Nick’s Day at the White House
The firm planned a private tour of the White House for the summer associates. They did the West Wing tour. I will provide pictures and small captions, with a little bit of information that Nick shared with me. However, since I did not go on the tour, I will leave it to him to update with any additional anecdotes later on (or correct the mistakes I'm bound to make)!
Here is a beautiful view of the front of the White House.
Nick with the other Summer Associates in front of the West Wing entrance.
You've all seen this room before . . . if not, you really should watch the news sometime!!!
In the press room, there are a TON of cameras set up in the back and each chair is labeled with the station representative that sits there.
In the press room, there are a TON of cameras set up in the back and each chair is labeled with the station representative that sits there.
Nick said this is the Rose Garden. It is one of several pictures he took and it is a really beautiful place! I want to have a picnic there someday when Nick is President (hee hee!)
Nick liked this shot of the sniper standing up on the roof by the flag.
(Nick's updates) Each branch of the military provides some service to the President. For example, the Air Force runs Air Force One. The Marines? Marine One (helicopter). The Army takes care of the Presidential motorcade. So what is left for the Navy? The mess! That's right, the Navy runs a restaurant in the basement of the White House. It won awards in 2004 and 2005. For President Clinton, the mess was set up for people to eat buffet style. President Bush had the mess set up as a full-service sit-down restaurant. The Navy also handles some communications needs for the President
Across the hall from the mess, is the "Situation Room," where intelligence is compiled and monitored 24/7. We didn't get to see the room on our tour, but our guide says it looks something like a scene out of the TV show "24"--there are computer screens and flashing lights everywhere. Each morning, the President has an intelligence briefing there. Former presidents can also sign up to receive the daily intelligence reports. (How is that for news coverage? Who needs the Wall Street Journal and New York Times if they can get the President's daily intelligence report!) The Situation Room (yes, the plaque above the door really says that) began operating during the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Apparently there was significant outcry because the JFK wasn't up to date about the details of the Bay of Pigs invasion, so he and his administration set up the Situation Room to keep from being caught off gaurd (or accused of being lazy about intelligence).
In the oval office there is a very nice desk made from the wood of the HMS Resolute. The British ship became trapped in ice during an arctic expedition and was abandoned. The USA found the ship, made some repairs, and returned it to England. It served in the British navy for another 20 years. After it was decommissioned, some of the wood was used to make two desks; one for the queen and one for the President of the USA (Hayes) in 1880. The seal of the eagle holding olive branches and arrows is on the front. Although the seal is now always made with the eagle's head facing the olive branch (symbolizing that America will look for peace first), the eagle on the desk faces the arrows. In the 60's or 70's, one of the Presidents had a hard time using the desk because he was so tall--he couldn't get his legs under it--so his administration had the desk propped up on 2-3 inch pieces of wood. You can see the desk and see the extensions on the wikipedia site for "HMS Resolute."
Across the hall from the mess, is the "Situation Room," where intelligence is compiled and monitored 24/7. We didn't get to see the room on our tour, but our guide says it looks something like a scene out of the TV show "24"--there are computer screens and flashing lights everywhere. Each morning, the President has an intelligence briefing there. Former presidents can also sign up to receive the daily intelligence reports. (How is that for news coverage? Who needs the Wall Street Journal and New York Times if they can get the President's daily intelligence report!) The Situation Room (yes, the plaque above the door really says that) began operating during the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Apparently there was significant outcry because the JFK wasn't up to date about the details of the Bay of Pigs invasion, so he and his administration set up the Situation Room to keep from being caught off gaurd (or accused of being lazy about intelligence).
In the oval office there is a very nice desk made from the wood of the HMS Resolute. The British ship became trapped in ice during an arctic expedition and was abandoned. The USA found the ship, made some repairs, and returned it to England. It served in the British navy for another 20 years. After it was decommissioned, some of the wood was used to make two desks; one for the queen and one for the President of the USA (Hayes) in 1880. The seal of the eagle holding olive branches and arrows is on the front. Although the seal is now always made with the eagle's head facing the olive branch (symbolizing that America will look for peace first), the eagle on the desk faces the arrows. In the 60's or 70's, one of the Presidents had a hard time using the desk because he was so tall--he couldn't get his legs under it--so his administration had the desk propped up on 2-3 inch pieces of wood. You can see the desk and see the extensions on the wikipedia site for "HMS Resolute."
4 comments:
How Cool! What an exciting thing to do :) Thanks for sharing.
It sounds awesome! Just like National Treasure 2!
I'm sure that was a very interesting tour. I love the assignment the Navy has!!
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