Obama's Vacation Spot: Hawaii or Key West?
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
He already has the Hawaiian shirt and likes fine dining and romantic beach strolls with the missus. So maybe President Obama, as he considers warm-weather trips and vacations, might think Florida's Key West. Unlike his childhood home of Oahu, Key West is just a 3 1/2-hour Air Force One flight away, and it already has an official summer residence: the "Little White House," used by Harry S. Truman and several other presidents. "Oh, yes, he's been invited," says Bob Wolz, Little White House foundation director. "It will happen. We're aiming with that thought process in mind. It's not like this place is a moment frozen in 1949."
In fact, it's practically new, thanks to a $1 million makeover that restored the waterfront plantation to its 1940s luster. Even the Truman-era wallpaper was re-created to cover the plaster and horsehair walls of the circa-1890 military HQ. "It looks more presidential every day," cheers Wolz. And don't sweat the humidity, Mr. Prez. They spent $300,000 on a supermodern A/C unit.
Wolz isn't the only one talking up the Little White House. Bill and Hillary Clinton vacationed there in 2005, and Secretary of State Clinton promises to hold diplomatic summits in the house where Truman sketched out the Truman Doctrine. During the 2008 primaries, says Wolz, Hillary even suggested she'd vacation there as prez. Then there's former Sen. George McGovern, there this month to cut the ribbon on the renovation. And Obama ally Rep. Kendrick Meek of Florida visited last month and bought a few gifts for Obama—a shirt and hat with the slogan: "Home of Presidential Vacations."
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Tags: Barack Obama | Harry S Truman
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Reader Comments
Financing the Little White House
While owned by the State of Florida we receive no state finances. Admission fees and museum store sales pay operational expenses. The $1 million restoration came from a few competetive grants and a lot of caring individual Americans that ponied up $10 or $100 at a time. The Little White House is a public museum that teaches about the American presidency and has had six presidents use it to date...Taft in 1912, Truman 1946-1952 , Eisenhower in 1955-56, Kennedy in 1961 and 1962, and past Presidents Carter in 1996 and Clinton in 2005. Secretary of State Colin Powell used it for peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijian in 2001. The Carter and Clinton visits were privately paid -the only government expense was Secret Service. George W. Bush tried to use the site for trade talks, but the restoration was in progress and the site lacked air conditioning. We invite all presidents current and past to use it and like the Washington White House we are bi-partisan.
Key West
So nobody's curious whether that $1 million renovation was done at taxpayer expense, or whether the $300,000 AC upgrade is included or in addition? Just keep the President out of California--the cash-strapped UC system has to shell out a reported $300-500,000 for Michelle's entourage when she gives the UC Merced's graduation address.
Bush vacations
Bush was rightfully 'CRUCIFIED'.
Bush had taken 418 days of vacation in his first 6.7 years in office.
That works out to 62.4 vacation days a year — a little more than 12 work weeks!
...and vacationed after Katrina.
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