, the President uses Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200B aircraft that was extensively modified to meet presidential requirements. The original paint scheme was designed at the request of JFK who wanted the jet to reflect the national character. He also directed that the words "United States of America" appear on the fuselage, and that the U.S. flag be painted on the stabilizer.

The flying "Oval Office" has 4,000 square feet of interior floor space, which features a conference room, dining room, quarters for the President and the First Lady, and an office area space for staff members. Another office can be converted into a medical facility when required. There is an area for members of the media and two galleys are each capable of providing food for 50 people.

Perhaps the biggest "perk" of the Presidency is the 24-hour personal security -- the Secret Service.
Most folks have noticed that the President is often surrounded by a group of men wearing dark sunglasses who look like extras from "The Sopranos." These are Secret Service agents whose job is to protect the chief executive. The services of the Secret Service extend not only to the President, but also to the Vice President their immediate families, former Presidents and their spouses, widows and minor children of former Presidents.

Finally, the perks do not end when a President leaves the White House. It's estimated that the minimum amount President Clinton's pension and staff will cost U.S. taxpayers if his life span is average is $6,072,000.



BackLinksNext
BACK | LINKS | NEXT

Talk to us!
Tell Beyond Books what you think of this page, ask us questions about our service, or report any problems. Students working on assignments should use Your Portfolios in Your Desk. Sorry, no homework help! Selected comments are shown on our User Comments page.
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Comments:
 

BEYOND BOOKS HOME ||| PROGRAMS ||| YOUR DESK ||| PORTFOLIOS ||| HELP

Copyright ©2007 Apex Learning Inc. All rights reserved. Patents D455,435 and D455,436.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Call Toll Free 1-800-453-6227 • Fax 206-381-5601

Beyond Books homepage