All language subtitles for The.White.House.Inside.Story.2016.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG2_English

TOM BROKAW: A SIGN OF TRANSITION
AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY, MOVING
VANS.

REPORTER: INAUGURATION DAY OF
COURSE MEANS MOVING DAY OVER AT
1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE

REPORTER: THEY'RE GOING TO BEGIN
UNPACKING THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY

TOM BROKAW: THE PRESIDENTIAL
TRANSITION ENDS ON WEDNESDAY
WITH BILL CLINTON MOVING

REPORTER OLD: THE WHITH HOUSE
WILL BE READIED OVER THE NEXT
TWO HOURS TO RECEIVE

REPORTER: THE HISTORIC MOMENT OF
THE INAUGURATION IS FAST
APPROACHING.

IT'S THE OBAMA FAMILY MOVING
INTO A NEW HOUSE.

Narrator: IT'S THE MOST FAMOUS
ADDRESS IN AMERICA --

1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

BRIAN WILLIAMS: WE'RE
GONNA SWITCH LIVE TO THE
WHITE HOUSE WHERE ONE OF THE

UNIQUE ASPECTS OF AMERICAN
TRADITION IS TAKING PLACE.

Narrator: BUT THE RESIDENTS
ONLY HAVE A FOUR-YEAR LEASE.

TRANSITIONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE

ARE JUST A MATTER OF COURSE,
ARE A MATTER OF LIFE.

IT'S A FUNCTION
OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

Barack: I THINK WALKING
IN THE WHITE HOUSE THE FIRST DAY

AND REALIZING,
"OKAY, HERE WE GO"...

IF YOU'RE NOT HUMBLED BY THAT,

THEN YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT --
YOU'RE NOT THINKING STRAIGHT.

Walters:
I WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
FOR SEVEN TRANSITIONS.

EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.

THEY ARE
ENORMOUSLY COMPLICATED.

CAN I SPEAK TO JIM,
PLEASE?

AND OUR INTENT AT THE END
OF THAT PERIOD OF TIME

IS TO HAVE NO BOXES,
NO WRAPPING PAPER,

AND HAVE EVERYTHING UNPACKED
AND PUT INTO PLACE

SO THAT WHEN THE FIRST FAMILY

WALKED BACK
INTO THE WHITE HOUSE,

THAT IT IS THEIR HOME.

Barbara:
AFTER THE INAUGURATION,

WE GOT BACK TO A TOTALLY
FURNISHED, UNPACKED HOUSE.

IT WAS AMAZING.

I KNOW I ACTUALLY HAD A MOMENT
TO TAKE IN THE FACT

THAT I WAS NOW
LIVING IN THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH MY TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS

AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES,

WHO HAPPENED TO BE MY HUSBAND.

THAT'S WHEN IT HITS YOU.

THE SENSE OF
HISTORY AND RESPONSIBILITY

JUST WAFTS OVER YOU.

Narrator: THIS IS NOT LIKE
ANY OTHER HOME.

IT'S A WORKPLACE
AND A SHOW PLACE.

IT IS HERE THAT THE PRESIDENT
CHARTS THE COUNTRY'S COURSE.

IT IS HERE THAT HISTORY IS MADE
EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE.

Announcer:
"THE WHITE HOUSE: INSIDE STORY"

IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART

BY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO YOUR PBS STATION

FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

**

Jimmy:
I WENT INTO THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH A FEELING OF CHALLENGE
AND EXCITEMENT

BECAUSE OF
THE OVERWHELMING HISTORY.

THOMAS JEFFERSON LIVED THERE,

LINCOLN MET IN A SMALL ROOM
THAT BECAME ONE OF MY FAVORITES,

AND I WOULD STUDY AT NIGHT

IN WHAT HARRY TRUMAN
HAS USED AS HIS OFFICE.

SO I WAS FILLED WITH ADMIRATION
FOR THE HISTORY OF MY COUNTRY

AND THE HISTORY
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

Kennedy Jr.: ASK NOT WHAT
YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU.

ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO
FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

Reagan: WE ARE A UNITED PEOPLE,

PLEDGED TO MAINTAINING
A POLITICAL SYSTEM

WHICH GUARANTEES
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.

Eisenhower:
WHATEVER AMERICA HOPES
TO BRING TO PASS IN THE WORLD

MUST FIRST COME TO PASS
IN THE HEART OF AMERICA.

Franklin D. Roosevelt:
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR
IS FEAR ITSELF.

Ford: MY FELLOW AMERICANS,

OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE
IS OVER.

Clinton: AN IDEA INFUSED
WITH THE CONVICTION

THAT AMERICA'S HEROIC JOURNEY
MUST GO FOREVER UPWARD.

Jimmy:
THE AMERICAN DREAM ENDURES.

WE MUST, ONCE AGAIN,
HAVE FULL FAITH IN OUR COUNTRY.

Johnson: I WILL LEAD,
AND I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN.

George H.W. Bush: OF UNITY,
DIVERSITY, AND GENEROSITY

SHARED AND WRITTEN TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

[ "HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYS ]

ONE OF THE REALLY GREAT THINGS
ABOUT OUR COUNTRY

IS THE PEACEFUL
TRANSFER OF POWER.

IT'S A WONDERFUL SYMBOL
FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THERE IS A GREAT CONTINUITY
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Narrator:
TO USHER IN THAT TRANSFER,

NEW PRESIDENTS TAKE PART
IN A RITUAL PROCESSION

DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
TO THEIR OFFICIAL RESIDENCE.

**

IT WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT,
GEORGE WASHINGTON,

WHO UNDERTOOK THE CONSTRUCTION
OF AN EXECUTIVE MANSION

IN A BRAND-NEW CAPITAL CITY.

Seale: ITS LOCATION
WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM.

IT WAS MORE OR LESS
THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY.

GEORGE WASHINGTON
DIDN'T WANT THE CAPITAL

TO BE IN THE EAST

AND IN NEW YORK
OR PHILADELPHIA.

SO HE APPROVED
THE BUILDING OF THIS NEW CITY,

AND HE SET ABOUT
GETTING IT DESIGNED HIMSELF.

Narrator: PRESIDENT WASHINGTON

LAID THE CORNERSTONE
FOR THE HOUSE

IN OCTOBER OF 1792.

AND EVEN TODAY,

THE BUILDING REFLECTS
HIS VISION.

MANY OF THE MEN
HIRED TO BUILD IT

WERE SCOTTISH IMMIGRANTS

AND FREE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZENS.

Seale: EVERY KIND OF
RACE, CREED, AND COLOR

WAS INVOLVED
IN THE BUILDING OF THAT HOUSE

'CAUSE LABORERS
WERE HARD TO GET,

AND IT WAS NOT HIGH PAY.

Narrator: BUT MUCH OF
THE REALLY BACKBREAKING WORK

WAS DONE BY PEOPLE
WHO WEREN'T PAID AT ALL.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS THAT SLAVE LABOR

WAS ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL

TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE HOUSE,

NOT ONLY FIRING BRICKS,
BUT LAYING FOUNDATIONS,

INDEED RAISING
THE ORIGINAL WALLS.

Jones: FROM THE QUARRIES,

WHEN THEY'D GET STONES
TO BRING INTO WASHINGTON,

PUTTING THEM TOGETHER
BRICKS AND MORTAR.

IT IS, INDEED, ENSLAVED LABOR
AND FREE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LABOR

INVOLVED IN BRINGING
THIS WHITE HOUSE INTO EXISTENCE.

Narrator: THE BUILDING WOULD
TAKE 17 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

WASHINGTON, HIMSELF, WOULD NEVER
HAVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE HERE.

IT WAS AN IMPOSING STRUCTURE --

AT THE TIME,

THE LARGEST RESIDENCE
IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT IT WAS NEARLY
BURNED TO THE GROUND

DURING THE WAR OF 1812,

WHEN THE BRITISH
INVADED THE CAPITAL.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

ENEMY TROOPS THREW FLAMING
JAVELINS THROUGH THE WINDOWS.

Seale: AND THEN, BANG,

AND THAT SET THE ATTIC ON FIRE,

WHICH WAS WOOD WITH THE JOISTS
AND RAFTERS AND THINGS --

HUGE TIMBERS.

AND THEN AS THAT HAPPENED,

IT BURNED THROUGH THE FLOOR
TO THE MAIN FLOOR --

THE BLUE ROOM
AND ALL THOSE ROOMS --

AND THEN THE MAIN FLOOR

BURNED AND CRASHED
INTO THE BASEMENT.

THE WHITE HOUSE WAS JUST LIKE

A BIG BOX
CONTAINING BURNT ASHES.

Narrator: BRITISH SOLDIERS
DESTROYED OR LOOTED

NEARLY EVERYTHING
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

BUT BEFORE SHE FLED,

THE FIRST LADY TOOK TIME TO
RESCUE A PRECIOUS WORK OF ART.

Allman: DOLLEY MADISON SAID,

"PRESIDENT WASHINGTON
HAS TO BE SAVED,"

AND THEY HAD TO CRACK
THE FRAME OPEN

IN ORDER TO TAKE THE CANVAS
OUT ON ITS STRETCHER.

AND IT WENT OFF IN A WAGON
TO SAFETY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

AND WAS RESTORED
TO THE WHITE HOUSE

AFTER THE REBUILDING.

SO IT'S CONTINUOUSLY
HUNG IN THE HOUSE

SINCE THE HOUSE OPENED
IN NOVEMBER 1800.

AND EVER SINCE, DOLLEY MADISON
HAS BEEN GIVEN, YOU KNOW,

THE CREDIT FOR BEING THE GREAT
HEROINE OF THE WAR OF 1812.

Man: ATTENTION!

[ "HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYS ]

[ APPLAUSE ]

Man: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE 43rd PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES,

GEORGE W. BUSH

AND MRS. LAURA BUSH.

[ APPLAUSE ]

**

I AM PLEASED
THAT MY PORTRAIT

BRINGS
AN INTERESTING SYMMETRY

TO THE WHITE HOUSE
COLLECTION.

IT NOW STARTS AND ENDS
WITH A GEORGE W.

[ LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE ]

WHEN THE BRITISH BURNED
THE WHITE HOUSE IN 1814,

DOLLEY MADISON
FAMOUSLY SAVED

THIS PORTRAIT OF
THE FIRST GEORGE W.

[ LAUGHTER ]

NOW, MICHELLE...

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS...
[ CHUCKLES ]

...THERE'S YOUR MAN.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Woman: WHEN THEY COME BACK
FOR THE FINAL SET,

THEY'RE COMING
THROUGH PALM.
CORRECT.

CORRECT?
GROUND FLOOR
AND THE PUBLIC STAIRCASE.

OKAY, TERRIFIC.

Narrator:
IT IS AN INTRICATE STRUCTURE...

[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]

...MADE UP OF COUNTLESS
MOVING PARTS...

Man: BECAUSE OF, OBVIOUSLY,
THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP,

THERE ARE MAJOR...

...ALL SOMEHOW
PERFECTLY IN SYNC.

Man: AT EASE!

GUYS, WE'RE MOVING
IN THAT DIRECTION.

Narrator: AND AT THE CENTER OF
ALL THAT FRENZIED ACTIVITY,

THE HEART OF
THE AMERICAN BODY POLITIC

IS THE OVAL OFFICE
IN THE WEST WING.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FULL
PRESS CONFERENCE LATER, SO...

HERE PRESIDENTIAL POWER
REALLY COMES INTO FOCUS.

Updegrove:
THERE IS AN AURA TO THAT OFFICE,

AN AURA OF POWER THAT PRESIDENTS
ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF.

THE OVAL OFFICE GIVES THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

THE GREATEST HOME-COURT
ADVANTAGE THAT'S EVER EXISTED.

Narrator:
THIS IS WHERE PRESIDENTS

MARK MANY OF THE NATION'S
PIVOTAL MOMENTS.

I'M TALKING TO YOU
BY TELEPHONE

FROM THE OVAL ROOM
AT THE WHITE HOUSE,

AND THIS CERTAINLY HAS TO BE
THE MOST HISTORIC TELEPHONE CALL

EVER MADE
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

...WHICH SPECIFIES

THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
OF JAPAN.

Narrator:
THIS IS WHERE THEY ANNOUNCE
CRUCIAL DECISIONS...

IT SHALL BE BE THE POLICY
OF THIS NATION

TO REGARD ANY NUCLEAR MISSILE
LAUNCHED FROM CUBA

AGAINST ANY NATION
IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

AS AN ATTACK.

Narrator: ...WHERE THEY SIGN
LANDMARK BILLS

AND GREET
THEIR MOST IMPORTANT GUESTS.

FOR THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
OF WHITE HOUSE HISTORY,

THERE WAS NO OVAL OFFICE
AND NO WEST WING.

PRESIDENTS WORKED WHEREVER THEY
COULD FIND A CONVENIENT SPACE.

SOME ON THE MAIN FLOOR,

OTHERS UPSTAIRS

NEAR THEIR FAMILY'S
PRIVATE QUARTERS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

BY 1900, PRESIDENT McKINLEY
AND HIS STAFF OF 23 MEN

WERE CRAMMED INTO
MAKESHIFT OFFICES

AT THE EAST END
OF THE SECOND FLOOR,

SPACES ORIGINALLY INTENDED
AS BEDROOMS AND FAMILY ROOMS.

THE NEXT YEAR,
TEDDY ROOSEVELT TOOK OFFICE,

INVADING THE FAMILY RESIDENCE

WITH HIS SIX RAMBUNCTIOUS
CHILDREN.

THE HOUSE
WAS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

CLEARLY,
SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE.

Goodwin:
THE FAMILY FELT SCRUNCHED
UNDER TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S TIME.

THERE WERE LIKE 30 ROOMS
IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

BUT THERE WERE ONLY LIKE
FIVE BEDROOMS FOR THE FAMILY,

AND THEY HAD ALL THESE KIDS.

SO THE DECISION WAS MADE

TO CREATE THE WEST WING
AS AN OFFICE SPACE.

Narrator:
GREENHOUSES WERE DEMOLISHED
ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HOUSE

TO MAKE WAY
FOR ROOSEVELT'S NEW EXTENSION.

ON NOVEMBER 5th, 1902,

THE PRESIDENT FINALLY
HAD A DEDICATED PLACE TO WORK.

AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE STAFF
CONTINUED TO GROW,

THE WEST WING
WAS DOUBLED IN SIZE,

AND A NEW OFFICE,
AN OVAL OFFICE,

WAS BUILT FOR
PRESIDENT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.

THE RUNNING JOKE WAS
THAT THEY ARRIVED AT THE SHAPE

BY LAYING THE ROTUND PRESIDENT
DOWN ON THE SOUTH LAWN

AND DRAWING A CIRCLE AROUND HIM.

OVER THE YEARS,

THE OVAL OFFICE BECAME

THE EMBODIMENT
OF EXECUTIVE POWER.

Jimmy:
I USED TO SIT IN THE OVAL OFFICE

SOMETIMES EARLY IN THE MORNING,

AND I WOULD DELIBERATELY
LOOK AT A GLOBE THAT WAS THERE.

AND I WOULD TURN IT
TO MOSCOW.

AND I WOULD TRY TO PUT MYSELF

IN THE POSITION OF
PRESIDENT BREZHNEV

AND HOW HE LOOKED AT
HIS OWN COUNTRY

AND HOW HE LOOKED AT
MY COUNTRY.

AND I WOULD TRY TO THINK
HOW I COULD AVOID

A POTENTIAL WAR
BETWEEN THE TWO SUPERPOWERS.

Updegrove:
NOBODY WIELDED POWER

MORE EFFECTIVELY
IN THE OVAL OFFICE THAN L.B.J.

AND L.B.J. USED THAT ADVANTAGE.

HE KNEW ABOUT
THE TRAPPINGS OF POWER,

AND HE KNEW THAT IF YOU BROUGHT
SOMEBODY INTO THE OVAL OFFICE,

THAT THEY WOULD GET
A SENSE OF THAT RIGHT AWAY

AND THAT WOULD GIVE THEM
THIS TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE

IN ANY NEGOTIATION OR ANY
CONVERSATION THAT HE MIGHT HAVE.

Woodward:
YOU'RE BEING INVITED IN
AND SEDUCED

AND YOU'RE GETTING
SOME GOOD INFORMATION

AND YOU'RE ALSO GETTING
SOME SPIN.

IT'S THE OVAL OFFICE.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE THERE.

Jimmy: WELL, DURING THE COURSE
OF MY ADMINISTRATION,

WHEN I MET WITH
THE LEADERS OF THE SOVIET UNION,

WITH THE LEADER OF CHINA,

WITH MULTIPLE LEADERS

FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES,
LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES,

IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE THEM
APPROACH THE OVAL OFFICE

WITH SOME DEGREE OF AWE
AND TREPIDATION

BECAUSE OF THE AURA

THAT NATURALLY
SURROUNDED THE OVAL OFFICE

AS THE CENTER OF
AMERICAN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.

Narrator:
HERE IN THE OVAL OFFICE,

PRESIDENTS STEER
THE NATION'S COURSE

FROM BEHIND THE HISTORIC
RESOLUTE DESK.

IT WAS A GIFT
FROM QUEEN VICTORIA

TO PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
IN 1880,

CRAFTED FROM TIMBERS SALVAGED
FROM A BRITISH NAVAL VESSEL --

H.M.S. RESOLUTE.

Barack: AT THIS DESK,
WARS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED,

PEACE HAS BEEN HAMMERED OUT,

CONFLICTS AVERTED,

MAJOR LEGISLATION
THAT HELPED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,

IN SOME CASES,
GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE,

HAVE BEEN FORGED.

AND SO YOU APPRECIATE
THE WEIGHT OF IT.

Narrator: THE DESK WAS MOVED

TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS
IN THE WHITE HOUSE

BY A NUMBER OF PRESIDENTS.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1961,

WHEN JACKIE KENNEDY
DISCOVERED IT

STASHED AWAY IN A STORAGE ROOM,

THAT THE RESOLUTE DESK

FINALLY MADE ITS WAY
INTO THE OVAL OFFICE.

THIS ROOM MAY BE
FAMILIAR TO THE PUBLIC,

BUT FOR THE PRESIDENT,
IT'S ALSO A PRIVATE REFUGE,

A PLACE TO THINK AND REFLECT,

AND TO KEEP UP
A PERSONAL CONNECTION

WITH AMERICANS WHO ARE ALWAYS
EAGER TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS.

Barack:
"DEAR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA,
MY NAME IS ROBERT,

AND MY PARTNER, CHET, AND I
LIVE IN COLORADO.

CHET AND I HAD
A HELL OF A TIME THIS PAST YEAR,

BUT FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015,

TURNED OUR SAD YEAR
INTO A VERY HAPPY DAY.

WE WATCHED THE NEWS
THAT THE SUPREME COURT

HAD DEFEATED THE BAN
ON MARRIAGE FOR GAYS.

I CRIED AS I LISTENED TO THE
WASHINGTON GAY MEN'S CHORUS"...

"DEAR PRESIDENT AND MRS. OBAMA,

I WANT TO TELL YOU
A LITTLE ABOUT MY FAMILY.

MY HUSBAND AND I CAN BARELY
AFFORD THE BASICS.

I'M PRETTY SURE
THIS IS A SILLY THING TO DO

TO WRITE A LETTER
TO THE PRESIDENT,

BUT I'M WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW

WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR US OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY,

AND I HOPE YOU WILL LISTEN."

EVERY DAY,
THE WHITE HOUSE RECEIVES

THOUSANDS OF LETTERS,
E-MAIL MESSAGES, AND FAXES

ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT.

10 OF THEM
ARE SELECTED BY HIS AIDES

AND INCLUDED
IN HIS EVENING BRIEFING BOOK.

THESE 10 LETTERS
THAT I GET EVERY DAY

I THINK SERVE A SIMILAR PURPOSE,

WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT

IN ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE
THAT'S TAKEN PLACE HERE,

WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT
OF WHY WE'RE HERE.

"DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,

I'VE BEEN LIVING
THE PAST FEW YEARS

WITH SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS
THAT ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

MY INSURANCE HAS COMPLETELY
CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW
I OWE YOU A FAVOR.

I KNOW IT'S VERY UNLIKELY,
BUT ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS ASK."

EACH PRESIDENT IS TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT HIS OWN WAY

AS TO HOW TO KEEP
THAT LINK WITH THE PUBLIC ALIVE,

AND LETTERS, I THINK,
ARE ONE OF THE MEANS

BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST WILL
WRITE IN TO THEIR PRESIDENT

AS IF THEY'RE WRITING
TO A FRIEND SOMETIMES.

Woman: "DEAR SIR,

WILL YOU EXCUSE
MY DARING TO ADDRESS YOU

AND ENCLOSING THIS PETITION
FROM MY ELDEST SON?

DON'T, DEAR MR. LINCOLN,

REFUSE TO LISTEN TO
A WIDOWED MOTHER'S PRAYER."

Boy: "DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,
I AM 6 YEARS OLD.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE,
I HAD INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

MY RIGHT ARM IS IN A BRACE.

MY LEFT ONE IS BETTER
SINCE MY OPERATION.

I LIKE TO SEE YOUR PICTURES.

I LIKE TO HEAR STORIES
ABOUT YOU.

JIMMY STONE."

Goodwin: IT WAS THE IDEA
THAT YOU CAN FEEL --

THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY
WRITE TO THE WHITE HOUSE,

AND THE PRESIDENT WILL RESPOND.

IT IS A WAY FOR ME
TO STAY IN TOUCH.

I'VE SAID BEFORE
THAT OCCUPYING THIS CHAIR

IS THE GREAT PRIVILEGE
OF MY LIFE

AND PROBABLY
THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE

THAT ANY CITIZEN CAN HAVE --

TO SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
FOR A SHORT SPAN OF TIME.

Narrator: BETWEEN MANAGING
AFFAIRS OF STATE

AND RESPONDING
TO THE PEOPLE'S CONCERNS,

THE PRESIDENT MAY HAVE

THE MOST DEMANDING JOB
IN THE COUNTRY,

BUT YOU CAN'T BEAT
THE COMMUTE.

FROM THE WEST WING,

IT'S A SHORT TRIP
DOWN THE HALL AND UPSTAIRS

TO THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME --
THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE.

HERE THEY CAN ESCAPE
THE SPOTLIGHT

AND TRY TO LIVE
A NORMAL LIFE.

Ford Bales:
MY PARENTS ACTUALLY BROUGHT
SOME OF THEIR FURNITURE

FROM ALEXANDRIA
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

MY DAD WANTED HIS EASY CHAIR
THAT HE HAD HAD FOREVER.

HE WANTED IT AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THERE USED TO BE
A PRESIDENT'S BEDROOM

AND A FIRST LADY'S BEDROOM.

WELL, MY MOTHER SAID,

"YOU KNOW, WE'VE SLEPT TOGETHER
FOR 20-SOME-ODD YEARS,

AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE."

SO THEY TOOK
THE PRESIDENT'S BEDROOM

AND MADE IT INTO
THEIR PRIVATE DEN

WITH THEIR FURNITURE
THAT THEY WERE COMFORTABLE WITH.

THEY SAID,
"IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS,

WE'RE GONNA DO IT

SO THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE
AND IT FEELS LIKE US."

Rosalynn: AFTER A FEW WEEKS,
IT BECOMES HOME,

AND YOU'D BE GOING ALONG

AND NOT THINKING EVERY DAY
ABOUT,

"HERE I AM
AND WHAT AM I DOING?"

THEN YOU LOOK DOWN,

AND HERE'S
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S PLATE.

AND YOU GET
THIS INCREDIBLE FEELING.

IT GIVES ME CHILLS NOW
EVEN WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT.

THE UPSTAIRS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,

WHICH ISN'T SEEN BY EVERYBODY,

IS FILLED WITH HISTORY.

YOU FEEL A LOT OF HISTORY,

AND YOU HOPE
YOU CAN LIVE UP TO IT.

Goodwin: EVERY ROOM
HAS A HUNDRED STORIES.

THIS IS WHERE JACKSON WAS.

THIS IS WHERE LINCOLN WAS.

THIS IS WHERE
TEDDY ROOSEVELT STOOD.

THIS IS WHERE THE KIDS PLAYED.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ABLE
TO HAVE REGULAR OFFICE HOURS,

WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME
AND WAIT OUTSIDE HIS OFFICE,

WHICH WAS OVER IN THE RESIDENCE.

AND WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT,

IF THEY WAITED LONG ENOUGH,
THEY MIGHT GET IN TO SEE HIM.

AND THEY COULD
SEEK HIS HELP ON EVERYTHING

FROM TRYING TO GET A JOB

TO ASKING FOR A PARDON
FOR THEIR CHILD.

EVERY TIME YOU WALK IN THE HALL
UPSTAIRS IN THE RESIDENCE,

YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVED THERE BEFORE YOU.

IN WHAT IS NOW
THE UPSTAIRS DINING ROOM,

THAT'S WHERE MARY TODD LINCOLN

BROUGHT WILLIE, THEIR CHILD,
WHEN HE GOT SICK.

AND THEN THAT'S WHERE HE DIED,
IN THAT ROOM.

AND I THINK ABOUT IT OFTEN.

OF COURSE, AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th,

WE THOUGHT OFTEN
OF THE CHALLENGES

THAT OTHER PRESIDENTS
AND THEIR FAMILIES FACED

WHILE THEY LIVED THERE.

Narrator: BEHIND THE SCENES,

KEEPING EVERYTHING RUNNING
IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD

IS THE HOUSEHOLD STAFF --

A BEVY OF COOKS AND USHERS,

HOUSEKEEPERS AND BUTLERS,

GARDENERS AND GROUNDSKEEPERS.

FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO DO
IS JUST ROLL OUT --

IF YOU COULD ROLL OUT
THE RED CARPET

SO THAT I CAN SEE
THAT IT FITS.

AND ONE PERSON
IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR KEEPING IT
ALL IN SYNC --

THE CHIEF USHER.

Reid: I HAVE A TEAM OF
100 EMPLOYEES.

OUR SCHEDULE IS PRIMARILY
DRIVEN AND DIRECTED

BY THE SCHEDULE OF THE PRESIDENT
AND THE FIRST LADY.

Narrator: ANGELA REID
IS ONLY THE NINTH CHIEF USHER.

AND SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN
TO HOLD THE JOB

SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED
MORE THAN 120 YEARS AGO.

Reid: WILL YOU TAKE
THE GREEN ROOM?
ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN WE'LL BE READY

FOR THE GUESTS
TO WALK UP THE STEPS

AND COME IN
FOR THE RECEIVING LINE.

AS HEAD OF
THE HOUSEHOLD STAFF,

SHE IS IN CHARGE
OF DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS...

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S TAKE A WALK
DOWN TO THE FLOWER SHOP.

...MAKING SURE THAT

THE FIRST FAMILY'S PERSONAL
AND PUBLIC LIVES RUN SMOOTHLY.

WE'RE IN
THE HEART OF THE HOUSE.

THIS IS AN AREA RARELY SEEN

BY REGULAR VISITORS
TO THE HOUSE.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE EMPLOYEES,

YOU KNOW,
OUR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

REALLY GET THE WORK DONE.

SO THIS IS THE HEARTBEAT
OF THE HOUSE, SO TO SPEAK.

IT'S LUNCHTIME.

McBride: THE RESIDENT STAFF
AT THE WHITE HOUSE

IS JUST SO KEY
TO THE FIRST FAMILY

HAVING A GOOD EXPERIENCE
OF LIVING OVER THE STORE,

WHETHER THAT MEANS MAKING
YOUR FAVORITE BIRTHDAY CAKE

OR HAVING A SPECIAL DINNER
IN THE FAMILY DINING ROOM.

SO PRESS COMES IN,
THEY PRESET AT 5:30.

Reid:
THERE ARE DAYS WHEN WE HAVE
A JAM-PACKED SCHEDULE,

WHEN THINGS
ARE CHANGING ON THE FLY.

THEY'RE IN NORTH PORTICO.

WHEN THEY COME BACK
FOR THE FINAL SET,

THEY'RE COMING
THROUGH PALM.

WE WORK IN
A VERY FLUID ENVIRONMENT.

OKAY, TERRIFIC.

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE
ANY TWO DAYS THAT ARE ALIKE.

I HAVEN'T HAD THOSE TWO DAYS YET
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON BOARD.

THE PHOTO LINE IS OVER.

I SEE VAUGHN AND GEORGE
OVER THERE,

SO I GUESS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE
FOR TONIGHT, RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY.

Reid: EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT

BECAUSE OF WHAT GOES ON
IN THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

SO ONE DAY COULD BE
A STATE VISIT.

THE NEXT DAY COULD BE
A KIDS' LUNCHEON,

OR IT COULD BE
A PRESS CONFERENCE.

IT COULD BE A BILL SIGNING.

IT COULD BE JUST SIMPLY,
YOU KNOW, PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

THAT THE FAMILY WILL ENGAGE IN.

Smith: IN AN ERA OF
SCORCHED-EARTH PARTISANSHIP,

WHEN MANY PEOPLE
AT THE WHITE HOUSE

INVARIABLY BECOME ASSOCIATED
WITH ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER,

IT'S HARD TO APPRECIATE
JUST HOW NON-POLITICAL,

HOW DISCREET, AND HOW INTIMATE

THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE PERMANENT STAFF

AND THE IMPERMANENT RESIDENTS.

Allman: THE RESIDENT STAFF IS
WELL-RESPECTED BY FIRST FAMILIES

FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE
TIGHT-LIPPED BEHAVIOR

AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, SEEING
AND KNOWING AND NEVER SHARING.

WE SERVE EVERY FAMILY EQUALLY,
REGARDLESS OF POLITICS.

THE PRESIDENCY
AND THE WHITE HOUSE

IS WHAT WE ARE DEFENDING
VIGOROUSLY.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW,

I DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT I LOOK
LIKE EARLY IN THE MORNING.

[ CHUCKLES ] YOU KNOW?

I DON'T NECESSARILY WORRY ABOUT
WHETHER MY TEETH ARE BRUSHED

OR, YOU KNOW.

IT'S LIKE YOU CAN REALLY
COMPLETELY LET YOUR HAIR DOWN

WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE

WHO ARE HERE
TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

THEY MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
CAN TRUST THEM UNCONDITIONALLY.

WHEN I INTERVIEWED PEOPLE
FOR JOBS AT THE WHITE HOUSE,

WHEN THEY CAME OPEN,
AND IT WASN'T VERY OFTEN,

BUT WHEN IT DID OCCUR,

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
I ASKED THEM

WAS NOT ABOUT THE JOB.

IT WAS I ASKED THEM
IF THEY COULD PROTECT

THE PRESIDENT
AND FIRST LADY'S PRIVACY.

THAT WAS A PRIMARY CONSIDERATION

BEFORE I EVEN TALKED ABOUT

WHETHER THEY COULD
CUT A PIECE OF WOOD
AS A CARPENTER

OR SERVE A DINNER
AT THE TABLE.

ONE'S THERE.

ONE THERE.

AND...ONE OVER HERE.

Narrator:
A BIG PART OF THE STAFF'S JOB

IS TO KEEP THE PRESIDENT
AND HIS FAMILY ON AN EVEN KEEL.

AFTER ALL, EVEN THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

HAS GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS.

Moeller: WE'LL SEE THEM LOOKING
A LITTLE BIT DOWN AND CONCERNED

THROUGH SITUATIONS
AND THE NATIONAL OR
WORLD ORDER HERE.

BUT FOR US,
AS RESIDENT STAFF THERE,

WE'RE JUST THERE TO MAKE THEM
AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE

AND MAKE THAT TIME
AS EASY-GOING FOR THEM.

SO WHEN THEY COME HOME
FOR DINNER AT NIGHT,

IF IT BE 7:00 OR 8:00 AT NIGHT,

THEY'RE JUST VERY HAPPY
TO BE SITTING DOWN

AND HAVE A NICE, HOT PLATE
OF FOOD.

Johnson:
I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO.

Girl: BYE, DADDY.

Claudia: GONNA GET YOU
A LITTLE WOOD IN THERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

I BET YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING.
I AM.

Reid: SOMETIMES,
AS I WALK AROUND THE HOUSE,

I DO PAUSE AND REFLECT
ON THE HISTORICAL EVENTS

THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE

IN THAT PARTICULAR PLACE

WHERE I'M STANDING
OR WALKING THROUGH

AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME.

SO IT CONTINUES TO BE SURREAL.

Narrator:
SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS
OF THE PRESIDENCY,

THE RESIDENTIAL STAFF

HAS MAINLY BEEN MADE UP
OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

BUT THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS
SERVE BY CHOICE.

Jones:
THE PRESIDENTS AT THIS TIME
ARE MOSTLY REQUIRED

TO TAKE CARE OF THE EXPENSES
OF THE WHITE HOUSE

ON THEIR OWN DIME.

SO WHEN YOU'RE A SLAVE HOLDER,

YOU'RE GONNA BRING IN
YOUR STAFF.

Narrator:
FOR SEVEN PRESIDENTS,

THAT MEANT BRINGING THEIR SLAVES
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

Jones: OUR CREED WAS THAT,
"ALL MEN WERE CREATED EQUAL,

ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH
CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS."

OF COURSE,
THE AUTHOR OF THOSE WORDS

IN OUR DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE, THOMAS JEFFERSON,

WAS THE THIRD PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES,

AND HE WAS A SLAVE HOLDER.

GEORGE WASHINGTON
WAS A SLAVE HOLDER.

SO THERE IS THIS LIBERTY
DICHOTOMY IN THIS COUNTRY.

Narrator: THAT DICHOTOMY
FINALLY BEGAN TO END

WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

ON JANUARY 1, 1863,
IN HIS WHITE HOUSE STUDY.

Smith:
RUNNING LIKE A GREAT FAULT LINE
THROUGH 200 YEARS OF HISTORY

IS THE ISSUE OF RACE,

AND THAT HOUSE IS SANCTIFIED

BECAUSE ABRAHAM LINCOLN
LIVED IN THAT HOUSE

AND WAGED THE GREAT MORAL BATTLE

TO PRESERVE
AND REDEFINE THE UNION.

AND IT JOINS
ALL THE OTHER HISTORIC EVENTS

THAT ADD UP NOT ONLY TO
THE HISTORY OF THAT HOUSE,

BUT IN A GREAT MANY WAYS

TO THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY
THAT IT REFLECTS AT ITS BEST.

Walsh: OVER TIME,
THE HOUSEHOLD STAFF

BECAME REALLY A PLACE
WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS

COULD FIND GOOD JOBS
IN WASHINGTON.

A LOT OF THESE JOBS
WERE PASSED ALONG

FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER
IN FAMILIES,

AND THEY WERE VERY VALUED IN
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE
WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I KNOW THAT
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS ELECTED

AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN
PRESIDENT,

A NUMBER OF THOSE
HOUSEHOLD STAFFERS

TURNED DOWN, REALLY,
BETTER JOBS AND RETIREMENT

SO THEY COULD WORK FOR HIM
BECAUSE FOR SO MANY YEARS,

THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D SEE
AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT,

AND THEY JUST WANTED TO WORK

WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
PRESIDENT,

AT LEAST FOR A WHILE,

AS SORT OF A DREAM OF THEIRS
THAT CAME TRUE.

Narrator:
MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF

HAVE A UNIQUE WINDOW ON HISTORY.

THEY WATCH IT UNFOLD
WITHIN THESE WALLS --

BIRTHS AND DEATHS,
WARS AND CELEBRATIONS.

FOR A FEW OF THEM,

THAT PRIVILEGED VIEW
HAS SPANNED DECADES.

CHIEF BUTLER ALONZO FIELDS

SERVED FOUR PRESIDENTS
OVER THE COURSE OF 21 YEARS.

THERE WAS ONE MOMENT
IN PARTICULAR

FIELDS WOULD NEVER FORGET
ON DECEMBER 7, 1941.

HE WAS WALKING PAST
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT'S STUDY

SOON AFTER NEWS CAME
OF THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

WHEN HE SAW THE PRESIDENT
HUNCHED OVER HIS DESK,

HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS.

FIELDS PAUSED AT THE DOORWAY,

WHERE HE HEARD
THE PRESIDENT SAY,

"MY GOD, HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

I WILL GO DOWN IN DISGRACE."

A FEW WEEKS LATER,
THE STAFF LEARNED

THAT AN IMPORTANT VISITOR
WOULD BE ARRIVING SOON.

HIS IDENTITY WAS KEPT TOP SECRET

UNTIL A CAR ROLLED UP
AT THE WHITE HOUSE DOOR

ON DECEMBER 22nd.

THE ONE TIME I WOULD HAVE LOVED
TO HAVE BEEN THERE,

JUST IN THE CORNER,

IS THE WINTER
THAT WINSTON CHURCHILL

CAME AND SPENT CHRISTMAS
WITH FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.

THE WHOLE RHYTHM
OF THE WHITE HOUSE

WAS UNDONE
BY CHURCHILL'S VISIT.

AND HE HAD ROAMING RIGHTS
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW,
HE HAD HIS OWN BEDROOM UPSTAIRS,

AND HE WOULD PARADE AROUND
BUCK NAKED AT SOME POINT.

AND HE TOLD THE BUTLER,
ALONZO FIELDS,

THAT HE HAD A FEW REQUIREMENTS.

HE NEEDED A TUMBLER OF SHERRY
EVERY MORNING BEFORE BREAKFAST,

HE NEEDED TWO SCOTCH AND SODAS
BEFORE LUNCH,

AND HE NEEDED 90-YEAR-OLD BRANDY
AND FRENCH CHAMPAGNE

BEFORE HE WENT TO SLEEP
AT NIGHT.

AND HE DIDN'T WANT
ANY WHISTLING IN THE CORRIDOR.

Brokaw:
CAN YOU IMAGINE A FOREIGN LEADER
MOVING IN TO THE WHITE HOUSE

AND JOINING FORCES WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT
THE DIMENSIONS OF THAT

AND THE HISTORIC IMPORTANCE
OF THAT.

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING
TO BE WITNESS TO.

Narrator: FOR THE STAFF,

DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED
IS JUST PART OF THE JOB.

EVEN WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE
IS GRIPPED BY TRAGEDY,

THEY MUST RISE TO THE OCCASION.

ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963,

WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY
WAS ASSASSINATED IN TEXAS,

THE STAFF HAD THE SAD DUTY
OF PREPARING FOR HIS FUNERAL.

ON THE FLIGHT BACK FROM DALLAS,

THE FIRST LADY ASKED HER STAFF

TO FIND OUT
HOW LINCOLN WAS BURIED.

MRS. KENNEDY'S SECRETARY,
MARY GALLAGHER, CALLED AND SAID,

"MRS. KENNEDY WANTS THE FUNERAL

AS MUCH LIKE THE LINCOLN FUNERAL
AS POSSIBLE."

Narrator:
STAFFERS FOUND THE OLD PLANS
IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.

AND IN A VAULT
IN THE BASEMENT OF THE CAPITAL,

THEY DISCOVERED
A RECTANGULAR PLATFORM

MADE OF ROUGH PINE BOARDS,

BELIEVED TO BE THE CATAFALQUE

ON WHICH LINCOLN'S COFFIN
HAD RESTED

WHILE HE LAY IN STATE.

Pierce: IT WAS 20 MINUTES
AFTER 4:00 SATURDAY MORNING

WHEN HIS BODY FINALLY ARRIVED
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND I WONDERED WHAT I WOULD SAY

WHEN MRS. KENNEDY
GOT TO THE ELEVATOR.

AND AS SHE CAME
AROUND THE CORNER,

OUR EYES MET,

AND I KNEW
I DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY A WORD.

IT WAS DIFFICULT.

IT STILL IS
SO VIVID IN MY MEMORY.

HER COMING AROUND THE CORNER,

AND STILL WITH
THE PINK BLOOD-STAINED SUIT ON,

IT WAS...

IT WAS ROUGH TO TAKE

AND SOMETHING
YOU'LL NEVER FORGET.

**

Narrator:
A MILITARY HONOR GUARD

CARRIED THE CASKET
TO THE EAST ROOM,

WHERE THE BODY
OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD LAIN

NEARLY 100 YEARS EARLIER.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THE TIES BETWEEN THE MILITARY
AND THE WHITE HOUSE RUN DEEP.

AFTER ALL,
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT JUST

THE POLITICAL LEADER
OF THE COUNTRY.

HE'S ALSO
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

TODAY, SERGEANT KYLE WHITE
AND HIS FAMILY

ARE VISITING THE WHITE HOUSE,

WHERE HE'LL RECEIVE THE NATION'S
HIGHEST MILITARY AWARD,

THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

TAKE A LOOK AT
ALL THESE PICTURES.

YEAH.
AMAZING.

Narrator: SERGEANT WHITE PROVED
HIS COURAGE IN AFGHANISTAN,

WHEN HIS UNIT WAS AMBUSHED.

BRAVING ENEMY FIRE
AND IGNORING HIS OWN INJURIES,

HE TENDED TO
HIS WOUNDED COMRADES.

BY TRADITION,
THE MEDAL OF HONOR

IS AWARDED PERSONALLY
BY THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

ASK ANY PRESIDENT,

AND THEY'LL TELL YOU
THERE IS NO BURDEN

THAT WEIGHS HEAVIER
ON THEIR SHOULDERS

THAN SENDING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
INTO HARM'S WAY

AND NO PRIVILEGE GREATER
THAN HONORING THEIR COURAGE.

[ FANFARE PLAYS ]

Man: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES...

[ "HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYS ]
...ACCOMPANIED BY
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

SERGEANT KYLE WHITE.

**

IT HAS BEEN SAID
THAT TRUE COURAGE

IS A PERFECT SENSIBILITY
OF THE MEASURE OF DANGER

AND A MENTAL WILLINGNESS
TO INCUR IT.

THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF OUR ARMED FORCES

HAVE KNOWN THE MEASURE OF DANGER

THAT COMES
WITH MILITARY SERVICE,

BUT THEY HAVE DISPLAYED

A SELFLESS WILLINGNESS
TO INCUR IT

BY VOLUNTEERING
TO KEEP US ALL SAFE.

[ APPLAUSE ]

[ INSTRUMENTS TUNING ]

Narrator:
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
THE SETTING FOR CEREMONIES,

BOTH SOLEMN AND FESTIVE.

FOR EVERY PRESIDENT,

SPECIAL OCCASIONS ARE CELEBRATED

AS A WELCOME BREAK
FROM THE DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINE.

BACK WHEN JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS
LIVED HERE,

THEY BRIGHTENED
THEIR STILL-UNFINISHED HOME

WITH A RECEPTION
AND FORMAL DINNER.

FOR ENTERTAINMENT,

THERE WAS AN ENSEMBLE
OF MILITARY MUSICIANS --

MARINES.

AND THE MARINE BAND
HAS PERFORMED

AT WHITE HOUSE FUNCTIONS
EVER SINCE,

WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE CALLED
"THE PRESIDENT'S OWN."

[ CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS ]

OVER TIME,
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BECOME

A KIND OF EPICENTER
FOR ENTERTAINING.

AND AN INVITATION TO PARTY HERE
IS A COVETED PRIZE,

EVEN FOR THE BIGGEST STARS.

IT'S A CHANCE FOR THE ELITE
OF HOLLYWOOD AND WASHINGTON

TO RUB ELBOWS
WITH WORLD LEADERS.

**

Man: PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY,
HIS WIFE,

ARRIVE AT THE WHITE HOUSE
FOR A STATE DINNER

GIVEN IN THEIR HONOR
BY PRESIDENT AND MRS. KENNEDY.

**

STATE DINNER --
WELL, THE NUMBER CAN CHANGE.

IT CAN START AT 150
AND END UP AT 260.

LOCATION CAN CHANGE.

THAT MEAN YOU PLAN SOMETHING.

LET'S SAY YOU PLAN A DESSERT,

WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE ICE CREAM
OR SHERBET OR SOMETHING.

NOW, THE WORST SITUATION
HAPPENED ONCE TO ME

WHEN YOU HAVE A DINNER
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER,

AND THE DESSERT
IS A HOT SOUFFLé.

AND THEY COME AND SEE ME

AFTER HAVING THAT SOUFFLé
IN THE OVEN

FOR MAYBE 30 MINUTES OR SO

AND SAID,
"WE MISS A GUEST,

AND WE CAN'T SERVE
UNTIL SHE'S THERE.

THIS IS MRS. BARBARA BUSH.

SHE'S STUCK
SOMEWHERE AT THE AIRPORT --

SOMETHING WITH THE FLIGHT."

YOU KNOW, SOUFFLé DON'T WAIT.

WHEN IT'S THE TIME,
IT'S GOT TO GO.

WHEN YOU GOT TO GO,
YOU GOT TO GO.

YOU KNOW THE STORY.

SO THE SOUFFLé'S THE SAME WAY.

BUT ACTUALLY, THE SOUFFLé
CAME OUT ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

COULD NOT HAVE DONE BETTER.

[ WOMAN LAUGHS ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator: OF COURSE,
THE WHITE HOUSE IS MORE

THAN A CULINARY DESTINATION.

IT IS ALSO A PLACE TO CELEBRATE
THE AMERICAN CULTURE.

[ "THE BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM"
PLAYS ]

EVERY PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY

HAVE STAGED PERFORMANCES
AT THE HOUSE

THAT REFLECT THEIR OWN TASTE
AND THE TIMES THEY LIVE IN.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR,

LINCOLN HAD THE MARINE BAND
PLAY A LOT OF PATRIOTIC MUSIC,

LIKE THE POPULAR
"BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM,"

AND THEY HELD WEEKLY CONCERTS
ON THE LAWN.

Man: * SHOUTING
THE BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM *

[ PIANO TUNING ]

PRESIDENT HAYS' TASTE
RAN MORE TOWARD OPERA,

AND ONE OF HIS MUSICAL EVENINGS
IN 1878

FEATURED SOPRANO MARIE SELIKA,

THE FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN SINGER

TO ENTERTAIN
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

**

JOHN F. KENNEDY
AND FIRST LADY JACKIE KENNEDY

OPENED THE HOUSE
TO THE NATION'S FINEST ARTISTS

WITH PERFORMANCES
OF OPERA, BALLET, SHAKESPEARE,

AND LEGENDARY MUSICIANS
LIKE PABLO CASALS.

[ UP-TEMPO JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS ]

IN 1993, WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON

CELEBRATED THE 40th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL

AT THE WHITE HOUSE,

HE JOINED AN ALL-STAR LINEUP
OF MUSICIANS FOR A SAX SOLO.

[ SAXOPHONE SOLO ]

[ APPLAUSE ]

IN THE EAST ROOM,

THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF PREPS
FOR AN EVENING PERFORMANCE,

THE SAME ROOM
WHERE FIRST LADY ABIGAIL ADAMS

HUNG HER CLOTHES OUT TO DRY.

Barack: I HOPE EVERYBODY'S
IN THE SPIRIT TONIGHT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME CHURCH
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

Woman: * THEN WE'LL GO

* IN THAT CITY
* OH, IN THAT

* IN THAT CITY
* ALL THE YOUNG MEN

* IN THAT CITY
* IN THAT CITY

* IN THAT CITY
* SHINE OVER THERE

* IN THAT CITY
* FEELIN' IT OVER THERE

* IN THAT CITY
* OH, IN THAT CITY

* IN THAT CITY
* NO MORE DYIN'

* IN THAT CITY
* IN THAT CITY

* I'LL TELL YOU,
NO, THEY WON'T *

* I WON'T BE BACK
I WON'T BE BACK
I WON'T BE BACK *

* NO MORE

* NO MORE
* NO MORE

* NO MORE

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Narrator:
7:20 A.M., THE WEST WING.

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
JOSH EARNEST STARTS HIS DAY.

-GOOD MORNING.
-HEY, JOSH.

Earnest: KNOWING THAT YOU ARE
40 OR 50 FEET

DOWN THE HALL
FROM THE OVAL OFFICE

AND THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES

IS A PRETTY AWESOME FEELING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

BOTH IN TERMS OF
HOW NEAT IT IS,

BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF

THE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY
THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT,

THAT IT CONNOTES.

AND I DON'T THINK
THAT'S SOMETHING

I'VE EVER GOTTEN USED TO.

Narrator: PART OF JOSH EARNEST'S
RESPONSIBILITY

IS TO INFORM AND MANAGE
THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS,

A GAGGLE OF REPORTERS

FROM ASSORTED PRINT, RADIO, TV,
AND DIGITAL OUTLETS.

Woman: BOB, MAKE SURE
THE IFPs PILED UP, PLEASE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THEY GATHER EVERY DAY
HERE IN THE BRIEFING ROOM

TO LEARN WHATEVER THEY CAN ABOUT

THE PRESIDENT'S
DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES

AND MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS.

YOU ARE THERE WHEN THE PRESIDENT
IS MAKING BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS,

MEETING WITH WORLD LEADERS.

YOU'RE JUST A FEW FEET AWAY
AND DOWN THE HALL

FROM WHERE MOMENTOUS DECISIONS
ARE BEING MADE.

Brokaw:
THE IDEA THAT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST COUNTRY

AND THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY
IN THE HISTORY,

THERE'S THIS CENTRAL PLACE,

AND YOU GET TO GO THERE
EVERY DAY

AND SEE WHAT THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

IS PLANNING TO DO ABOUT
THE BIG ISSUES BEFORE YOU.

WHAT MORE WOULD YOU WANT
AS A REPORTER?

THERE WASN'T A DAY
WHEN I COVERED THE WHITE HOUSE

WHERE I WASN'T AMAZED

THAT I WAS WALKING INTO
THAT BUILDING EVERY DAY.

AFGHANISTAN IS STILL
A DANGEROUS PLACE.

YOU NEVER LOSE THE SENSE

THAT YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT ALL.

I CALL IT SITTING ON
THE FRONT ROW OF HISTORY.

Man: $175 BILLION
IN NEW TAX BENEFITS.

HOW WOULD HE SPEND
THAT MONEY?

HE WOULD GIVE MONEY
TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

Woodward:
IT'S EASIER TO DESCRIBE
THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE

THAN TO DESCRIBE
THE RELATIONSHIPS

BETWEEN THE PRESS
AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

Narrator: THAT COMPLEX
RELATIONSHIP IS NOTHING NEW.

THE PRESS HAS ALWAYS
HAD AN INTENSE INTEREST

IN WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING
AND WHAT HE'S THINKING.

BUT REPORTERS HAVEN'T ALWAYS
BEEN SO WELCOME

IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IN THE 1800s,

MANY PRESIDENTS
PREFERRED TO KEEP THE PRESS

AT ARM'S LENGTH.

THAT FINALLY BEGAN TO CHANGE

AROUND THE TURN
OF THE 20th CENTURY.

LEGEND HAS IT THAT ONE DAY,

PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT
SPOTTED A GROUP OF REPORTERS

STANDING IN THE RAIN
OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE,

AND HE INVITED THEM IN.

**

REPORTERS HAD WORKED
IN THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE,

BUT IT WAS ROOSEVELT

WHO GAVE THEM THEIR OWN ROOM
IN THE WEST WING.

IN THE 1930s,

ANOTHER PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT --
FRANKLIN --

ENLARGED THE PRESS OFFICE.

F.D.R. ENJOYED CHATTING
WITH THE PRESS

AND OFTEN INVITED THEM
INTO THE OVAL OFFICE.

SOMETIMES, THOUGH,

HE ASKED THEM TO KEEP
HIS COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD,

AND THEY COMPLIED.

Plante: THE PRESS ROOM
WAS IN THE WEST WING

IN A CORNER OFFICE,

AND THERE WERE GUYS WITH HATS

SITTING IN THE LOBBY,
SMOKING CIGARETTES,

AND THE PRESS ROOM HAD
A LARGE RECTANGULAR TABLE IN IT

WITH MANUAL TYPEWRITERS ON IT

AND PHONE BOOTHS ON TWO WALLS.

AND PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS MOVING
QUICKLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

AND THERE WAS ALWAYS
A CRISIS TO BE SETTLED.

Rather: THEY HAD
BIG, OVERSTUFFED CHAIRS,

AND YOU MIXED AND MINGLED

WITH PEOPLE WHO CAME IN
FOR WHITE HOUSE APPOINTMENTS

TO SEE SOME STAFF MEMBER
OF THE PRESIDENT'S STAFF

OR EVEN THE PRESIDENT, HIMSELF.

THE PRESS SECRETARY'S OFFICE
WAS RIGHT OFF OF

THE RECEPTION AREA
IN THE WEST WING --

SMALL OFFICE.

ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT
WAS FREQUENT,

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF IT.

Man: MOTION-PICTURE CAMERAS
JOINED NEWSPAPER REPORTERS

FOR A HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL
PRESS CONFERENCE.

Narrator:
WITH THE ADVENT OF TELEVISION,

THE PRESS HAD NEW TOOLS
TO COVER THE WHITE HOUSE,

AND THE PRESIDENT HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO COOPERATE.

IN 1955, DWIGHT EISENHOWER
AGREED TO HOLD

THE FIRST TELEVISED
NEWS CONFERENCE.

WELL, I SEE WE'RE TRYING
A NEW EXPERIMENT THIS MORNING.

I HOPE IT DOESN'T PROVE TO BE
A DISTURBING INFLUENCE.

Narrator:
TELEVISION PROVIDED PRESIDENTS

A POWERFUL WAY
TO REACH THE PUBLIC.

BUT IT DEMANDED NEW SKILLS.

Man: A CONVERSATION WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

LAST EVENING IN HIS OFFICE,

MR. KENNEDY LOOKED BACK
AT THE FIRST TWO YEARS...

Narrator:
JOHN F. KENNEDY UNDERSTOOD
THE POLITICAL VALUE OF TV,

AND HE KNEW HOW TO USE IT
TO GET HIS MESSAGE ACROSS

AND CULTIVATE HIS IMAGE.

HE EVEN INVITED REPORTERS
INTO THE OVAL OFFICE

FOR AN INFORMAL
PRIME-TIME INTERVIEW.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE PROBLEMS
ARE MORE DIFFICULT

THAN I IMAGINED THEM TO BE.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES
PLACED ON THE UNITED STATES

ARE GREATER THAN
I IMAGINED THEM TO BE.

Updegrove:
I THINK IN SOME WAYS,

JOHN F. KENNEDY
CHANGED THINGS FOR THE PRESS.

HE MADE PRESS EVENTS
THESE WONDERFUL SPECTACLES.

THEY WERE PRIME-TIME EVENTS.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

LOOKED FORWARD TO
A JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESS EVENT

IN THE SAME WAY
THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO

"GAME OF THRONES," YOU KNOW?

THEY WERE
THESE WONDERFUL HAPPENINGS.

Narrator: KENNEDY'S SUCCESSOR
TOOK PRESS RELATIONS

TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

Rather: PRESIDENT JOHNSON
HAD DECIDED EARLY ON

THAT HE WANTED TO GIVE
MAXIMUM ACCESS.

JOHNSON HAD ABSOLUTELY
NO BOUNDARY

BETWEEN WORK
AND PRIVATE LIFE.

YOU WENT INTO HIS OFFICE

TO HAVE AN ONGOING
QUESTION-AND-ANSWER CONVERSATION

WITH HIM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

AND LYNDON JOHNSON
ALSO GAVE THE PRESS ACCESS

TO THE LIVING QUARTERS
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

Goodwin:
IF HE WANTED TO CONTINUE
A CONVERSATION

AND HE'S WALKING
DOWN THE CORRIDOR

AND HE WANTS TO GO
INTO HIS BEDROOM,
COME AND TAKE A NAP,

YOU COME IN AND YOU
SIT DOWN ON THE BED,
AND YOU TALK TO HIM,

WHICH IS NOT A NORMAL WAY

THAT PRIVATE-PUBLIC BEHAVIOR
IS BOUNDARIED.

BUT PART OF THAT WAS

THAT HE WAS
THE MOST COLORFUL HUMAN BEING

THAT ANY OF US WHO KNEW HIM
HAVE EVER KNOWN.

Rather: IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL
FOR PRESIDENT JOHNSON

TO SAY TO HIS PRESS SECRETARY,
"GET THAT S.O.B. IN HERE.

I WANT TO SHANK HIS ASS
RIGHT AWAY."

AND YOU'D BE HAULED IN
TO THE PRESIDENT.

THE PRESIDENT WOULD GET
NOSE-TO-NOSE WITH YOU AND SAY,

"WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING TO ME, BOY?"

I MEAN, WHEN HE WAS IN
HIGH SPIRITS IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD
REVERBERATE WITH HIGH SPIRITS.

WHEN HE WAS IN A GRUMPY MOOD
OR SAD OR ANGRY,

IT PERVADED THE WHITE HOUSE.

Narrator: IF KENNEDY AND JOHNSON
WERE FAMOUS FOR THEIR CASUAL,

EVEN CHUMMY, RELATIONS
WITH THE PRESS,

THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION
TOOK QUITE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

IN 1970, PRESIDENT NIXON MOVED
REPORTERS OUT OF THE WEST WING

AND AWAY FROM HIS OFFICE

INTO A NEW BRIEFING ROOM
IN AN ADJACENT GALLERY.

AND JUST UNDER THIS ROOM

LIES A FORGOTTEN PIECE
OF WHITE HOUSE HISTORY.

NOW WE'RE GOING DOWNSTAIRS
INTO THE SWIMMING POOL.

THE SWIMMING POOL
IS RIGHT UNDERNEATH US.

THE BRIEFING ROOM WAS BUILT
OVER TOP OF THE SWIMMING POOL.

AND JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU

SOME OF THE NICE THINGS
THAT HAVE GONE ON DOWN THERE.

Narrator:
FOR FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT,

STRICKEN BY POLIO,

A DAILY SWIM WAS THERAPEUTIC.

THE PRESIDENT
HAD THE WHITE HOUSE LAUNDRY ROOM

CONVERTED INTO
AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL.

ITS LOCATION
IN THE WEST GALLERY,

BETWEEN THE RESIDENCE
AND THE WEST WING,

GAVE ROOSEVELT
AND HIS SUCCESSORS

A CONVENIENT PLACE
TO ESCAPE AND RELAX.

PRESIDENT TRUMAN
USED IT REGULARLY

AND WAS KNOWN TO SWIM LAPS
WITH HIS GLASSES ON.

FIRST LADY JACKIE KENNEDY

FOUND THE POOL ROOM
DRAB AND UNINVITING.

MURALS WERE COMMISSIONED TO ADD
A TOUCH OF THE TROPICS.

HER HUSBAND, J.F.K.,
HAD GROWN UP ON THE WATER,

AND HE LOVED TO SWIM,
OFTEN IN THE BUFF.

LYNDON JOHNSON WAS INCLINED
TO CALL A BREAK

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF IMPORTANT MEETINGS

AND ORDER EVERYONE
TO JOIN HIM IN THE POOL

FOR A MANDATORY SWIM.

Batten: WATCH YOUR STEP.

WELCOME TO THE SWIMMING POOL
UNDERNEATH THE BRIEFING ROOM.

WE HAVE MILES AND MILES
OF FIBER-OPTIC CABLE,

AND THIS IS HOW
ALL THE TV STATIONS,

RADIO STATIONS,
WHAT HAVE YOU,

GET ALL OF
THEIR INFORMATION OUT,

AND THEY ALSO GET INFORMATION
IN TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

ALL THE GUTS OF THE TV STATIONS,
RADIO STATIONS

IS KEPT RIGHT HERE.

MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME
INTO THE BRIEFING ROOM

HAVE COME DOWN HERE
INTO THE SWIMMING POOL

TO SIGN THE WALL.

AND WE HAVE,
OH, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS

OF SIGNATURES DOWN HERE.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND,

YOU'LL SEE ALL THESE SIGNATURES

ALL OVER THE WALLS
AND EVEN ON THE FLOOR.

Narrator:
AS FOR THE POOL, ITSELF,
IT'S NOW ONLY A MEMORY.

Batten: THE BRIEFING ROOM

WAS BUILT OVER TOP
OF THE SWIMMING POOL

WHEN NIXON GOT
TIRED OF THE PRESS POOL

BEING IN THE LOBBY
OF THE WEST WING.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IS HE SAID,

"YOU KNOW WHAT,
WE'RE NOT USING THAT POOL.

WE'LL COVER IT OVER

AND WE'LL PUT THEM IN THAT AREA
AND THEY CAN STAY AWAY FROM ME."

HELLO.

GEORGE, ON THAT THING
WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS MORNING,

I WANTED TO BE SURE
THAT YOU GOT OFF A...

Rather:
NIXON WHITE HOUSE STAFF

MADE IT CLEAR
RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING

THAT THEY VIEWED THE PRESS
AS HOSTILE AND DANGEROUS

TO THE POLITICAL HEALTH
OF THE PRESIDENT.

[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]

THAT'S ENOUGH.

Rather:
THE PRESS WAS THE ENEMY.

THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PRESS
ON THE WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS,

IN THE WHITE HOUSE, ITSELF,

EVEN IN THE WEST WING.

IT WAS, "GET THESE SO-AND-SOS

OUT OF MY SIGHT,
OUT OF MY HAIR.

WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THEM
HANGING OUT IN THE WEST WING
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE."

SO WE WERE, IN EFFECT,
IN A CORRAL.

COULDN'T MOVE OUT OF IT
WITHOUT STRICT PERMISSION.

AND PERMISSION
WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO COME BY.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator:
EVEN NOW, DECADES AFTER NIXON,

THE PRESS REMAINS
PENNED IN ITS CORRAL.

Plante: WE ARE
PART OF THE WOODWORK HERE,

PART OF THE FURNISHINGS,

BUT WE DON'T HAVE
THE RUN OF THE PLACE.

WE ARE CONFINED TO
THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM

AND THE PRESS SECRETARY'S
OFFICE AREA.

TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE,
WE NEED TO HAVE AN ESCORT.

SO WE'RE FREE
TO MOVE AROUND HERE

AND TO MOVE
ON AND OFF THE GROUNDS,

BUT NOT ELSEWHERE
ON THE GROUNDS.

HOW IS IT
TO COVER THE WHITE HOUSE?

IT IS THE MOST EXCITING BEAT
IN THE WORLD.

YOU ARE ON THE FRONT LINE
OF HISTORY.

ON THE OTHER HAND,
YOU DON'T HAVE GREAT ACCESS.

YOU'RE BEHIND THE DOOR.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Smith:
TODAY, WITH THE 24-7 NEWS CYCLE,

PRESIDENTS, FIRST LADIES,
THE FAMILY --

THEY COME INTO OUR HOMES
MORE THAN EVER.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS FIGURATIVELY,
IF NOT LITERALLY,

RINGED WITH SATELLITE DISHES,

EVERY ONE PRIMED TO COMMUNICATE

THE LATEST UTTERANCE
TO COME FROM THE HOUSE.

GOOD NEWS, ANDREA.

THE PRESIDENT
DIDN'T HAVE TROUBLE

WITH HIS FREE THROWS THIS TIME,
AS HE'S DONE IN YEARS PAST.

Smith: THERE COULD BE,

IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS
OF MAE WEST,

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

Walsh: I REMEMBER MIKE McCURRY,
CLINTON'S PRESS SECRETARY,

TELLING ME THAT HE FELT

THAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO HAVE
A PRESS SECRETARY

FOR THE DAYTIME
AND THE NIGHTTIME

BECAUSE THE CYCLE
NEVER STOPPED.

WELL, NOW, YOU KNOW,
ON THAT BASIS,

YOU NEED A PRESS SECRETARY
FOR EVERY FIVE MINUTES

BECAUSE THE NEWS IS FLOWING
ALL THE TIME.

Earnest:
PEOPLE SOMETIMES LIKE TO SAY,

"BOY, YOU REALLY GOT BEAT UP

BY THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS
THAT DAY,"

OR, "BOY, THERE SEEMS TO BE
A LOT OF TENSION

BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE
AND THE PRESS CORPS."

AND MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS,

"IF THERE WEREN'T
A LITTLE TENSION BETWEEN

THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS
AND THE PRESS OFFICE,

THEN ONE OF US
WOULDN'T BE DOING OUR JOB.

LET'S DO IT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

[ HELICOPTER WHIRRING ]

Narrator: IF YOU WORK AND LIVE
IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

THE CONSTANT GLARE OF THE PRESS
IS SIMPLY INESCAPABLE.

AND THAT'S TRUE NOT ONLY
OF THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY,

BUT FOR THEIR CHILDREN, TOO.

Jenna: "DEAR SASHA AND MALIA,

WE WERE 7 WHEN OUR BELOVED
GRANDFATHER WAS SWORN IN

AS THE 41st PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE WATCHED AS THE BANDS
MARCHED BY,

THE RED, WHITE,
AND BLUE STREAMERS

WELCOMING US TO A NEW ROLE --

THE FAMILY MEMBERS
OF A PRESIDENT.

WE ALSO FIRST SAW
THE WHITE HOUSE

THROUGH THE INNOCENT,
OPTIMISTIC EYES OF CHILDREN."

Narrator: FOR THE CHILDREN,

AND EVEN THE GRANDCHILDREN
OF AMERICAN PRESIDENTS,

THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT JUST
A PLACE OF POMP AND POLITICS.

IT'S A PLACE TO PLAY, TO LEARN,
TO GROW UP.

AND UNLIKE MOST KIDS,

THEY HAVE TO DO IT ALL
IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Johnson Robb:
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, I THINK,
TO BE UNDER THAT GLARE

BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THAT ANYTHING YOU DO

IS GONNA REFLECT
ON YOUR PARENTS.

AND MY MOTHER SAID,

"DON'T DO ANYTHING
THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE

ON THE FRONT PAGES OF
THE NEW YORK TIMES."

THEY'VE COME FROM SOME PLACE

WHERE THEY CAN BE
OUT IN THE OPEN ON THEIR OWN,

AND NOW THEY'RE
IN A FISH BOWL.

Jenna:
WELL, THIS WAS MY HOME.

WHEN WE WERE LITTLE,

COMING TO VISIT YOUR
GRANDPARENTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

IS UNBELIEVABLY MAGICAL.

IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE HOUSE
TO LIVE IN.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

Narrator:
WHAT BETTER PLACE TO CELEBRATE
THOSE SPECIAL OCCASIONS

AT THE HEART
OF CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?

HEY, BIG GUY.

Jenna: WE WOULD COME
DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

SO WE WOULD COME WHEN IT WAS
DECKED OUT WITH TREES

AND SMELLED UNBELIEVABLE

AND ALL OF OUR COUSINS
WERE HERE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

AND THEN WHEN MY DAD
WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT,

HE CONTINUED IT.

IT'S LIKE THE BEST
FIVE-STAR HOTEL

AND THE BEST
FIVE-STAR SERVICE.

Man: SUSAN FORD AND HER FAMILY

ARE MOVING OUT OF THEIR HOUSE
IN ALEXANDRIA.

SUSAN AND HER CAT, CHAN,

WILL LIVE UP ON THE THIRD FLOOR
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

Ford Bales:
BUT TO HAVE MY OWN BATHROOM
TO MYSELF,

I WAS IN HEAVEN.

TO HAVE SOMEBODY
PICK UP THE CLOTHES

THAT I DROPPED ON THE FLOOR,

AND WITHIN HOURS,
THEY WERE CLEANED

AND HANGING BACK IN YOUR CLOSET,

AS A TEENAGER WAS HEAVEN.

Woman:
IS HE GONNA BE IN A BED?

NOT IN MY BED.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Michelle: I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ONE RIGHT WAY

TO LIVE IN THIS HOME
AND CREATE A SPACE.

IT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW,
FOCUS AND A SOLID FOUNDATION

OF KNOWING WHO YOU ARE,
KNOWING WHAT YOUR PASSIONS ARE.

Barack:
THE RESIDENCE, WHICH OVER TIME,

REALLY DOES END UP FEELING
MORE LIKE HOME,

AT LEAST
THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GOT A COUPLE
OF TEENAGE GIRLS IN THERE

WHO AREN'T OVERLY IMPRESSED
WITH ANY PARTICULAR HISTORY

AND ARE MORE CONCERNED
WITH THE THINGS

THAT TEENAGE GIRLS
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator:
FOR PRESIDENTIAL CHILDREN,

INDIFFERENT TO POLITICS
OR STATESMANSHIP,

THE EXECUTIVE MANSION
IS THEIR PERSONAL PLAYHOUSE.

AND THEY CAN ELEVATE
THE MOOD OF THE PRESIDENT,

EVEN IN HIS DARKEST HOURS.

THAT WAS TRUE

FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S
YOUNGEST SONS --

WILLIE, WHO WAS 11 WHEN
HIS FATHER BECAME PRESIDENT,

AND TAD, WHO WAS JUST 7.

Goodwin:
THOSE TWO LITTLE KIDS

WERE RAMBUNCTIOUS,
SPONTANEOUS KIDS,

WHO BROUGHT LIFE
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THEY HAD A FORT ON THE ROOF.

THEY WOULD BURST
INTO CABINET MEETINGS,

AND LINCOLN WOULD WELCOME THEM
SPONTANEOUSLY.

AND THEY BROUGHT A CERTAIN SENSE
OF YOUTH AND ENERGY

TO THE SADNESS OF THE WAR

BECAUSE THEY STILL
WERE MERRY LITTLE KIDS.

Narrator:
SURELY, NO GROUP OF CHILDREN

CREATED MORE MAYHEM
IN THE WHITE HOUSE

THAN TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S
BROOD OF SIX.

**

Wead:
THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND HIS KIDS

JUST DESCENDED ON WASHINGTON
LIKE A THUNDERSTORM

AND WERE COLORFUL AND OUTRAGEOUS
AND WONDERFUL.

**

Narrator: THE ROOSEVELT FAMILY
LOVED ANIMALS,

AND THEY HAD A MENAGERIE
OF DOGS, BIRDS,

GUINEA PIGS, SNAKES,
RABBITS, BADGERS,

A ONE-LEGGED ROOSTER,

EVEN A SMALL BEAR
NAMED JONATHAN EDWARDS.

ON ONE OCCASION,

THE KIDS MANEUVERED THEIR PONY,
NAMED ALGONQUIN,

INTO THE WHITE HOUSE ELEVATOR

AND BROUGHT IT UP
TO THE SECOND-FLOOR RESIDENCE.

[ BELL DINGS ]

BUT IT WAS 17-YEAR-OLD ALICE

WHO REALLY RATTLED
THE WHITE HOUSE RAFTERS

AND SHOOK UP HER FATHER,
THE PRESIDENT, TOO.

Smith: ALICE NOTORIOUSLY SET OUT
TO SHOCK PUBLIC OPINION

AND SUCCEEDED, REALLY,

FOR MOST OF HER LONG,
COLORFUL LIFE.

SHE USED TO STAND

UNDER THE MAIN STAIRCASE
OF THE WHITE HOUSE

SMOKING CIGARETTES,

WHICH WAS VERBOTEN,

WITH A GREEN SNAKE,
DUBBED EMILY SPINACH,

WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK.

SHE WAS NOT ABOVE JUMPING OUT
AND TELLING TOUR GROUPS

THAT THE PRESIDENT
BEAT HIS CHILDREN REGULARLY.

IT WAS THAT KIND OF FAMILY.

IT WAS A SITCOM
SET TO REAL LIFE.

Narrator:
AN EXASPERATED ROOSEVELT
TOLD A FRIEND,

"I CAN EITHER RUN THE COUNTRY
OR I CAN ATTEND TO ALICE,

BUT I CANNOT POSSIBLY DO BOTH."

**

Wead: THE WHITE HOUSE
IS SUCH A SPECIAL SPACE FOR KIDS

THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE OVER.

Bales Ford: EVERYBODY SHOWED UP
FOR THE PROM.

I WENT TO THE USHER'S OFFICE,
AND THEY SAID,

"AS LONG AS YOU PAY THE BILLS,
SURE."

AND THEY LET IT HAPPEN.

EVERY PARENT
WANTED TO BE A CHAPERONE,

AND EVERYBODY GOT A DATE.

I MEAN, YOU COULD GET A DATE
FOR THIS PROM.

**

Narrator: PRESIDENTIAL KIDS
ARE REALLY NO DIFFERENT

FROM MOST OTHER KIDS.

THEY ALWAYS MANAGE TO MAKE
THEIR PRESENCE FELT.

Woman: MARGARET, HOW DO YOU LIKE
THE SECRET SERVICEMEN

FOLLOWING YOU AROUND
ON TOUR?

WELL, THEY FOLLOW ME
ON TOUR,

BUT THEY DON'T GO WITH ME
ON MY DATES.

Rosalynn:
ONE OF THE BUTLERS SAID,

"MS. CARTER,
AMY'S ROLLER SKATING

IN THE EAST ROOM,"

AND I SAID, "WELL, SHE SHOULDN'T
BE DOING THAT."

[ LAUGHS ] SHE DIDN'T DO IT
WITH MY PERMISSION,

BUT I FOUND OUT LATER
THAT SHE WAS WITH HER FRIENDS.

Moeller: ONCE, PRESIDENT CLINTON
SAID THAT,

"I CAN DEAL WITH BOSNIA.
I CAN DEAL WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN.

BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I'M READY
TO DEAL WITH A TEENAGER."

THE AMAZING THING
ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE IS

WE SEE FAMILIES GROW AND EVOLVE.

AND THAT'S TRUE FOR THE CHILDREN
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Wead: YOU HAVE
PRESIDENTIAL CHILDREN --

TALKING OF RIGHTS OF PASSAGE --

WALKING DOWN
THAT GRAND STAIRCASE

IN THEIR BRIDAL GOWN,

GETTING MARRIED
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Man: WILT THOU LOVE HIM,

COMFORT HIM IN SICKNESS
AND IN HEALTH?

Updegrove: AND IN THE CASE OF
THE JOHNSON WHITE HOUSE,

WE SAW LYNDA AND LUCI JOHNSON

GO FROM MORE OR LESS ADOLESCENTS

INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD
AND THEN ADULTHOOD.

Man: TWO DAYS AFTER HIS RETURN
FROM NEW YORK,

THE PRESIDENT'S OLDEST DAUGHTER,
LYNDA BIRD JOHNSON,

BECAME THE BRIDE OF
CAPTAIN CHARLES ROBB

OF THE UNITED STATES
MARINE CORPS.

HISTORICALLY, IT WAS THE FIRST
WHITE HOUSE WEDDING IN 53 YEARS.

[ WAGNER'S WEDDING MARCH PLAYS ]

Johnson Robb: IT WAS EXCITING
BEING IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

BUT I THINK WE GAVE UP
SOME OF THE FUN THINGS

THAT ORDINARY TEENAGERS DO.

LUCI ONCE -- SHE ASKED,
FOR HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT --

I THINK IT WAS
A 16th BIRTHDAY --

"CAN I HAVE A DAY
WITHOUT THE SECRET SERVICE?"

I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT

FOR THE FIRST FAMILIES
TO MAINTAIN PRIVACY.

THE PRESS ARE RIGHT
OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR.

FIRST FAMILIES
DON'T HAVE THE FREEDOM

TO GET OUT AND WALK AROUND.

Narrator:
ONE PRESIDENT UNDERSTOOD

THAT HIS CHILDREN
COULD BE AN ASSET,

HELPING HIM TO CONNECT
WITH THE PUBLIC

AND REVEAL THE LIGHTER SIDE
OF LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Wead: JACKIE KENNEDY'S
OUT OF THE COUNTRY,

AND HE SAYS TO EVELYN,

"GO GET THE KIDS
AND GET THEM DOWN HERE."

AND SO HIS SECRETARY

BRINGS THESE KIDS
DOWN TO THE OVAL OFFICE

AND THEY'RE DANCING AROUND
AND KENNEDY THINKS IT'S A HOOT

AND THE PICTURES GET OUT,
AND WE ALL LOVE THE PICTURES.

THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED
IF JACKIE KENNEDY HAD BEEN HOME

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T
WANT HER CHILDREN

IN THE PICTURES
AND IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

Narrator: AS J.F.K. EXPECTED,

AMERICANS FOUND HIS KIDS

AND THE IMAGES OF THESE
INTIMATE MOMENTS IRRESISTIBLE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]

BUT THE PRESS DOESN'T ALWAYS
PORTRAY PRESIDENTIAL CHILDREN

IN A SYMPATHETIC LIGHT,

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR BEHAVIOR
GOES BEYOND MERE MISCHIEF.

AND TONIGHT,
THE PERILS AND THE PROMISE

OF BEING
A PRESIDENTIAL OFFSPRING.

JENNA, WHO IS 19 YEARS OLD,

WAS TICKETED
FOR UNDERAGE BEER DRINKING.

WELL, WHEN GEORGE
TOLD BARBARA AND JENNA

THAT HE WAS GONNA RUN
FOR PRESIDENT,

THEY SAID,
"YOU'RE GONNA RUIN OUR LIVES."

Jenna: OBVIOUSLY, WE WANTED TO
BE NORMAL COLLEGE KIDS.

WE WERE NORMAL COLLEGE KIDS.

WE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
IN AUSTIN HIGH,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
OUR DAD WAS PRESIDENT.

Updegrove:
THERE'S A SCRUTINY THAT YOU GET

AS THE SON OR DAUGHTER
OF A PRESIDENT

THAT ANYBODY
WHO'S BEEN A TEENAGER

PROBABLY CAN'T POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

AND WHEN JENNA BUSH
STARTED ACTING UP IN COLLEGE,

AS ANY COLLEGE STUDENT MIGHT,

BARBARA BUSH SAID, FAMOUSLY,

"GEORGE W's
GETTING A LITTLE OF HIS OWN."

I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE A TEENAGER
TODAY IF YOU PAID ME --

IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IT'S SUCH A DIFFERENT WORLD.

THAT 24-HOUR NEWS IS TOUGH --

TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT'S LIKE

UNTIL YOU'VE LIVED THERE.

Laura: WELL, THE HARDEST PART
FOR ANY FAMILY MEMBER, REALLY,

IS WATCHING THEIR PARENT,
OR PARENTS,

CHARACTERIZED IN A WAY
THAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT.

OUR GIRLS WROTE A LETTER
TO MALIA AND SASHA

BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED
ABOUT THOSE GIRLS.

THEY WANTED TO PROTECT THEM.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THEY KNEW

THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO WORRY

ABOUT THEIR FATHER
BEING CRITICIZED.

WATCHING THEM
GET CRITIQUED WAS HARD.

AND WE DID -- WE WROTE A LETTER
TO SASHA AND MALIA

'CAUSE THAT WAS THE ONE THING
I THINK WE LEARNED,

IS THAT YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE

AND ALWAYS REMIND THEM
WHO THEY ARE.

Jenna: "SASHA AND MALIA,

HERE IS SOME ADVICE FOR YOU

FROM TWO SISTERS WHO HAVE STOOD
WHERE YOU WILL STAND

AND WHO HAVE LIVED
WHERE YOU WILL LIVE.

SURROUND YOURSELF
WITH LOYAL FRIENDS.

THEY'LL PROTECT AND CALM YOU

AND JOIN IN ON SOME OF THE FUN
AND APPRECIATE THE HISTORY.

SLIDE DOWN
THE BANISTER OF THE SOLARIUM,

HAVE SWIMMING PARTIES,

AND PLAY SARDINES
ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN.

CHERISH YOUR ANIMALS

BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU'LL NEED

THE QUIET COMFORT
ONLY ANIMALS CAN PROVIDE."

Michelle: IT IS A FABULOUSLY
MAGICAL PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT, SURPRISINGLY,

IT WASN'T THAT DIFFICULT
MAKING IT A HOME

BECAUSE, AS I TELL MY GIRLS,

AND BARACK AND I TALK ABOUT THIS
ALL THE TIME,

HOME IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.

AND IT'S REALLY THE SPIRIT
THAT YOU BRING TO THE PLACE

THAT MAKES IT HOME.

**

Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
THE WHITE HOUSE WAS WELL USED

BY A SUCCESSION
OF FIRST FAMILIES.

BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS
WELL-MAINTAINED.

BY THE MIDDLE
OF THE 20th CENTURY,

THE WHITE HOUSE WAS,
QUITE LITERALLY, FALLING APART.

**

IN 1948, PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S
DAUGHTER, MARGARET,

WAS PLAYING THE PIANO
UPSTAIRS IN THE PRIVATE QUARTERS

WHEN, TO HER HORROR,

THE LEG OF HER PIANO

PUNCHED THROUGH THE FLOOR

TO THE FAMILY DINING ROOM BELOW.

[ WOOD CRACKS ]

TRUMAN HAD INHERITED

AN AGING AND DECREPIT
WHITE HOUSE.

MORE THAN 150 YEARS

OF WEAR AND TEAR
AND HAPHAZARD RENOVATIONS

HAD LEFT THE STRUCTURE
RIDDLED WITH CRACKED PLASTER,

ROTTING FLOORS,
AND FAULTY WIRING.

THE ENGINEERING REPORT
WAS BLEAK.

THE HOUSE WAS TOO DANGEROUS
TO LIVE IN.

ONE INSPECTOR
TOLD THE PRESIDENT IT WAS,

"STAYING UP
FROM FORCE OF HABIT ONLY."

SOME SUGGESTED
TEARING DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE

AND REBUILDING IT
FROM SCRATCH.

Smith: THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF
REASONS, PRACTICAL REASONS,

TO DEMOLISH THIS OLD HOUSE
BEFORE IT FELL DOWN

AND REPLACE IT WITH
A MODERN, EFFICIENT SUBSTITUTE.

TO HIS EVERLASTING CREDIT,

HARRY TRUMAN, WHO HAD A GREAT
SENSE OF HISTORY, SAID NO.

Narrator:
AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING,

CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGAN
IN LATE 1949.

THE PROJECT
WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE TWO YEARS

AND COST $5.5 MILLION.

OF COURSE, LIKE ALL RENOVATIONS,

IN THE END,
IT WOULD TAKE A LOT LONGER --

THREE YEARS, INSTEAD OF TWO --

AND IT WOULD GO WAY OVER BUDGET.

THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE

WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED
DOWN TO THE STUDS,

BUT TRUMAN INSISTED
ON PRESERVING

THE BUILDING'S ORIGINAL
EXTERIOR WALLS.

HE SAW THEM AS
A CRUCIAL LINK TO THE PAST

AND A SYMBOL OF
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT
OF RESILIENCE.

Smith: THEY BUILT A STEEL FRAME
INSIDE THE FOUR WALLS,

WHICH WERE ABOUT ALL
THAT REALLY REMAINED.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,

MUCH OF THE LUMBER
THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE HOUSE,

PRESIDENT TRUMAN
FOUND WAYS TO PRESERVE IT.

IT WAS TURNED INTO PANELING

IN A NUMBER OF ROOMS
IN THE HOUSE.

Seale: AND WHILE THEY WERE
GUTTING THE HOUSE,

TRUMAN MADE
HIS DAILY INSPECTION.

HE LIKED BUILDING A LOT,

AND, SO HE WENT TO A DOOR --
A BASEMENT DOOR --

AND THEY WERE GONNA
KNOCK IT DOWN

AND MAKE IT WIDE ENOUGH

FOR A BULLDOZER AND A DUMP TRUCK
TO GO THROUGH.

AND HE SAID,
"NO, I WON'T HAVE IT."

SO THEY HAD TO TAKE THE DUMP
TRUCK AND THE BULLDOZER APART

AND RECONSTRUCT THEM INSIDE

AND THEN DUG THEIR BASEMENT.

HE WAS VERY RESOLUTE IN SAVING

THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON
HAD BUILT.

[ "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER"
PLAYS ]

Man: THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES

AT HOME ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON,
MAY 3rd.

Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 1952,

PRESIDENT TRUMAN SHOWED OFF
THE REFURBISHED WHITE HOUSE

ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

WE'RE CROSSING
THE HALL AGAIN,

THE MAIN CORRIDOR HERE
ON THE GROUND FLOOR,

AND INTO -- LET'S SEE,
THIS ROOM, MR. PRESIDENT...

IS THE OLD KITCHEN.

THE OLD KITCHEN.

DOESN'T LOOK MUCH LIKE
A KITCHEN TODAY, SIR.

THE OLD KITCHEN --

IT HAD WONDERFUL FIREPLACES
AT EACH END

WITH ALL THE COOKING UTENSILS,
WHICH WE PUT BACK IN THERE.

HERE'S THE BASE OF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

Man: WHEN DO YOU THINK
IT'S GOING TO NEED IT AGAIN?

WELL, I THINK
IN ABOUT 1,000 YEARS.

WELL, MR. PRESIDENT...

**

Narrator:
THE WHITE HOUSE MAY HAVE BEEN
STRUCTURALLY SOUND AT LAST,

BUT ANOTHER RESIDENT WOULD BRING

HER OWN SENSE OF HISTORY
AND HER DISCRIMINATING EYE

TO THE BUILDING'S FURNISHINGS.

JACQUELINE KENNEDY HAD TOURED
THE WHITE HOUSE AS A CHILD,

AND SHE REMEMBERED FEELING
STRANGELY LET DOWN

BY WHAT SHE SAW.

SHE HAD THE SAME REACTION

WHEN SHE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE
IN 1961.

IT WAS DECORATED IN A RANDOM MIX
OF PERIODS AND STYLES

WITHOUT ANY UNIFYING VISION
OR PLAN.

"IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN
FURNISHED BY DISCOUNT STORES,"

SHE COMPLAINED.

"THERE IS NO TRACE OF THE PAST."

SHE WASN'T FAR OFF.

MUCH OF THE FURNITURE
HAD BEEN SUPPLIED AT COST

BY B. ALTMAN'S,
A NEW YORK DEPARTMENT STORE.

THE FIRST LADY SET OUT

TO GIVE THE WHITE HOUSE
A THOROUGH MAKEOVER.

SHE FORMED A FINE ARTS COMMITTEE

TO HELP GUIDE HER ACQUISITION

OF PERIOD FURNISHINGS
FROM AMERICA'S PAST.

AND SHE INVITED COLLECTORS

TO DONATE
THEIR ANTIQUE TREASURES.

HER GOAL WAS TO MAKE
THE WHITE HOUSE

INTO A SHOWCASE
FOR AMERICAN DESIGN

WITH ROOMS PURPOSELY ARRANGED

TO REFLECT THE EVOLUTION
OF THE NATION'S STYLE AND TASTE.

MRS. KENNEDY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU...

ON FEBRUARY 14, 1962,

JACKIE KENNEDY, AS EVER,

SOFT-SPOKEN,
BUT POISED AND CHARMING,

OPENED HER HOME TO
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

IN PRIMETIME.

BECAUSE I THINK
THIS HOUSE

WILL ALWAYS GROW,
AND SHOULD.

IT JUST SEEMED TO ME
SUCH A SHAME WHEN WE CAME HERE

TO FIND HARDLY ANYTHING
OF THE PAST IN THE HOUSE.

THE RATINGS
WERE STAGGERING.

MORE THAN 80 MILLION AMERICANS
TUNED IN --

NEARLY HALF THE COUNTRY.

JACKIE WANTED
TO HONOR AND PRESERVE

THE LEGACY
OF THE PRESIDENT'S HOME,

AND SHE MADE CERTAIN
THAT ITS COLLECTIONS

WOULD BE CARED FOR BY EXPERTS.

Allman: WELL, THE CURATOR
OF THE WHITE HOUSE --

IT WAS A POSITION THAT WAS

UNOFFICIALLY CREATED
BY MRS. KENNEDY.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
THAN MOST CURATORIAL OFFICES

IN THAT OUR COLLECTION
ISN'T BEHIND ROPES, UNDER GLASS,

SO THAT THE GUESTS COME
IN AND SIT ON THE FURNITURE

AND WALK ON THE CARPETS
AND EAT OFF THE CHINA.

I THINK IT'S THAT IDEA
THAT WE LET THEM --

PEOPLE GO INTO THE ROOMS

WHERE THE PRESIDENT
DOES HIS JOB,

AND HOW UNUSUAL THAT IS.

HE WAS IN HERE LAST NIGHT.

THERE WAS A DINNER.

HE SAT HERE AND TALKED TO
THE VISITING HEAD OF STATE.

IT'S NOT SOME CEREMONIAL WING

WHERE THE KING OR THE QUEEN

IS LIVING IN THE OTHER 500 ROOMS
DOWN THE BLOCK.

THIS IS IT,
AND THESE ARE THE ROOMS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT PLACE
THAT JUST CONNOTES AMERICA.

**

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
THE PRESIDENTIAL SPOUSE

IS NEVER MENTIONED
IN THE CONSTITUTION,

SHE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN EVERY ADMINISTRATION.

FOR THE FIRST LADY
AND HER STAFF,

THE EAST WING
IS THEIR HEADQUARTERS.

Rosholm:
EVEN AT 6:00 A.M. OR 3:00 A.M.
OR WHATEVER TIME YOU GET HERE,

YOU STILL WALK IN.

THE FIRST THING I SEE
WHEN I WALK IN MY OFFICE

IS THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE,
AND IT'S JUST --

THIS IS A VIEW THAT NOBODY
REALLY SEES EVER,

AND I GET TO SEE IT
EVERY DAY.

SO THIS IS THE EAST WING.

WE'RE THE SISTER
TO THE WEST WING.

THIS IS MAINLY WHERE
THE FIRST LADY'S STAFF WORK.

THIS IS THE FIRST LADY'S
PRESS OFFICE.

IT'S TINY. I SHARE IT.

IT'S A TIGHT FIT,
AND WE'RE A TINY TEAM,

BUT WE DO A LOT.

[ LAUGHS ] A LOT, A LOT.

IT'S A MEMORIAL EDITION
OF "PROFILES IN COURAGE,"

AND IT'S SIGNED
BY MRS. KENNEDY.

I PROMISED THAT
I WOULD KEEP IT ON THE BOOKSHELF

IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

AND THERE IT SITS
UNDER BO AND CHAMP.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: THE JOB OF FIRST LADY
MAY BE UNOFFICIAL,

AND SHE'S NOT PAID
FOR THE WORK SHE DOES,

BUT IN EVERY ADMINISTRATION,
SHE WIELDS A LOT OF INFLUENCE.

IT'S A MATTER OF HISTORY

WHAT WOMEN HAVE DONE
IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.

McBride: I THINK AMERICANS
HAVE SUCH A FASCINATION

WITH THE ROLE OF FIRST LADY.

YOU KNOW, "WHO IS THIS PERSON

THAT IS CLOSEST TO
THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD?"

Man: A MOMENT
FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

McBride: I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY,
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THEY ARE THE CLOSEST CONFIDANT,
THE MOST TRUSTED,

AND YOU CAN'T BE FIRED
FOR BEING IN THAT JOB,

IN THAT ROLE OF FIRST LADY.

YOU KNOW, WHERE ADVISERS
MAY BE RELUCTANT

TO SOMETIMES TELL THE PRESIDENT
WHAT HE NEEDS TO HEAR

AND NOT WHAT
HE WANTS TO HEAR,

THEY'RE THE SPOUSE.

AND THAT'S AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

MY HUSBAND,
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.

[ APPLAUSE ]

THANK YOU.

Laura:
WELL, THERE ARE MANY PARTS

ABOUT WHAT THE FIRST LADY DOES
THAT ARE TRADITIONAL,

THAT FIRST LADIES HAVE DONE
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO

WITH BEING THE HOSTESS
AT THE WHITE HOUSE,

PLANNING THE STATE DINNERS,
HOSTING THE STATE DINNERS,

READING TO THE CHILDREN
THE CHRISTMAS STORY --

"THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" --

ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT FIRST LADIES HAVE DONE

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

BUT FIRST LADIES
HAVE ALWAYS DONE A LOT MORE.

WE JUST DON'T REALLY
ALWAYS GIVE THE FIRST LADIES

THAT MUCH CREDIT.

**

Smith:
THEY ARE THESE HYBRIDS.

THEY WALK A MULTITUDE
OF TIGHTROPES.

THEY ARE SUBJECT TO CRITICISM,
MUCH OF IT UNJUST,

FOR THEIR CLOTHES
OR THEIR FURNISHINGS

OR THEIR CHILDREN.

BETTY FORD'S COMMENTS
ABOUT PREMARITAL SEX

HAVE STIRRED UP REACTION
FROM LONDON TO MANILA.

Smith: THERE'S NO DOUBT
THEY ARE EXPLOITED

FOR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

Man: WHAT ABOUT CHINA?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
TAKE TO CHINA TO WEAR?

I HAVEN'T
FIGURED THAT OUT YET.

I'M MORE INTERESTED IN

WHAT I'M GONNA SEE
WHEN I GET THERE

THAN WHAT I'M GONNA WEAR.

IS IT FAIR,
OR AM I BEING INDISCREET...

McBride:
WELL, THE ROLE OF FIRST LADY
IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING.

EVERY PERSON THAT IS
THE OCCUPANT OF THAT POSITION

DEFINES IT THE WAY
THAT THEY WANT IT TO BE.

Narrator:
FIRST LADIES DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE

THAT KIND OF FREEDOM
AND FLEXIBILITY,

AND THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS
RELISH THEIR POSITION

AS MISTRESS OF
THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE.

MARTHA WASHINGTON
WROTE TO A FRIEND,

"I THINK I AM MORE LIKE
A STATE PRISONER

THAN ANYTHING ELSE."

BY THE 1930s, ONE FIRST LADY
WAS READY TO LIBERATE HERSELF

AND USE HER POSITION
IN A VERY PUBLIC WAY.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT NEVER WANTED
TO BE A PRESIDENT'S WIFE,

AND SHE RESISTED THE CUSTOMARY
DUTIES OF THE FIRST LADY.

BUCKING TRADITION,

SHE SPOKE OUT
ON ISSUES SHE CARED ABOUT

FROM WOMEN'S RIGHTS
TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

IF WE TURN AWAY
FROM THE NEEDS OF OTHERS,

WE ALIGN OURSELVES
WITH THOSE FORCES

WHICH ARE BRINGING ABOUT
THIS SUFFERING

AND WHICH WE MUST EVENTUALLY
TRY TO DEFEAT.

Goodwin:
SHE BECAME THE MOST POWERFUL
FIRST LADY PROBABLY EVER.

SHE CHANGED THE CEREMONIAL ROLE
OF THE FIRST LADY

IN A THOUSAND WAYS.

Narrator:
AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN

WERE STILL BARRED FROM
WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCES,

ELEANOR DEFIED THE RULES

BY HOLDING HER OWN
JUST FOR FEMALE REPORTERS.

Goodwin:
IT CREATED AN ENTIRE GENERATION
OF FEMALE JOURNALISTS

BECAUSE PUBLISHERS HAD TO HIRE
THEIR FIRST FEMALE JOURNALIST

IN ORDER TO GO TO
ELEANOR'S PRESS CONFERENCES.

Barbara: EACH FIRST LADY
DOES HER OWN THING

TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY,

BUT IF YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT,

SHE MADE THE REST OF US
LOOK LIKE PIKERS.

Rosalynn:
THE ROLE OF THE FIRST LADY

CAN BE WHATEVER
SHE WANTS TO MAKE IT.

I USED TO BE ASKED

IF I THOUGHT THE FIRST LADY
OUGHT TO BE PAID.

IF THE FIRST LADY
IS GOING TO BE PAID,

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE
A JOB DESCRIPTION,

AND I WANTED TO DO
WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

Walsh: ROSALYNN CARTER
SAT IN CABINET MEETINGS,

WHICH WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL
AT THE TIME.

SHE WAS VERY OPEN IN SAYING

THAT SHE ADVISED HER HUSBAND
ON POLICY,

WHICH SHE DID DO.

Narrator: IT WAS ROSALYNN CARTER

WHO FORMALLY ESTABLISHED
THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY

INSIDE THE EAST WING
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

Rosalynn: I DON'T THINK THERE
WILL EVER BE A FUTURE FIRST LADY

WHO WILL JUST POUR TEA
AND ENTERTAIN.

IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL
BULLY PULPIT, I CALL IT,

AND SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE

TO PURSUE ANY INTEREST
THAT YOU HAVE.

IF I WERE GIVING ADVICE
TO A NEW SPOUSE OR FIRST LADY --

WHAT ARE WE GONNA CALL HIM --
"FIRST MAN?"

ANYWAY --
FIRST GENTLEMAN, MAYBE.

BUT IF I WERE GIVING ADVICE,
I WOULD SAY ENJOY IT.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL
THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES

YOU DO HAVE
TO HELP OTHERS.

THE ROLE OF FIRST LADY IS UNIQUE
TO EVERYONE WHO OCCUPIES IT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ONE

RIGHT OR WRONG WAY
TO APPROACH IT.

FOR ME,
I'VE TRIED TO FOCUS ON

THE THINGS
THAT I TRULY CARE ABOUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO --

BARACK AND I,
SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE --

IS TO MAKE THIS HOUSE AS OPEN AS
WE POSSIBLY CAN MAKE IT

TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE HERE
FOR EVENTS...

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON

WHY WE CAN'T GET NUTRITIOUS FOOD

INTO EVERY SCHOOL
IN THIS COUNTRY

THAT KIDS WILL ACTUALLY ENJOY.

YOU GUYS REMIND ME OF THAT
EVERY SINGLE DAY.

...WHERE THEY GET TO COME SEE
THE CHINA AND TASTE THE FOOD

BECAUSE THE NOTION IS

THESE KIDS DON'T GET TO SEE
THE WHITE HOUSE IN THAT WAY.

IT'S JUST A BIG WHITE FACADE,

BUT DO THEY EVER GET TO WALK
THROUGH THE DOORS?

Michelle: I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT YOU GUYS ACCOMPLISH.

YOU ALL ARE PRETTY AMAZING
YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO ENJOY.

[ APPLAUSE ]

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

WAIT, WAIT.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST.

ANOTHER PERSON WHO LIKES
THIS EVENT JUST AS MUCH AS ME,

WHO NEVER GETS INVITED
TO SIT DOWN,

IS THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Barack: HAVE A GREAT KIDS
STATE DINNER, ALL RIGHT?

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S TECHNICALLY A LUNCH, BUT...

[ LAUGHTER ]

...CALLING IT A STATE LUNCH --

THERE WAS A DEBATE ABOUT THIS
AND WE THOUGHT...

Michelle:
IT DOESN'T WORK.
...IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE

'CAUSE WE HAVE STATE DINNERS.

SO IT'S A KIDS' STATE DINNER,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOON.

ALL RIGHT?

AND, PARENTS,
GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY.

YOU'VE GOT GREAT KIDS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

[ FANFARE PLAYS ]

Narrator:
FOR AMERICANS OF EVERY AGE,

A VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE
IS A SPECIAL EVENT,

BUT THIS HOUSE IS ALSO A SYMBOL
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

OF THE MIGHT AND MAJESTY
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Man: ATTENTION!

[ DRUMMING ]

Narrator: WHEN FOREIGN LEADERS
COME TO CALL,

THEY GET A ROYAL WELCOME.

IN A TRADITION
BEGUN BY PRESIDENT KENNEDY,

A CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED RITUAL
IS ENACTED ON THE SOUTH LAWN.

IT'S CALLED
THE STATE ARRIVAL CEREMONY,

AND IT INCLUDES
MILITARY HONOR GUARDS,

FLAGS FLYING,
AND RUFFLES AND FLOURISHES.

[ FANFARE PLAYS ]

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

THE WHITE HOUSE
MAY SOMETIMES TAKE ON

THE TRAPPINGS OF A PALACE,

BUT TO AMERICANS,
THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC PALACE.

AFTER ALL, IT DOESN'T REALLY
BELONG TO THE PRESIDENT.

IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.

Walsh:
IN THE VERY BEGINNING,

THE ERA OF WASHINGTON
AND JEFFERSON

AND THE EARLY PRESIDENTS,

THE FEELING WAS THAT
THE WHITE HOUSE

WAS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

IN THOSE DAYS,
FROM WASHINGTON'S TIME FORWARD,

FOR MANY YEARS, PEOPLE FELT --

THE PRESIDENTS FELT THAT PEOPLE

SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO WALK IN
AND SEE THEIR PRESIDENT.

Narrator:
AND WALK IN THEY DID.

IT'S A WHITE HOUSE TRADITION --

MAKING THE PUBLIC FEEL AT HOME
INSIDE THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.

IN THE 19th CENTURY,

ORDINARY CITIZENS
MIGHT BE INVITED

TO TAKE TEA WITH THE PRESIDENT
AND FIRST LADY

OR ENJOY A PICNIC
ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN.

THEY CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE,
BUT STILL, THEY KEEP ON COMING.

AROUND 11,000 PEOPLE

TAKE THE OFFICIAL
WHITE HOUSE TOUR EVERY WEEK.

MAINTAINING
THAT OPEN-DOOR POLICY

ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

[ SIREN WAILING,
HELICOPTER WHIRRING ]

[ SIREN CHIRPING ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]

UH, THERE'S AN EVENT

THAT HAS HAPPENED
OUT ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,

AND THE SECRET SERVICE
HAS LOCKED DOWN THE NORTH LAWN.

BOB, MAKE SURE THE IFP
IS POWERED UP.

A PACKAGE OR SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
THROWN OVER THE FENCE.

Batten: SO NO ONE, NO CIVILIAN
IS ALLOWED OUT THERE.

THE ONLY PEOPLE OUT THERE
ARE SECRET SERVICE, PARK POLICE.

THEY'RE WORKING TO CLEAR
WHATEVER PROBLEM IS.

USUALLY, IT'S A BACKPACK,
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

**

Narrator:
WHETHER IT'S JUST A BACKPACK

ACCIDENTALLY LEFT ON
THE SIDEWALK BY A TOURIST

OR SOMETHING TRULY THREATENING,

THE SECRET SERVICE WON'T
HESITATE TO SHUT DOWN THE HOUSE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST TIGHTLY
GUARDED BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD.

FOLKS, EVERYBODY TURN AROUND.
HEAD OUT THE GATE HERE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO
OUT TO 17th STREET, PLEASE.

DEFENDING THIS HOUSE,

WHILE STILL
WELCOMING THE PUBLIC,

IS A CONSTANT CHALLENGE.

A TOURIST FROM DENVER

HAD NO TROUBLE
WALKING INTO THE BUILDING

ON INAUGURATION DAY,

SIMPLY BY FOLLOWING
THE MARINE CORPS BAND.

THE CESSNA CAME DOWN 50 FEET
SHORT OF THE WHITE HOUSE,
SHATTERING AGAINST

A 160 YEAR OLD MAGNOLIA TREE AND
CAME TO REST JUST 2 FLOORS BELOW
THE PRESIDENTIAL BEDROOM.

[ PEOPLE SCREAMING,
GUNFIRE ]

Batten: DURING
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,

WE HAD A GUY WHO ACTUALLY
HAD A FIREARM

THAT HE SHOT INTO
THE WHITE HOUSE

AND HIT THAT WINDOW UP THERE.

Narrator: NO ONE WAS INJURED
IN THE ATTACK,

BUT THERE WAS ONE CASUALTY --
THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS.

IN 1994, PRESIDENT CLINTON

AGREED TO CLOSE OFF
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE

TO ALL NON-PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

Clinton:
WE TAKE THIS INCIDENT SERIOUSLY

BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE
IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE,

AND IT'S THE JOB OF
EVERY PRESIDENT WHO LIVES HERE

TO KEEP IT SAFE AND SECURE.

Narrator:
ALL PRESIDENTS TRY TO BALANCE
THE SECURITY OF THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH ITS TRADITIONS OF OPENNESS.

THAT'S ESPECIALLY HARD
DURING WARTIME,

WHEN THE EYES OF THE NATION
TURN TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

[ EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE ]

IN APRIL 1861,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN STOOD
AT THE WINDOW

OF HIS SECOND-FLOOR OFFICE

AND GAZED ACROSS THE POTOMAC,

WHERE CONFEDERATE FLAGS
FLUTTERED IN THE BREEZE.

HE HAD BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE
BARELY A MONTH

WHEN THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN.

Goodwin: YOU'RE LOOKING OUT.

YOU'RE SEEING THE CONFEDERATE
CAMPS WITHIN YOUR EYESIGHT,

AND YOU REALIZE
HOW CLOSE YOU ARE

TO NOT ONLY LOSING THE WAR
THAT HAS JUST BEGUN,

BUT LOSING THE WHITE HOUSE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THE ANXIETY
HE MUST HAVE FELT.

Narrator:
LESS THAN 50 YEARS EARLIER,

BRITISH TROOPS
HAD BURNED THE WHITE HOUSE.

NOW IT WAS IN PERIL
ONCE AGAIN.

THE CAPITAL WAS SO VULNERABLE,

IT COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN

HAD THE CONFEDERATES CHOSEN

TO LAUNCH AN ASSAULT
ON THE CAPITAL,

AND LINCOLN KNEW THAT.

Narrator: WASHINGTON REMAINED
AN EASY TARGET

UNTIL UNION TROOPS
ARRIVED IN FORCE.

SOLDIERS PITCHED CAMP
RIGHT ON THE WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS

AND WERE EVEN BILLETED
INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE ITSELF,

IN THE EAST ROOM.

"THANK GOD YOU HAVE COME,"
LINCOLN TOLD THEM,

"FOR IF YOU HAD NOT,

WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE BEEN
IN THE HANDS OF THE REBELS

BEFORE MORNING."

IT WOULD BE 80 YEARS

BEFORE ANOTHER PRESIDENT
WAS FORCED TO CONFRONT

A GRAVE THREAT
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

WITH THE OUTBREAK
OF WORLD WAR II,

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S AIDES

QUICKLY SCRAMBLED
TO PROTECT HIM AND HIS HOME.

Goodwin: AS SOON AS
PEARL HARBOR HAPPENED,

THE SECRET SERVICE CAME IN

TELLING ROOSEVELT THAT HE HAD
TO CAMOUFLAGE THE WHITE HOUSE.

THEY HAD TO PUT BLACK CURTAINS
ON THE WINDOWS.

NO LONGER COULD PEOPLE
JUST COME INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.

NO MORE PEOPLE FEEDING SQUIRRELS
ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN.

AND HE ACCEPTED
A FEW OF THOSE THINGS.

THEY CREATED THE SENTRY BOXES
AT THAT TIME.

BUT HE REFUSED THE CAMOUFLAGE
ON THE ROOF.

HE SAID THAT
WE HAVE TO BE AN EMBLEM

THAT WE ARE STILL STRONG

AND THAT THIS WHITE HOUSE
HAS TO REMAIN

AMERICA'S ICONIC STRUCTURE.

Narrator:
THE WHITE HOUSE WAS NEVER
ATTACKED DURING THE CIVIL WAR,

NOR DURING WORLD WAR II.

BUT SOLDIERS
REMAIN ON GUARD HERE

EVEN IN TIMES OF PEACE.

OUTSIDE THE WEST WING,

MARINES STAND SENTRY

WHENEVER THE PRESIDENT
IS IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

AND THESE DAYS,

THERE ARE NEW THREATS
TO DEFEND AGAINST.

McBride:
ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS
HAD FELT ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE

WAS THAT YOU WERE
ALWAYS PROTECTED

AND THAT IT WAS
A FORTRESS OF SORTS

AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND SO ON 9/11, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING CHANGED.

Walters: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001,

IT STARTED OFF
AS A MAGNIFICENT DAY.

THAT EVENING,

THE PRESIDENT WAS ENTERTAINING
THE ENTIRE CONGRESS,

THE MAJORITY
OF HIS ADMINISTRATION

ON THE SOUTH GROUNDS.

WE WERE HAVING
A HUGE PARTY THAT DAY.

IT WAS THE CONGRESSIONAL
BARBECUE.

SO WE WERE BASICALLY
HAVING 2,000 PEOPLE

COMING FOR DINNER THAT NIGHT.

SO WE WERE IN FULL PRODUCTION
MODE GETTING THINGS READY.

Narrator: THE BARBECUE
IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION

AND A MAJOR EVENT,

A CHANCE
FOR CONGRESSIONAL FAMILIES

TO GET TOGETHER
WITH THE FIRST FAMILY.

Mesnier:
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
THE BIGGEST BARBECUE EVER

IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT DAY.

SO ON THAT DAY,

I WAS, LIKE, MANY OTHER PEOPLE
IN THE WHITE HOUSE --

BUSY GETTING READY
FOR THE BARBECUE.

WE HAD 170 OR 180 PICNIC TABLES
ON THE SOUTH GROUNDS.

WE HAD A STAGE SET UP.

BUT THAT MORNING,

MRS. BUSH WAS GOING
DOWN TO CAPITOL HILL.

SO, AS I USUALLY DO,

I ESCORTED THE FIRST LADY
OUT TO THE CAR.

Laura:
JUST AS I GOT IN THE CAR
THAT MORNING

TO DRIVE TO THE CAPITOL,

MY SECRET SERVICE AGENT
LEANED OVER TO ME AND SAID,

"A PLANE HAS JUST FLOWN
INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER."

AND AS I WALKED INTO MY OFFICE,

MY ASSISTANT SAID,
"LOOK AT THE TELEVISION."

AND AS I LOOKED UP
AT THE TELEVISION,

I SAW A PLANE
FLY INTO A BUILDING.

I WAS IN
THE WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN.

SOMEONE CAME IN,

SAID A PLANE HIT ONE OF
THE TOWERS UP IN NEW YORK.

AND I COULDN'T JUST
LEAVE MY STATION

TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES,
I STOPPED COOKING.

I WENT OVER TO THE STOREROOM.

OVER IN THE STOREROOM,
I KNEW THEY HAD A LITTLE TV.

I SAID, "MAYBE IT'S ON,

AND LET ME GO SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY
HAD HIT ME IN THE STOMACH.

I MEAN, IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME
AT THAT POINT

THAT THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT.

AS WE'RE TRYING TO DIGEST
WHAT JUST OCCURRED,

GARY WALTERS, THE CHIEF USHER
OF THE WHITE HOUSE,

CAME UP BEHIND ME AND SAID,

"JOHN, THIS LOOKS LIKE
A TERRORIST ATTACK.

THERE'S NO PARTY TONIGHT.

LET'S GET EVERYTHING
BROKEN DOWN,

CLEANED UP, PUT AWAY,

AND LET'S GET EVERYBODY
OUT OF HERE."

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WE STARTED EVACUATING
THE OFFICES IN THE WEST WING.

Man: EVERYBODY OUT.
EVERYBODY OUT.

GET EVERYBODY OUT.

WE HAD THE SECRET SERVICE
YELLING AT US

TO GET EVERYBODY OUT --
JUST GET OUT AND RUN.

Walters:
AND AS I EXIT THE DIPLOMATIC
RECEPTION ROOM DOORS,

I SAW A HUGE FLASH
OF BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE.

IT WAS THE FIREBALL

FROM THE PLANE
THAT FLEW INTO THE PENTAGON.

Moeller: THE HEAD CHEF CAME
RUNNING BACK INTO THE KITCHEN

AND HE SAID,
"THE PENTAGON JUST GOT HIT.

WE COULD BE NEXT.
EVACUATE."

A YOUNG LADY WHO WORKED FOR

THE USHER'S OFFICE
AT THE WHITE HOUSE

GRABBED ME, SAYING,
"ROLAND, GET OUT! GET OUT!

GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN!
WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!

THERE'S A PLANE COMING FOR
THE WHITE HOUSE IN 10 MINUTES."

Narrator: VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY,
SECRETARY OF STATE RICE,

AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS

TOOK REFUGE UNDERGROUND
IN A HIDDEN BUNKER

CALLED THE PRESIDENTIAL
EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL CENTER,

OR P.E.O.C.

IT'S THE SAFEST SPOT
IN THE EXECUTIVE MANSION,

BUILT TO WITHSTAND
A NUCLEAR ATTACK.

Laura:
WHEN I GOT TO THE P.E.O.C.,

THE CHINESE WERE THERE
AND CONDI WAS THERE

AND WAITED FOR GEORGE
TO COME.

AND THAT'S WHEN
I STARTED TO REALIZE

THE DUTY
THAT HAD FALLEN ON GEORGE

TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY
THROUGH THIS DARK SHADOW.

Narrator:
IN SPITE OF THE RISK,

CHIEF USHER GARY WALTERS
AND A FEW MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF

REMAINED ON THE JOB,
OUTSIDE IN THE OPEN.

WE SPENT THE NEXT...SEVEN HOURS
ON THE SOUTH GROUNDS

MOVING PICNIC TABLES,
MOVING THINGS OUT OF THE WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT I TURNED TO
IN MY OWN MIND ON 9/11

WAS THE ROLE
THAT THE WHITE HOUSE PLAYS

IN DISASTERS, WARS.

PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY
TO TURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND I KNEW THAT THE PRESIDENT

WASN'T GONNA BE SATISFIED
TALKING FROM A BUNKER SOMEWHERE

OR AWAY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT THE EFFORT
THAT WE DID

INTO CLEANING UP
THE SOUTH GROUNDS

SO THAT THAT HELICOPTER
COULD LAND THERE.

THAT WAS WHAT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

WERE USED TO SEEING --

A PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER
COMING IN,

AND THE PRESIDENT
WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THE NATION

FROM THE OVAL OFFICE.

Narrator: AT 7:00 THAT EVENING,

AFTER CRISSCROSSING THE COUNTRY
ON AIR FORCE ONE,

THE PRESIDENT RETURNED
TO THE WHITE HOUSE

TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS
AND REASSURE THE PUBLIC.

George W. Bush: NONE OF US
WILL EVER FORGET THIS DAY,

YET WE GO FORWARD
TO DEFEND FREEDOM

AND ALL THAT IS GOOD
AND JUST IN OUR WORLD.

Walters: THERE'S NOTHING
ANY MORE POWERFUL

THAN THE PRESIDENT ADDRESSING
THE NATION FROM THE OVAL OFFICE.

AND IN TIMES OF CRISIS,

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE CAN FALL BACK ON.

THERE IS SOME KIND OF NORMALCY

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE,
FROM THE PRESIDENT.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS A SYMBOL.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
HOW ELSE TO PUT IT.

IT IS A SYMBOL
OF OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE.

OBAMA, OBAMA!

All: PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!

Woman: OBAMA, OBAMA!

All: PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!

Narrator: IN SPITE OF CONCERNS
ABOUT SECURITY,

THERE'S ANOTHER
AMERICAN TRADITION

THAT CAN'T BE DENIED,

NOT EVEN HERE
IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

[ WOMAN SPEAKING UKRAINIAN ]

Narrator: CITIZENS ARE FREE
TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD

WITHIN EARSHOT
OF THE OVAL OFFICE.

Woman: WE DEMAND
THAT OUR PRESIDENT...

Laura:
WE SAW PROTESTS ALL THE TIME,

AND IT'S NOT JUST
ANTI-WAR PROTESTS,

BUT IT'S MANY
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROTESTS

OF PEOPLE CALLING ON
THE PRESIDENT TO DO SOMETHING.

Woodruff:
AND IF YOU COME TO WASHINGTON,

YOU CAN GET AS CLOSE
TO OUR EXECUTIVE MANSION

AS JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD.

IT IS AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE,
SOME WOULD ARGUE TOO ACCESSIBLE.

Narrator:
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A MAGNET FOR PROTESTERS.

[ ALL CHANTING INDISTINCTLY ]

BUT NO ONE WAS READY FOR
THE SCALE OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS

PROTESTING THE VIETNAM WAR.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Johnson: WE KNOW THAT MOST
PEOPLE'S INTENTIONS ARE GOOD.

WE DON'T QUESTION THEIR MOTIVES.

WE NEVER SAID
THEY'RE UNPATRIOTIC,

ALTHOUGH THEY SAY SOME
PRETTY UGLY THINGS ABOUT US.

WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY

IN PRESERVING THE RIGHT
TO DIFFER IN THIS COUNTRY

AND THE RIGHT TO DISSENT.

AND IF I HAVE DONE
A GOOD JOB OF ANYTHING

SINCE I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT,

IT'S TO ENSURE THAT THERE
ARE PLENTY OF DISSENTERS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Narrator: EVEN BEHIND
THE WALLS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,

THE PRESIDENT
COULD NOT IGNORE THE OUTCRY

AGAINST A WAR
MANY BELIEVED WAS UNJUST.

Johnson Robb:
THEY WOULD EXERCISE
THEIR RIGHTS TO PROTEST,

AND THEY DID STAND
RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW,

ACROSS IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE,

AND SAY SOME THINGS
THAT WERE VERY HURTFUL.

Narrator: AS THE WAR DRAGGED ON,
SO DID THE PROTESTS.

LATE AT NIGHT,

PRESIDENT JOHNSON WOULD RETREAT
TO THE SITUATION ROOM,

A SECURE COMMAND CENTER

IN THE BASEMENT
OF THE WEST WING.

THERE HE WOULD WAIT
FOR THE TELETYPE MACHINES

TO PRINT REPORTS
FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

HALF A WORLD AWAY,

INCLUDING
THE LATEST BODY COUNTS.

Updegrove:
HE HAD TWO SONS-IN-LAW

WHO WERE IN VIETNAM

DURING THE HEIGHT
OF HIS PRESIDENCY

WHEN HE WAS WAGING A WAR
IN THAT COUNTRY.

IT WAS VERY, VERY PERSONAL
FOR L.B.J.

AS A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT,

AND NOT I ALONE CAN THINK
WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE

TO PULL BACK THE CURTAINS,
LOOK OUT,

SEE ON IT THE STREET,

HEAR PEOPLE SHOUTING,
SEE THE SIGNS.

AND AS HE SEES PROTESTERS
ACROSS THE STREET,

AND HE'S LOOKING OUT
AT THESE SIGNS,

"HEY, HEY, L.B.J.,

HOW MANY KIDS
DID YOU KILL TODAY?"

All: HEY, HEY, L.B.J.,

HOW MANY KIDS
DID YOU KILL TODAY?

HEY, HEY, L.B.J.,

HOW MANY KIDS
DID YOU KILL TODAY?

Updegrove:
YOU THINK ABOUT HIS DAUGHTERS

HAVING THEIR HUSBANDS
FIGHT IN VIETNAM

AND HEARING JUST
ACROSS THE WHITE HOUSE GATES...

AND IT WAS CONSTANT.

IT WAS A CONSTANT DRUM BEAT.

IT WASN'T JUST ONE DAY --
EVERY DAY, ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.

All: HEY, HEY, L.B.J.,

HOW MANY KIDS
DID YOU KILL TODAY?

HEY, HEY, L.B.J...

Narrator: THE WAR CONTINUED
LONG AFTER L.B.J. LEFT OFFICE,

AND THE PROTESTS
GREW MORE MILITANT

DURING THE ADMINISTRATION
OF HIS SUCCESSOR.

TO PROTECT
THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE,

THE MILITARY LITERALLY
CIRCLED THE WAGONS,

SURROUNDING THE BUILDING
WITH CITY BUSES.

Walsh:
NIXON WAS ALMOST LITERALLY
A PRISONER OF THE WHITE HOUSE

IN THOSE DAYS.

THE NOTION OF BEING
A PRISONER OF THE WHITE HOUSE

IS VERY COMMON
FOR ALL THE MODERN PRESIDENTS.

THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE REALLY
TRAPPED IN THIS WHITE HOUSE.

AND THE REASON IS,

JUST THINK ABOUT
HOW THE PRESIDENT LIVES.

Narrator: PRESIDENT TRUMAN
FAMOUSLY CALLED IT

"THE GREAT WHITE JAIL."

IN A LETTER TO HIS DAUGHTER,
HE LAMENTED,

"THIS OLD PLACE CRACKS AND POPS
ALL NIGHT LONG,

AND YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE

THAT OLD JACKSON OR ANDY JOHNSON
OR SOME OTHER GHOST IS WALKING.

WHY THEY'D WANT
TO COME BACK HERE

I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND.

IT'S A NICE PRISON,

BUT A PRISON, NEVERTHELESS."

THERE'S NO WAY
THE SECURITY APPARATUS

IS GONNA LET A PRESIDENT
AND HIS OR HER FAMILY

HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.

THEY'RE NOT LIVING NORMAL LIVES,
AND I THINK THEY REALIZE IT.

Walsh: PRESIDENTS FIGHT SO HARD
TO GET IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE THERE,

THEY'RE DESPERATE
TO GET OUT OF THE PLACE.

IT'S A COLOSSAL IRONY.

AND PRESIDENT OBAMA THINKS OF IT
AS "THE BUBBLE,"

WHERE HE CAN'T ESCAPE

FROM THE NORMAL TEDIUM, REALLY,
OF THE WHITE HOUSE

UNLESS HE REALLY TRIES.

BEING IN THE BUBBLE IS TOUGH.

I THINK BILL CLINTON CALLED IT

"THE CROWN JEWEL
OF THE FEDERAL PENAL SYSTEM."

AND THERE IS A SENSE,

BECAUSE OF
THE SECURITY DEMANDS TODAY,

THAT YOU ARE TRAPPED.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT --

HE USED TO GO UP WITH
A SINGLE SECRET SERVICE AGENT

AND GO CAMPING IN YELLOWSTONE
FOR A MONTH.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WOULDN'T TELL ANYBODY
WHERE HE WAS GOING.

F.D.R. MIGHT GO SAILING UP
THE COAST TO NOVA SCOTIA

IN THE MIDDLE OF WORLD WAR II.

AND HARRY TRUMAN USED
TO TAKE DAILY WALKS OUTSIDE.

YEAH, YOU GOT TO CATCH FOLKS
BY SURPRISE.

IT CAN'T BE REGULAR.
IT CAN'T BE ROUTINE.

Narrator:
ON ONE BRIGHT SPRING DAY,

THE 44th PRESIDENT
BROKE OUT OF HIS BUBBLE

TO TAKE AN UNSCHEDULED WALK
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

TO THE TREASURY BUILDING
NEXT DOOR...

HEY!
...ENJOYING A RARE MOMENT
OF SPONTANEITY.

WHAT'S GOING ON, GUYS?

Man: HEY! WHOO!

HOW'S BUSINESS?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

MY NAME IS ANN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THAT WAS MY MOTHER'S NAME.

ARE YOU HAVING
A GOOD VISIT?

THANK YOU.

MR. PRESIDENT,
HOW ARE YOU?

SORRY TO MESS UP YOUR RUN.
IT'S OKAY.

YOU'RE WORTH IT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU GUYS WERE
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I'M CORA.

YOU'RE CORA?
HOW OLD ARE YOU, CORA?

IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT.
THE BEAR IS LOOSE.

WELL, GIVE ME A HUG.
OH! OH!

OH,
CAN WE GET A PICTURE?
YES. COME ON.

PAT,
DO YOU WANT ONE, TOO?
COME ON, PAT.

HE'LL TAKE IT.
HE'LL TAKE IT.

ARE YOU'RE TRYING TO GO HOME,
AND HERE I AM MESSING YOU UP.

ALL RIGHT.

Man: YEAH, ALL RIGHT!

Narrator:
PRESIDENTS FIND ALL SORTS OF
WAYS TO MINGLE WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND FROM TIME TO TIME,

THEY INVITE THE PUBLIC
TO JOIN THEM

RIGHT ON
THE WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS.

Man: WHEN THIS MUSIC COMES ON,
I NEED Y'ALL TO GO NUTS.

COME ON, CUE THE MUSIC.

**

* AIN'T NO PLACE
LIKE ALPHABET CITY *

* LOOKS SO BRIGHT,
SHINES SO PRETTY *

* AIN'T NO PLACE
I'D RATHER GET WITH IT *

* CAN YOU FEEL ME NOW?

* AIN'T NO PLACE
LIKE ALPHABET CITY *

* LOOKS SO BRIGHT,
SHINES SO PRETTY *

* AIN'T NO PLACE
I'D RATHER GET WITH IT *

* SHE'S MY KIND OF TOWN

Narrator: ONE OF THE OLDEST
WHITE HOUSE TRADITIONS

IS THE EASTER EGG ROLL,
DATING BACK TO 1878.

IT'S ALSO THE BIGGEST
ANNUAL EVENT ON THE SOUTH LAWN.

* GOT THE HARLEM SHUFFLE

* GOOD GIRLS GOT
THEIR EAST COAST HUSTLE *

Narrator:
THIS YEAR, 35,000 AMERICANS,

MANY OF THEM
UNDER THE AGE OF 12,

WILL JOIN THE CELEBRATION.

EACH ADMINISTRATION

LIKES TO GIVE THE TRADITION
ITS OWN UNIQUE SPIN.

THIS FIRST LADY
IS USING THE EVENT

TO PUBLICIZE
HER "LET'S MOVE" CAMPAIGN,

PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS
FOR KIDS.

* LOOKS SO BRIGHT,
SHINES SO PRETTY *

* AIN'T NO PLACE
I'D RATHER GET WITH IT *

* AIN'T NO PLACE
LIKE ALPHABET CITY *

Rosholm: FIRST AND FOREMOST,

IT WAS ALWAYS,
"LET'S OPEN UP THE HOUSE.

LET'S THINK OF NEW WAYS

TO TURN, YOU KNOW, EVENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE

INTO SOMETHING EVEN BETTER

THAT INVOLVES MORE PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY KIDS.

SHE LOVES TO BRING KIDS
INTO THE HOUSE.

Narrator: LIKE EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE,

THIS CUSTOM CONTINUES TO EVOLVE,

BUT ITS PURPOSE
REMAINS THE SAME --

TO GIVE YOUNG AMERICANS
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

AT THE HOME
OF THEIR PRESIDENT.

IN CHARGE OF THE DETAILS

IS WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY
JEREMY BERNARD.

THE MARINE BAND WILL BE
ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BALCONY,

AND THEN THE PRESIDENT
AND FIRST LADY WILL COME OUT,

WALK OUT ONTO THE BALCONY,
AND SPEAK FROM UP HERE.

HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?
WELCOME BACK.

YEAH, WELL,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.
GOOD TO BE BACK.

SO YOU WERE HERE
IN 2009?

YEAH,
I WAS THE FIRST BUNNY.

YOU WERE THE FIRST --
WOW.
YES.

AND WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.

IT'S A LITTLE SPOOKY,
I THINK,

FOR THE KIDS TO SEE
THE EASTER BUNNY
WITH ITS HEAD OFF.

YES, YEAH.
BUT WE WILL FIX THAT.

THAT WON'T HAPPEN OUTSIDE.
RIGHT. EXACTLY.

YES.
THANK YOU.

YOU BET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

[ ALL CHEER ]

HAPPY EASTER!

WE ARE SO BLESSED
TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY

AND TO HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS
IN OUR BACKYARD.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Barack:
OH, WE GOT A WINNER!

Bernard:
WHEN YOU WORK HERE DAY-TO-DAY,

IT WOULD BE EASY TO LOSE TOUCH
OF HOW SPECIAL IT IS,

EXCEPT WHEN YOU SEE
PEOPLE COMING,

WHETHER IT'S FOR A TOUR
OR A DINNER

OR AN EASTER EGG ROLL,

HOW EXCITED PEOPLE
ARE TO BE HERE.

Narrator: FOR A CASUAL VISITOR
OR A TWO-TERM PRESIDENT,

THERE IS JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE

THAT ALWAYS INSPIRES AWE.

THIS IS A LIVING,
BREATHING HOUSE

THAT IS CHANGING
EVERY YEAR, EVERY MINUTE.

Smith: IN THIS FRAGMENTED,
INTERNET-DRIVEN, SNARKY AGE,

WE STILL HAVE NEED

OF COLLECTIVELY
EXPERIENCING HISTORY

AS IT IS BEING MADE.

Goodwin:
WHEN YOU GO TO WASHINGTON,

YOU SEE DOZENS OF PEOPLE
ON THE STREET

WITH THEIR BACKS
AGAINST THE FENCE

AND THE WHITE HOUSE
AS THE BACKDROP

AND SOMEBODY'S TAKING
A PICTURE OF THEM

AND THEY'RE WAVING,
AS IF IT'S THEIR BACKYARD.

PEOPLE STILL FEEL LIKE
THIS IS THE PLACE WE WANT TO GO

TO BE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER,

CONNECTED TO THIS MOMENT
IN HISTORY,

CONNECTED TO OUR PRESIDENT,
AND CONNECTED TO OUR COUNTRY.

Narrator:
WHEN THE CROWDS LEAVE,

THIS IS STILL A PLACE

WHERE THE NATION'S
CRITICAL BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED,

THE BASE OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE LEADER OF THE MOST
POWERFUL COUNTRY ON EARTH.

**

FROM THE FIRST DAY
OF AN ADMINISTRATION

TO ITS FINAL MOMENTS,

THE WHITE HOUSE
BESTOWS UPON EVERY PRESIDENT

ITS UNIQUE AURA
OF GRANDEUR AND AUTHORITY.

**

THE WHITE HOUSE IS THE CENTER
OF POWER IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S THE SYMBOL
OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

IT'S A SYMBOL OF
WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.

**

Smith:
IT GOES BEYOND PATRIOTISM.

IT'S BIGGER THAN PARTY.

IT'S BIGGER THAN PRESIDENT.

Narrator: HE WHITE HOUSE
MAY BE A HALLOWED PLACE

WHOSE WALLS RING WITH
THE ECHOES OF AMERICAN HISTORY,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

IT IS NOW,
AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN,

A HOME ON LOAN FROM THE NATION
TO ITS LEADER --

A LEADER WHO SERVES
AT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

IN OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

THE OCCUPANT OF THE WHITE HOUSE,
THE PRESIDENT,

IS NOT SEEN AS A DESCENDANT
OF A SUN GOD

OR SOME DEITY.

HE'S ANOTHER CITIZEN
WHO'S BEEN GIVEN

THE HIGHEST HONOR
WE CAN GIVE HIM --

TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY.

BUT HE'S A PERSON.

Barbara: WELL, WE WERE PREPARED
TO SAY GOODBYE.

AND THE AWFUL PART
WAS SAYING GOODBYE TO THE STAFF.

AND I REMEMBER GEORGE HANNIE,

WHO LATER BECAME
THE HEAD BUTLER,

HE SAID...

"MRS. BUSH,
PRESIDENTS COME AND GO.

GEORGE HANNIE STAYS."

AND HE DID.

Barack: I THINK WHAT I ACTUALLY
WILL MISS MOST

HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE,

FROM THE LANDSCAPERS
WHO MAINTAIN THE ROSE GARDEN,

TO 20-SOMETHING-YEAR-OLDS

WHO PREPARE
MY PACKET OF LETTERS,

TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF
AND MY CABINET.

THEY UNDERSTAND
THE INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE

WE ALL HAVE IN WORKING HERE.

AND THERE'S
A SENSE OF SERIOUSNESS

AND RESPONSIBILITY
AND COMMITMENT

THAT THE PLACE CONFERS ON YOU.

AND THAT NEVER LEAVES YOU.

**

Michelle: I WOULD HOPE
THAT EVERY FIRST FAMILY

THAT HAS THE HONOR
OF LIVING HERE

IS THINKING
IN TERMS OF THIS HOUSE

BEING A HOUSE THAT EVOLVES
AND GROWS WITH US AS A NATION...

...IN THIS HOUSE
THAT IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

**

**

Announcer:
"THE WHITE HOUSE: INSIDE STORY"

IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART

BY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO YOUR PBS STATION

FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.