In addition to what’s already been said, part of this was bad timing. The brand-new Reagan Administration was discussing which programs, including popular social programs, would need to be cut in order to balance the budget. Somebody had gone so far as to suggest that ketchup and pickle relish should count as vegetables in the school lunch program. Meanwhile, the First Lady was ordering new china for state dinners at the White House. It just didn’t look good, even if the china was in need of replacement (and I have no idea whether it was or not).
It was in fact the tradition in many governments that the official residence received a redecoration when it changed hands, until the last decade or so when it got sufficiently out of hand that it was downplayed more. I assume it was similar with any state governments where the governor had an official residence. The discussion of the makeover was as much a news item as the inauguration or first session of the new legislature.
IIRC, the capital commission or whatever body in both Ottawa and Washington have a collection of furniture, paintings, antiques and other décor to use when the occupant wants to spruce up a part of the government’s buildings.
Plus, IIRC from my early days, it seems politics many years ago used to be more of a gentleman’s club - there was a lot less partisan bickering, a lot less “sore loser” mentality, since everyone knew that sooner or later it would be the other side’s turn.
One of the classic stories I recall was when Joe Clark beat Trudeau (the only one who ever did) and became Canadian prime minister in 1979. He lost a confidence vote before the end of the year, and Trudeau was back. Clark’s wife had done a makeover of official Prime Minster’s residence, and Clark was giving Trudeau a quick tour before Trudeau moved back in. Trudeau, the artsy playboy, followed Clark and his wife through the house, loudly tut-tutting at the new décor (“Oh no - this will never do.”) and thus displaying the arrogant dickishness that earned him his previous election defeat. And… immediately spend a tidy amount changing the residence yet again.
When governments started asking citizen to tighten their belts and make do with less, then spending tens of thousands on drapes or carpet, of a few hundred thousand on furniture and interior decorator contracts became less of a matter of “rank hath it privilege” and more a matter of how governments were wasting on themselves while screwing the citizen.
Don’t forget, also, there was the time when Tammy Faye Baker was in the news for her gold-plated bathroom fixtures and air-conditioned doghouse, all paid for by Jesus. (“God didn’t mean for us to have crap.”) Any spending on government décor would be compared to that sort of excess.
Fifty years ago Jack didn’t either
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too soon?
Just makin’ sure my place in hell is safe!
CMC