Living in the white house isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure, you’re the leader of the free world, but there are still some harsh rules to follow! Presidents have followed a certain set of guidelines and traditions for many years. Read on to find out some of the craziest rules the nation’s leaders had to follow…
Closed Windows
In the White House, fresh air is hard to come by. Residents are required to keep windows closed at all times, to ensure the safety of those important figures living inside.
Look Out!
Michelle Obama, the first lady of Barack Obama, said that opening the windows was one of the things she missed most about living outside the White House. She told Ellen Degeneres that she would spend her first years off of the grounds “just hanging out the window.”
Moving In
No one likes moving, but especially so if you’re the President. Even though they now run the American Government, they still have to pay for moving costs just like anyone else.
Staff Picks
There are rules of who can come and go from the White House, and movers aren’t on the list! Instead, the House Staff acts as the movers and brings everything inside. The same happens when the President moves out.
Til Death Do We Part
Sadly, President’s are targetted when in office. For this reason, during the first week in office, a President must plan their own funeral in case of an emergency.
Gone Too Soon
A total of 8 presidents have died in office, half of these were assassinated. By preparing the arrangements early on, the staff knows what to do in a crisis situation.
Unknown Caller
Just because you’re the President doesn’t mean things are handed to you on a silver platter. In fact, Presidents are not even allowed to use smartphones! So far, only Obama has owned one.
Phone Lock
Though Obama got the coveted iPhone permission, it was under heavy surveillance. The secret service moderated everything he did, so much so that he compared it to a phone for 3-year olds!
Wine Time
The menu at the White House has some of the finest selections food can offer, but wine is a different story. Cooks go through extreme lengths to ensure all food and drink is from the USA.
For Ford
The concept came from the Ford administration and was never redacted. The wines typically come from Virginia, Idaho, and California. Tradition never tasted so good!
A Very Grand Piano
The First Family gets to redecorate the White House however they’d like. Well, except for one room that is off limits. The Grand Piano room can be played, but not moved, except on rare renovation occasions.
History Lives On
The piano was designed by Eric Gugler and Franklin Roosevelt. Kept in the East Room, the piano is kept under surveillance by a curator on staff who preserves artifacts in the mansion.
Driving Without a Permit
While some would love to never drive again, a President doesn’t get much of a choice. No Presidents are allowed to drive on public roads. The reason behind it is security and safety. Lyndon B. Johnson was the last president to do so.
Private Drives
Don’t worry though, they aren’t completely cut off. There are some private roads where they can get away. George W. Bush often drove around his ranch out in Crawford, Texas.
Secure the Lines
The President might have a secret service monitored phone, but all calls must be made through a secure line. This is one of the most vital rules the President must follow.
Stay Safe
“Because the smartphones of high-level government officials are obvious targets for foreign intelligence services, the government goes to significant effort to ensure that government-issued smartphones are constantly updated to address security vulnerabilities.” said one White House expert.
Interior Designer
The White House, rather surprisingly, doesn’t have an interior decorator. Instead, this task falls to the First Lady to hire a decorator for the home. The decoration lasts the duration of the Presidency, until the next First Lady.
Don’t Touch
Though the First Lady and hired decorator get to make the house their own, there are still a few rooms that are off-limits to change and have stood still in time.
Within Budget
They can’t go too overboard with decoration. The family is allotted $100,000 to redecorate the house however they choose. Anything more is out of their own pockets.
Carter Costs
The First Family under Jimmy Carter reportedly spent the entire budget, as well as an additional $50,000. The Clintons and Obamas reportedly spent the same amount. I hope it was worth the high price!
Reagan Pays
The Reagan’s turned down the budget altogether. They decided to spend their own money on redecoration. How humble!
Kennedy Costs
The Kennedy family spent more than any of these families combined though. Considering today’s inflation, they spent about 16.4 million on a full restoration of the White House.
Inauguration Nation
No matter what, the inauguration of a new President happens on January 20th. This has been a tradition since 1937. It is on this day that they can officially move in and the prior President moves out.
Timing Is Everything
The President being sworn in isn’t allowed into the White House until noon on January 20th to ensure privacy. It’s organized so well, experts have compared it to a science or a military operation.
On the Clock
The First Family has exactly 12 hours to get everything together and move into the prestigious mansion. This is for security purposes, as most things are in the White House. The Obamas took 5 hours.
The Hanukkah Party
This is not a strict rule but expected nonetheless. Each year, the President hosts a Hanukkah party. This tradition began in 1979 with then-President Jimmy Carter.
Lighting the Menorah
The menorah wasn’t lit in the White House residence until 2001 with George W. Bush. This was a change from the private practice taking place in the White House Oval Office in years prior.
Ramadan Dinner
In the interest of equal representation of religions, usually the President hosts a dinner marking the end of Ramadan. Trump broke this 20 year old tradition in 2017.
Cinco de Mayo
Trump broke another party tradition, choosing not to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, which has been a White House tradition for 16 years.
Tree Themes
Weirdly enough, every White House Christmas tree has a theme. This began with Jackie Kennedy in 1961. She based the tree on “Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky.
Tree Tradition
The tree theme tradition has featured themes like Flower Tree, Antique Toy, and Mother Goose. Most recently it was Time-Honored Traditions.
The Football
What’s in The Football? No one knows. The 45-pound luggage comes with a President whenever they travel. Maybe it’s clothes, maybe it’s super-secret nuclear codes. Either way, we’ll never know!
Not So Secret Service
President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, and from that event, the Secret Service was born. The service protects the President and their family as well as the Vice President and their family.
No Thanks!
However, if they want, the President or their family can deny the Secret Service’s protection. Eric Trump denied the protection in 2017.
Easter Egg Roll Rules
This might be a rule you’ve heard before, as it’s one of the oldest and most public traditions. This one began in 1878 with President Abraham Lincoln and continues to this day! Each participant leaves with a wooden egg.
Calling Off Easter
There are only two instances that cause the Easter Roll to be canceled. One is a major construction done to the White House and another is war.
Beast Mode
The President’s house is known as the White House, but do you know the name of his car? It’s actually named Beast, among other names such as The Beat, Cadillac One, and First Car.
Built Tough
The car is more like a tank. It’s built with enough armor to withstand a bomb, including bulletproof glass and an internal oxygen system. It can also withstand a chemical attack.
President Payments
President’s don’t just live off of taxpayer money. In fact, it’s not a very cushy job. They still pay for all their own toiletries, cleaning, and other personal items.
What’s Cooking?
By the same logic, the President still pays for all his own meals. Turns out this isn’t much of a problem when you’re not paying rent though! Check out what they’re cooking for the President on their Instagram page!
Closed Car
The car, unsurprisingly, doesn’t allow open windows. If they can’t open them in the house, they definitely can’t open them in the car! It only happens rarely, and only on private property.
Turkey Day
Starting in the 1940s, The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation has been a public tradition for many years. It wasn’t until Reagan that a turkey was “pardoned”, even though he didn’t say that word.
Presidential Pardon
The official pardon didn’t begin until 1999 with Bill Clinton. Since then, President’s continue to pardon turkeys on Thanksgiving.
Somebody’s Watching Me
Members of the First Family are constantly under the watchful eye of Secret Service. Gone are the days of just heading off to wherever, whenever you want. No matter what, you’re being watched.
Plan Ahead
Everything is planned when you’re the president. Four hours ahead, to be specific. The secret service is required to know everything the President plans to do at least four hours prior to the event, but usually more.
Impromptu Obama
In the interest of athleticism and being a cool President, Obama wanted to stage an impromptu basketball game but was denied because of the four-hour rule.
Correspondent’s Dinner
It’s not a rule so much as an expectation. The Correspondent’s Dinner is a chance for a President to show they are relatable and can take a joke, and therefore are expected to show up.
First Amendment
The Correspondent’s Dinner is a celebration of the freedom of speech, and usually includes appearances by some of the biggest names in politics and comedy.
Side Job
The President is legally not allowed to earn a little extra on the side. Outside of the issued government salary of $400,000, the President can’t make any more income.
Out of the Office
If the President has a business, they must hand it over to someone else while in office. If they have any investments, they must put these investments into a blind trust during their tenure.
Ladies Tea
It’s a tradition for the First Ladies to meet for tea in the White House to discuss what life is like as First Lady. Many of the First Ladies have met in private to discuss matters of Presidential living.
Past and President
The President’s moving in and out of office also get together to meet in private. Wish we could overhear a few of those conversations!
Not So Social Media
The First Children are closely monitored by secret service, especially in the age of social media. The Obama girls were not permitted to operate any accounts outside of Facebook, and even that was closely watched.
Don’t Go Breaking The Law
They might be the law, but President’s are not above the law. If a President breaks the law, they are like everyone else, though probably with more media coverage.
No Declarations
The President is not allowed to declare war on another country. That power falls to Congress. The last time this happened was for World War II.
Declaring War
With this power, Congress has declared war 11 times. Though the US has countless conflicts with foreign nations, there is not a declared war on any of them.
Family Ties
Family isn’t supposed to have any role in the administration. That being said, Trump appointed many of his children and their spouses into roles in the White House.
Additional Support
If a President wants a special room, there is a lot of special approval needed beforehand. President Obama had a basketball court added to the White House.
Snowball Fights
There is a White House snowball fight that takes place every year with the entire First Family, given that there’s enough snow to play. Can we join!?
Puppy Love
Most President’s have a family pet to help soften the family image and increase likability. Typically, it’s a dog or two!
Private Tutors
The children of President’s typically are expected to attend private school. Only President Jimmy Carter sent his daughter to public school.
Meeting the Queen
Since her reign, the Queen of England has met with every US President except for Donald Trump, who she has barred from meeting her.
Family Friends
The President is also expected to meet the entire Royal Family, but this also hasn’t yet happened with President Trump.