There have been some discussions in the news media about the apparent slight to the Obama family when they were not allowed to spend the early days of January at Blair House. No slight was intended, but the facility had previously been reserved for former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard is scheduled to received the Medal of Freedom from President Bush on January 12.
Apparently the Obama family wanted to come to Washington earlier than previous Presidents-Elect because their children were beginning to attend their new school. It is noted that George W Bush stayed at Blair House in advance of his inauguration for three days. The Obama Family will stay at Blair House from January 15th until President-Elect Obama takes the oath of office on January 20 – after which He and his family will occupy the White House as the 44th President of the United States.
What caught my eye in the news reports was the statement that Blair House was, in fact, larger than the White House.
It turns out that the White House is approximately 65,000 square feet while Blair House is 75,000 square feet with 119 rooms. The Blair House complex is made up of four separate but now joined residences across from the White House at 1651 Pennsylvania Avenue. The facility is the official guest house of the President and has been the temporary residence of many notable figures of history and heads of state. It is also the site of an attempt to assassinate Harry Truman by Pureto Rico nationalists resulting in the death of a White House Police Officer. Mr Truman was in residence while President because of structural repairs being done in the White House.
Additional information about Blair House may be found < here >
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