Abraham Lincoln was a self-described billiards addict. Theodore Roosevelt swam almost daily in the nearby waters of the often chilly Potomac River. Gerald Ford made use of the White House facilities as if they were at his own private country club wedged in a corner at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Executive avenues in Washington, D.C.
Whether entertaining high-powered guests or for personal enjoyment, American presidents and their families have a long tradition of recreating on the grounds of the White House. When the ability to find simple seclusion in the outside world is nearly impossible, these seven White House facilities can offer respite from the high-pressure job.
1. Basketball
It is no secret that Barack Obama is a huge basketball enthusiast. From his high school days in Hawaii when he earned the nickname “Barry the Bomber”, right up until the day he gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Mr. Obama has played basketball as a way to keep fit, focused and healthy. With an incoming cabinet basketball team said to be the best ever and with Obama’s proclivity for shooting the rock around, the single-basket outdoor court may not be enough.
Installed by George H.W. Bush in 1991, the 26? by 26? court sits near the swimming pool and just off the Oval Office. But when Mr. Obama hinted throughout the campaign that he’d like to upgrade from the driveway-sized basketball court to a full-sized indoor court by replacing the existing bowling alley, bowling industry groups raised vocal opposition.
2. Bowling
As opposed to his skills on the basketball court, Mr. Obama’s skills in the bowling alley are, let’s say, not as sharp. Obama displayed his proficiency as a bowler in the Spring of 2008 whilst campaigning in Altoona, PA, when he bowled a less-than-stellar score of 37. But whether Obama will actually make good on his promise to replace the White House bowling alley, remains to be seen. After news broke that Obama was considering gutting the bowling lane and building a basketball court, a coalition of bowling groups offered to redesign the White House lane(s) with a decidedly twenty-first century feel:
The first White House bowling alley was actually built as a gift for President Harry Truman in 1947 in the location of what is now the Situation Room. Though not much of a bowler himself, the Truman bowling alley was well used by guests and staff until it was relocated across the street to the Executive Building. In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon brought bowling back to the White House with a single lane in a basement area below a driveway that exists today.
3. Swimming
Nestled in the trees not far from the basketball court and the West Wing is the White House swimming pool, installed in 1975 by Californian and avid swimmer Gerald Ford. Outfitted with a cabana, a solar hot water system for the pool and a spa that was later added by President Bill Clinton, the pool area is the perfect place to entertain guests, let alone Malia and Sasha.
The original White House swimming pool was built by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Roosevelt, who suffered from polio, used the indoor West Wing swimming pool as therapy to strengthen his upper body. The Roosevelt pool was ultimately filled in by Nixon who used the space as an area for press to gather.
4. Tennis
Tennis courts have been in place at the White House since 1902 when there was a court just off the South side of the West Wing, adjacent to the Oval Office. It was on this court where the then-president’s son, Calvin Coolidge, Jr. got a blister after playing without socks, which led to his death by blood-poisoning at the age of 16. This court ultimately made way for the West Wing Terrace.
Ford built a new tennis court in 1975 and on occasion the President would invite Washington bigs over to talk politics over a couple of sets, as he was doing with number 22, Donald Rumsfeld, pictured above.
5. Horsehoes
Nothing says America like horseshoes. Maybe Barack Obama could redeem some middle America cred it he buffed-up his horseshoe toss on the George H.W. Bush installed horseshoe pit next to the basketball court. Pictured above with son Marvin, Mr. Bush apparently preferred to use an underhand grip, whereas, Marvin preferred the overhand. [I'll have to go with the elder Bush on this one]
6. Golf
A putting green was first installed on the South Lawn by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954. While most presidents since have been golfers of various abilities, playing golf on the White House lawn hasn’t always projected the best image of a person Americans expect to be working for them tirelessly.
In 1996 President Bill Clinton moved the putting green to its current location with the assistance of a professional course architect. Unless I knew better, I would guess the above was taken at a country club.
7. Billiards
After a long day of sporting around on the White House grounds with Heads of State and foreign dignitaries, where better to retire to and discuss the intricacies of international law than over a game of eight-ball, cutthroat, or snooker? The billiards table currently sits in the White House game room on the third floor in what used to be a bedroom.
Presidents as far back as John Adams had pool tables installed in various spots throughout the White House. Abraham Lincoln was a self-confessed “billiards addict”, who described the game as a “health inspiring, scientific game, lending recreation to the otherwise fatigued mind.”
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