# Does th President of the US have to live in the White House? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788 "2013-01-10T20:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/21 "2013-01-10T22:42:15Z")
Interesting stuff, all. Thanks for the answers. I’ll definitely have to do a bit of further reading on Blair House. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/22 "2013-01-10T23:09:32Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Back in '08 there was some debate over whether Biden would move into the VP’s official residence, or continue commuting from his home in Deleware. He opted to move to DC; it’s much cheaper to do that than to have the Secret Service make all the security modifications to a private home. In 1974, Nelson Rockefeller declined to move into the official VP residence, staying in one of his own mansions instead. I suspect in the 70s, they were a little less obsessive about the security concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/23 "2013-01-10T23:49:19Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > The governor’s mansion that was built in Reagan’s last years was a sprawling monstrosity overlooking the river in a location rather distant from downtown Sacramento and the capitol. AFAIK, no one ever lived in it and it was maintained at state expense for many years - 10? 12? - only being used occasionally for social functions, sometimes by third parties. It was finally sold sometime in the early 90s, I think. There hasn’t been an official governor’s mansion since; each one chose a house that was modified and protected instead. I am two degrees of separation from the current residents. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/24 "2013-01-11T00:00:15Z")
NY mayor Michael Bloomberg has declined to live in Gracie Mansion, preferring to reside in his luxurious multi-million dollar townhouse in a prime block on the Upper East Side. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/25 "2013-01-11T00:33:44Z")
How often do the governor’s mansions and the like that are being mentioned here have the same dual role of residence and workplace that the White House has? Part of what I’m wondering is if the various governers and mayors who don’t take their state’s or city’s official residence (the closest modern analogs to the hypothetical president who turns down the White House) tend to commute to wherever it is that their offces and staffs traditionally located are or if those relocate to fit the governor/mayor’s chosen residence. It seems likely that there’s a split based on the form that chosen residence takes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/26 "2013-01-11T01:17:17Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > The governor’s mansion that was built in Reagan’s last years was a sprawling monstrosity overlooking the river in a location rather distant from downtown Sacramento and the capitol. AFAIK, no one ever lived in it and it was maintained at state expense for many years - 10? 12? - only being used occasionally for social functions, sometimes by third parties. It was finally sold sometime in the early 90s, I think. There hasn’t been an official governor’s mansion since; each one chose a house that was modified and protected instead. > > I don’t know where JB lives this time around. While Brown took the frugal minimalism thing a bit far, I recall most people approving his choice to live in a downtown apartment rather than a Don Draper retirement villa. I’m pretty sure that Jerry Brown did occasionally live in the old California Governor’s mansion when his father was the governor. JFK did have a private house nearby (I think it was Virginia) to get away to. FDR had the Potomac, now owned by the either the city of Oakland or Alameda county and available for rental for cruises. ---
**Author:** ![bahimes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/27 "2013-01-11T09:54:18Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > I would say that security and the cost of it are the biggest reasons he should. I don’t know if it’s a legal requirement, but from a cost perspective it’s got the be the most efficient use of resources. > > Unless his home in DC includes a secure bunker, a helipad and a half mile of lawns with reinforced fences and guard shacks for the secret service. Oh and neighbors that don’t object to the building of all of this if it doesn’t already exist. Can you also imagine the disruptions caused by twice daily (at least) presidential motorcades? ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/28 "2013-01-11T10:54:57Z")
When he was UK Prime Minister Tony Blair didn’t live at No 10 Downing St, he lived next door at No 11 (traditionally the Chancellor’s residence). The accommodation above No 10 wasn’t designed with young families in mind, so the Blairs moved to the more spacious accommodation next door. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/29 "2013-01-11T12:44:47Z")
President Madison has a compelling reason not to live in the White House, as during his administration the British [set fire to it](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/The_President%27s_House_by_George_Munger%2C_1814-1815_-_Crop.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/30 "2013-01-11T13:38:11Z")
Besides the practical matter, there would also be a political impact if the president did not live in the WH. Unless he or she had a very good reason, it would be seen as unpatriotic and would probably impact his ability to get things done. He could also probably forget about re-election, if he had served only one term. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/31 "2013-01-11T18:29:26Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > And to get back to the actual OP - Truman’s stint in Blair House would probably provide a good argument as to why the president shouldn’t live anywhere but the White House for security reasons. The Blair House assassination attempt on Truman came a little too close. Security was a whole lot different back then. David Brinkley said that he was a reporter in Washington before WWII and one day he got caught in a rainstorm while driving his convertible with the top down. Since he happened to be near the White House, he pulled in and got the doorman to help him get the top on. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/32 "2013-01-11T18:37:44Z")
I recall some news articles that Michelle Obama originally didn’t want to move to Washington. They were looking into options for Michelle and the kids to stay in Chicago and Barack would visit. The practicalities of that quickly fell apart. The Secret Service security bubble would swallow them up no matter where they lived. Last I read, Michelle’s mom is staying at the White House and she keeps a close eye on the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/33 "2013-01-11T20:13:15Z")
There is no legal requirement that the President live at the White House. As the OP noted, location, security and tradition are the three best reasons that he does. John Adams and George W. Bush both took some political heat in their day for, according to their critics, spending too much time away from the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Notassmartasithought](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@Notassmartasithought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notassmartasithought)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/34 "2013-01-12T00:30:07Z")
President Nixon spent so much time at his home on San Clemente Island, California, that it was regularly referred to by the press as the “Western White House.” There was a federal investment in infrastructure, as I remember. He also spent much time at the house of his friend, Bebe Rebozo, on Key Biscayne, Florida. And the feds also invested on or near the ranches of both Presidents Reagan and the second Bush, for security and communications. Not always with local support or happiness, if I recall. Probably also at Hyannis for JFK and Kennebunckport for the first Prexy Bush. And for the record, there was no official residence for the Vice-President until 1974, when the Navy finally agreed to give up the home of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue. Rockefeller would have been the first VP to live there. Joe Biden had been commuting to Washington from Delaware daily on Amtrak for years. Can you imagine that security hassle? And his wife easily found a teaching position at a college in the Washington area, so that wasn’t an obstacle. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/35 "2013-01-14T19:21:13Z")
Do the President and his family legally change their address to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. while he is in office? Or is it more like the military where you have a Home of Record which is your legal mailing address no matter where you’re stationed? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/36 "2013-01-14T19:44:24Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Do the President and his family legally change their address to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. while he is in office? Or is it more like the military where you have a Home of Record which is your legal mailing address no matter where you’re stationed? The Obamas voted in Chicago in 2012, so I guess they maintained their old legal residence. ---
**Author:** ![Notassmartasithought](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@Notassmartasithought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notassmartasithought)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/37 "2013-01-14T19:49:03Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Do the President and his family legally change their address to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. while he is in office? Or is it more like the military where you have a Home of Record which is your legal mailing address no matter where you’re stationed? Members of Congress have to retain their residency in their states or districts, so none of them use their address in Washington or the Washington area legally. Any of them who subsequently became president probably didn’t change their legal residence and voted in their home-states and districts during their first presidential election. If elected, I suppose it would be possible for them to have changed legal residency, but very unlikely, because until 1961 District of Columbia residents had no presidential vote, so they couldn’t have voted in their own reelection attempt. Since then I don’t remember an election when one of the presidential candidates voted in the District of Columbia. They all were covered by the press voting in their home-states. And in the past 30 years or longer, any sitting president who had changed his voting residence to the District of Columbia would have been pilloried by his opposition for having “gone Washington.” So no, I can’t imagine (but truth is stranger than imagination, sometimes) that any sitting president has changed his legal address. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/38 "2013-01-14T19:58:21Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Sent from my SGH-i677 using Board Express You could at least upgrade your system. Also, congratulations for being the only person in the Real World out using a Windows phone. Explains the advertisements the rest of us are subjected to. (I’d stick to the subject, but, frankly, nobody else in this thread is.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/39 "2013-01-14T20:03:33Z")
I agree with **Notassmartasithought**. I can’t think of any President who has changed his voting registration to Washington, D.C. Going back home to vote has become a time-honored ritual of Presidents seeking reelection. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788/40 "2013-01-14T21:36:03Z")
José Mujica, the President of Uruguay, makes a political point of [living at his private home.](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/world/americas/after-years-in-solitary-an-austere-life-as-uruguays-president.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-th-president-of-the-us-have-to-live-in-the-white-house/646788.md?page=3)