The Big White Jail

That's what Harry Truman called the White House, and he was lucky enough to escape it for part of his presidency because a leg of his daughter's piano began sinking into the Red Room.  Engineers decided that the house was unsound, and the Trumans moved to Blair House while the White House was gutted and rebuilt.  Bummer, but at least the new White House had closets and air-conditioning.

The interior of the White House during the 1950 renovation

I've just finished "The Obamas," a book by New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor.  Based on her report,  I'd say the Obamas also think of the White House as the big white jail.  They can't go anywhere without a huge retinue, including a helicopter; they can't sit outside without snipers being posted on the roof;  they can't take their daughters to school because they'd cause traffic jams.  They can go to Camp David on weekends, but Obama turns out not to be an ourdoorsy kind of guy.  He likes the private plane and the valet service, but he's said that he's really looking forward to being an ex-President, after he wins the 2012 election (please, God).

I collect White House guidebooks from various administrations and also pore over books about the first ladies.   I've always had a fantasy about going there for an event, say a state dinner, when they need to balance a table with the addition of a liberal  woman of a certain age.  But of course, I'd want to go be invited upstairs for cocktails.  I want to see Michelle's new decor, the stylish taupe paint that's apparently replaced the sunny Nixon yellow.   But this book pretty much convinced me that I wouldn't want to live there.

Upstairs at the White House during Bush II.  The yellow on the walls was chosen by Pat Nixon. Michelle Obama replaced it with taupe.