YES We did!

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

What were the "controversial" orders he was going to sign during the first few days?

Well, he's gonna be dismantling the Constitution, but that's not scheduled until next week.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Well, he's gonna be dismantling the Constitution, but that's not scheduled until next week.

Dammit. I thought he was supposed to be putting it back together.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Well, he's gonna be dismantling the Constitution, but that's not scheduled until next week.

Would that be the actual Constitution, or the Double Secret Probation Constitution as defined by the Bush presidency?

[Alex]

More pleasing than that is that apparently there wasn't a bible within a few minutes reach at the White House. I'm guessing that wasn't true two days ago.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

The press here made a big deal about that second photo.

Obama is not wearing a coat. Bush mandated coats be worn at all times in the oval office.

Originally Posted by Alex

I'm sure it will become a part of the party culture war.

Reagan, Bush Sr., and Bush Jr., all required jackets at all times. Clinton and Obama don't (though is Obama allowing other people to be sans jacket?).

Originally Posted by JWBear

Republicans: Want to look important
Democrats: Want to do important things

Here is a good link to the history of jackets in the Oval Office. It started as a campaign tactic by Regan against Carter.

[Snowflake]

From a friend of a friend on Facebook

Spoiler:

Michelle Obama is the first FLILF

[JWBear]

It's not Bush's furniture. Some of the furniture traditionally stays in the room from administration to administration. Most notably, the side chairs. They may be reupholstered from time to time, but they have been in the Oval Office since the 30's.

Also, the grandfather clock, IIRC.

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by JWBear

It's not Bush's furniture. Some of the furniture traditionally stays in the room from administration to administration. Most notably, the side chairs. They may be reupholstered from time to time, but they have been in the Oval Office since the 30's.

Also, the grandfather clock, IIRC.

Hate to say you're wrong, but...you're wrong.


Bush's


The 2 wing chairs were famously reupholstered after the first fabric chosen by Laura Bush appeared pink in photos and on TV (Only 2 presidents haven't reupholstered them: Carter and...can't remember).

The 2 couches were custom made for Bush.

The rug was designed by Laura Bush.

The drapes were chosen by Laura Bush.

The Chair Obama is sitting in is the same chair Bush used and was originally designed for JFK.

The paintings are the same however, I would assume, though can't tell from the Obama photo, that new paintings hang on either side of the windows behind the desk are different, since the two in Bush's picture were on lone to him from friends/belonged to him.

The Lamps are the same...really, everything appears to be the same

The only things that traditionally stay are the side chairs and the wing chairs in front of the fireplace (reupholstered); both of which date back to when the West Wing (and current Oval Office) was rebuilt in the early 1930's.




eta: My memory failed me, there have almost always been wing chairs but the 2 in the picture date from the Reagan era.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by bewitched

Hate to say you're wrong, but...you're wrong.


Bush's


The 2 wing chairs were famously reupholstered after the first fabric chosen by Laura Bush appeared pink in photos and on TV (Only 2 presidents haven't reupholstered them: Carter and...can't remember).

The 2 couches were custom made for Bush.

The rug was designed by Laura Bush.

The drapes were chosen by Laura Bush.

The Chair Obama is sitting in is the same chair Bush used and was originally designed for JFK.

The paintings are the same however, I would assume, though can't tell from the Obama photo, that new paintings hang on either side of the windows behind the desk are different, since the two in Bush's picture were on lone to him from friends/belonged to him.

The Lamps are the same...really, everything appears to be the same

The only things that traditionally stay are the side chairs and the wing chairs in front of the fireplace (reupholstered); both of which date back to when the West Wing (and current Oval Office) was rebuilt in the early 1930's.




eta: My memory failed me, there have almost always been wing chairs but the 2 in the picture date from the Reagan era.

Yes..... You just said the same thing I did, but in more detail. Why am I wrong?

BTW, the table behind the desk has been in oval office since the 30's also.

[Alex]

Found some articles from shortly before the Inauguration saying that Obama generally likes the existing Oval Office and he isn't in any rush to have the room redecorated.

So I was wrong, the Oval Office wasn't included in the swap out on Inauguration Day.