# payday at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541 "2008-10-25T19:07:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [October 27, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/41 "2008-10-27T18:30:59Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > …The GAO likes to audit this kind of stuff periodically; I’m sure you could get a detailed answer from them. Nixon’s funny business, taxwise, in having home-improvement work done at the “Western White House” of San Clemente was one of the things that eventually tripped him up, IIRC. When in doubt, pay it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/42 "2008-10-27T18:45:41Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > [Actually, he can](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_One)—there’s even a designated call sign, “Executive One,” for whenever the President flies on a civilian aircraft, and Richard Nixon once flew on a United Airlines flight during the energy crisis, although it seems that that flight didn’t use the special call sign. > > Naturally, for various reasons, this is generally impractical. But it isn’t (or wasn’t) technically forbidden. Ignorance fought! Can you imagine being a fellow passenger on that flight, though? That’d be an image as surreal as Nixon meeting Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/43 "2008-10-27T18:46:54Z")
> [@jmcvann](#): > > I might point out, though, that my initial query, which was intended to be light-hearted, was not about how much the president was paid, but how. I found myself amused at the prospect of the president going down to payroll (not literally) every week to pick up his check. Or every other week. Or envisioning him checking his on-line account to see that his direct deposit went through. We don’t seem to have an answer to this question yet. I can guarantee that the President has direct deposit. The Electronic Funds Transfer Expansion Act, effective January 1, 1999, made it mandatory for all recipients of government payments (except IRS refund checks), including federal government salaries, to be paid via direct deposit to a financial institution. Cite: [http://www.morristownfcu.org/asp/services/service\_1\_6.asp](http://www.morristownfcu.org/asp/services/service_1_6.asp) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/44 "2008-10-27T18:55:41Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > [Actually, he can](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_One)—there’s even a designated call sign, “Executive One,” for whenever the President flies on a civilian aircraft, and Richard Nixon once flew on a United Airlines flight during the energy crisis, although it seems that that flight didn’t use the special call sign. > > Naturally, for various reasons, this is generally impractical. But it isn’t (or wasn’t) technically forbidden. From the above linked article: > [@](#): > > In 1973, to “\*\*set an example for the rest of the nation during the current energy crisis” and to “demonstrate his confidence in the airlines”,\*\*then-President Richard Nixon became the only sitting president to travel on a regularly scheduled commercial airline flight when he flew on a United Airlines DC-10 from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.[2] That flight did use the Executive One callsign. **Additionally, _Air Force One_ flew behind the flight in case of an emergency.** Kinda defeats the stated purpose. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/45 "2008-10-27T18:58:28Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > I had heard that presidents routinely donate their salaries to charity. Is that not the case? Ross Perot said that he would when he ran in '92 during a debate. Clinton and GHWB laughingly declined to make the same pledge. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/46 "2008-10-27T19:51:15Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I wonder if he sits down once a month and pays bills. “I have accountants, pay for it all” ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/47 "2008-10-27T20:31:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In contrast, the British Prime Minister has to pay rent to the government for the PM’s official residence (10 Downing Street), even though nearly all of it consists of offices - there’s a tiny residence crammed into the upper floor. If I may interrupt the thread to respond to this. I’ve never heard of this rental arrangement for 10 Downing Street and I can’t find anything to confirm it. I’d be grateful for a cite. Many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/48 "2008-10-27T20:54:35Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > If I may interrupt the thread to respond to this. > > I’ve never heard of this rental arrangement for 10 Downing Street and I can’t find anything to confirm it. I’d be grateful for a cite. > > Many thanks. I heard it on Panorama years ago and I can’t find a cite either. Judging from the stuff every other MP seems to be claiming as expenses, doesn’t seem likely that he pays for anything much. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/49 "2008-10-27T21:06:14Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > That doesn’t seem correct. I just tried it on [this tax calculator](http://www.finance.cch.com/sohoApplets/Tax1040.asp) that uses the 2008 tax federal rules. I plugged $400k salary, single status, no deductions/exemptions. I get a tax of $116,689. If I try [this tool](http://www.1040.com/site/taxtools/federaltaxestimator/tabid/227/default.aspx), filing single, no deductions, I get $122,121 in taxes. How do you figure $95k + 35% ? It’s something like this: 0% on the first 10,000 of taxable income. 10% on any income between 10K and 50K 20% on any income between 50K and 100K 35% on income over 100K (note: brackets and percentages made up out of whole cloth, just for illustration). So, if the POTUS is earning 400K, his tax would be: 10% of 40K, plus 20% of 50K, plus 35% of 300K. That’s 4,000, plus 10,000, plus 105,000, = 129,000. As I was just making up the brackets etc. and completely ignored deductions, that’s not the real tax bill - but it shows that the 35% is only on the amount above a certain figure. Just earning more doesn’t mean that you get that higher rate on _all_ your income. ---
**Author:** ![Staver808](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Staver808](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staver808)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/50 "2008-10-27T22:04:48Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Ross Perot said that he would when he ran in '92 during a debate. Clinton and GHWB laughingly declined to make the same pledge. Did he? IIRC he said he wouldn’t take a salary at all. Though he may have changed it the second time he ran I remember him saying he’d do the job for free. ---
**Author:** ![Public\_Animal\_No.9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Public\_Animal\_No.9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Public_Animal_No.9)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/51 "2008-10-27T23:28:36Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > I’m wondering the same thing. If his innumerable [mini-] vacations on the Crawford ranch are mostly categorized as non-business-related (the time Vladimir Putin visited the ranch being a likely exception), does he have to pay all the Air Force One expenses for those trips? > > Sure, Dubya can afford that. But what of another, more impecunious Prez – could he be priced out of elective travel? It’s not like he’s _allowed_ to forgo Air Force One in favor of, say, using his frequent flyer miles on American Airlines for his personal travel. If you think a corporate Cessna is an expensive piece of bling to maintain, try a fully-appointed, customized 747. > > Pardon the [thread] hijack here, but is the Prez accountable for any marginal increase in expenses in his Secret Service protection due to elective, personal activities? Say he wanted to take a day off and go to an amusement park… and this required an intensive preparation by legions of SS agents in advance, far and above what they normally spend for a day spent in the confines of the White House… does the Prez have to pick up the tab for those expenses, even if the park’s operations that day are otherwise left unaffected? My understanding is that it’s all counted as official business unless it’s clearly a political event like a fundraiser. It seems to me that there is a lot of flying off to LA to speak to some group (say the VFW), which can be considered communicating with the public, then spending some time at a fundraiser. The expenses incurred for the time spent at the fundraiser have to be paid by the political party, but I think the rest of it is considered official business. I don’t know if there is some pro-rating that occurs with the flight expenses that were incurred to get to LA and back in the first place. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/52 "2008-10-28T02:29:37Z")
Usually fundraising events are scheduled the same day that the President is in town for some official appearance, and Uncle Sam foots the bill for all travel costs, IIRC, unless there’s a measurable difference between political and official expenses for a particular day’s activities, in which case the President’s party pays a pro rata share. I remember that being done during Clinton’s 1996 reelection travels. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/53 "2008-10-28T14:31:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I heard it on Panorama years ago and I can’t find a cite either. Judging from the stuff every other MP seems to be claiming as expenses, doesn’t seem likely that he pays for anything much. Like **Chez Guevara** , I’m sceptical that the British Prime Minister pays rent on No. 10. [Other senior ministers live in their official residences rent-free](http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article520428.ece). And given the regular controversies about the occupants of other grace-and-favour residences (such as everyone’s-least-favourite-minor-Royals, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent), one would have thought that if the Prime Minister was actually an exception, this would be mentioned more often. What is true is that the Prime Minister has to pay for any domestic servants for the private flat in No. 10. (I however have a vague feeling that Chequers comes fully staffed, but then it’s not financed by the taxpayer.) The lack of domestic help is not a secret, not least because [Cherie always made a point of complaining about it](http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/dec/04/uk.media). The idea that Thatcher regularly cooked Denis’s dinner was also one element in her whole ‘housewife megastar’ persona. ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/54 "2008-10-31T21:27:20Z")
According to [this](http://www.moneyexpert.com/ContentArticle/None/Yes-Prime-Minister---your-mortgage-is-going-through-the-roof!/Article.aspx?articleID=76&productTypeID=0) article, the PM does not pay rent at 10 Downing street. ---
**Author:** ![diablevert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@diablevert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diablevert)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/55 "2008-11-06T11:30:56Z")
Up the thread there was talk of the president’s pay being deposited in a separate account he didn’t have access to — I think you may be confusing the president’s paycheck with his or her investments. Any money they have in stocks or bonds are generally converted to a blind trust, to prevent the pres from calling his broker (or his broker from calling him) and saying, “What looks good? Bethlehem Steel, eh? All right, I’ll be sure to hint that I’m considering tariffs on Chinese heavy industry imports in my remarks today. That ought to dive her through the roof!” This is the executive press release documenting Regan’s [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=44168](http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=44168) The Clintons just dissolved theirs in '07 > **[Clintons Dissolve Blind Financial Trust](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/14/AR2007061400474.html)** > > Bill and Hillary Clinton have dissolved the blind trust that has managed their investments since they entered the White House in 1993, converting all stocks to cash to avoid financial conflicts as she runs for president, according to documents to be... ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/56 "2008-11-06T12:10:56Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > One of the duties of the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury is signing the President’s paycheck, so apparently he does get an actual check. I’d like to be a bank teller at Potus Central Credit Union. Getting to shoot the shit with Barack every two weeks? Not too shabby! > [@Public Animal No. 9](#): > > health care plans (although why the President would need that, I don’t know Federal employee plans provide pretty good coverage for dependants (I should know!), so when the President’s daughter is going to college halfway across the country, it’s probably worth it to get her enrolled. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/57 "2008-11-06T19:54:34Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > Helen Teller? > 😃 “I need to feel your ID.” > [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > I would venture to say that his staff takes care of it. I wouldn’t think his staff could make health care or retirement elections for him?? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541/58 "2008-11-06T20:44:24Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I wouldn’t think his staff could make health care or retirement elections for him?? One of the linked articles says that Bush has declined the retirement, so he probably picked $0 contributions and left it that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-at-1600-pennsylvania-avenue/469541.md?page=2)