![]() The One Observatory Circle is one of many fascinating sites along Embassy Row, Washington’s most elegant thoroughfare and is part of my Divinity and Diplomats tour. Emhoff will no doubt leave their mark on the house. Unfortunately, the house is not open for public tours. The house has undergone numerous renovations based on the needs of its new residents. Most reservations are made possible through private donations. Vice President Quayle added an outdoor swimming pool, leading then Vice President Biden to call Quale his favorite VP. The dining room in One Observatory Circle The house, known by its address One Observatory Circle, is made out of red brick in the Queen Ann style. When red brick fell out of fashion it was painted white. It’s about 9000 square feet. The first floor has a reception hall, dining and a living room, sitting rooms, and a wonderful wrap around veranda. On the second floor are 2 bedrooms, with 4 small bedrooms on the third floor. So, the government looked for a permanent home for Veeps. They selected a house on the grounds of US Naval Observatory in northwest Washington. It was constructed in 1893 to be the home of the observatory’s superintendent. But the Chief of Naval Operations liked the house so much that he took it over in 1924 and it remained the Chief’s official residence until the first vice president moved in 1977. Previously, the Secret Service would secure the VP’s existing home. But this became so expensive that in 1974 Congress passed a law creating an official residence for VPs. And this couldn’t have happened soon enough because in the mid-70s we were going through a lot of them – Agnew, Ford, Rockefeller, Mondale. Most VPs were selected with a view toward winning the election. And since they had few responsibilities there really wasn’t much effort made in protecting them. All Harry Truman received as far as security goes was a Senate car and driver to take him to and from work each day.īut two things changed the view of the vice presidency. First was the assassination of JFK. The second was Jimmy Carter’s selection of Walter Mondale, someone who would act as a governing partner. All of a sudden, the vice presidency was an important job. So, keeping the VP safe became important. Historically the office of vice president was rather unimportant. John Nance Gardner of Texas, known as Cactus Jack, who gave up the powerful position of Speaker of the House to be VP said the office “wasn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit.” That came as a surprise to Barbara Bush, who at the time was Second Lady under Ronald Reagan, nonetheless found it amusing.Everyone knows where the president lives. But few know that the vice president also has an official residence. One agent, for example, convinced another it was perfectly fine to do his laundry at the residence. Secret Service agents were not above pranking each other during the long, and often tedious hours they spent protecting the Second Family. (Years later, Dick Cheney’s granddaughter would inadvertently summon the Secret Service by mistaking a panic button in the bathroom for the way to flush the toilet.) Secret Service pranks ![]() ![]() “They requested I never do that again,” Eleanor recalled in a 1998 interview. ![]() When the agents burst in with guns drawn, Eleanor explained it was a fleshless man she’d sensed. Eleanor Mondale’s ghostĬonvinced she was being visited by a ghost one night, Walter Mondale’s teenage daughter Eleanor called the Secret Service to report a man in her room. Bush politely said, `You’re welcome anytime We don’t need the bed,’” Denyer said. But while Rockefeller was willing to leave it behind for his successors, he had no takers. How long do former presidents receive Secret Service protection after they leave office In 1965, Congress authorized the Secret Service (Public Law 89-186) to. ![]()
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