A Visit to the West Wing

The White House North Portico. ~ Photo by Don Rescigno

I have traveled quite a bit during my 20 years in the business world. I have seen more than half the states in the U.S. and have gone overseas for work-related speaking engagements, presentations, and meetings. I have been lucky enough to see amazing places like London, Dubai, and Riyadh. As a result of my experiences--and the older I get--it is not easy for me to be impressed. That changed when I had the opportunity to visit the White House.

Late November 2012, I was able to take my wife and three young children to Washington, D.C. for something very few people get to do. An old friend from my teenage years who is part of President Obama's administration was able to arrange a tour of the West Wing of the White House for us. It is not the standard tour--this is a fairly exclusive experience. For example, this tour has a dress code (which I can really appreciate). In my opinion, today some people come to work in clothes I would wear to clean the garage.

Truth be told, I had one reservation about the White House tour. Given that my children are ages 8, 6, and 4, would they be able to appreciate it? They are very well behaved but could they handle an evening event like this after walking for miles and miles seeing the sites of Washington, D.C.? I knew my 8 year old son could because he did a biography on President Obama last school year. He has a strong interest and admiration for the President. And, the boy retains facts like a sponge and I knew this would be a special experience for him. He was really excited when he learned what we were going to do.  My daughters--also very bright and precocious--would have to be in just the right mood or this could be quite and embarrassing chapter in the story of our little family. What kind of father would I be if I did not provide this kind of experience and memory for them? We had to go as a family.

The day came and we dressed up and headed off the White House. We went through the security measures and were asked to wait until our escort came out to get us. As we waited just outside the inner gate, the wheels started to come off a bit. Our daughters were both tired and antsy. They started dancing around and eventually the rubber-legs started and one said, "I can't stand anymore...I just want to go home." I looked at my wife and thought, "Uh oh, here it comes." Fortunately, it was only temporary. Soon thereafter, our name was called and it was time to go inside.

Our escort was an administration staff member whose identity I will not reveal out of respect for his privacy. He was incredibly kind and genuinely excited to see we had our children with us. I told him about our son's level of interest and that the girls might struggle to remain engaged due to their age and because it was getting near their bedtime. He went out of his way to keep them all interested while still telling my wife and me things we would appreciate. I will never forget how well he handled it all. He was a true gentleman and made this event a wonderful experience for all of us.

Photo via nationalgeographic.com.

One of the first things I noticed as we went inside was a very modest wooden door to our right with a brass plate on it. The plate displayed the words The Situation Room. I started to nudge my wife to get her to see it as well.

The first image that came to mind was that of the day the President and his team watched Seal Team Six carry out the bin Laden mission. It all unfolded behind that door. I would have loved to have seen the technology in that room! Of course, I do not have a photo of The Situation Room door. No photos are allowed for the majority of the White House tour for security reasons.

Photo via The White House Google+ page.

As the tour continued, we were surrounded by photos, paintings, and settings of historical significance. Just think of the events that have happened in this building since its construction in the early 1800s. Early in the tour we were given the opportunity to walk along the west Colonnade. While there our escort pointed out the exterior of the Oval Office as we also looked at the Rose Garden. I made sure our kids knew where the Oval Office was (while hoping we would get to see it from inside).

Before long we were back inside looking into the Roosevelt Room. After that it was the Cabinet Room. Our escort asked our children if they noticed anything interesting about the chairs in these rooms. "Which one do you think the President sits in for meetings?" One of them noticed that one chair was just a couple of inches taller than the rest. Before long they were experts. "I know which one's the President's!" they would tell our escort. My wife and I were proud parents.

The room we were most interested in seeing was the Oval Office. Would the President be working late forcing us to skip this part of the tour? Are children prohibited from entering this area? We were in luck--the Oval Office was next. My new claim to fame is saying that I actually stuck my head and torso inside the room. I have to admit I was in awe. Aside from making sure my three children did not run in there, the iconic desk was the first thing I noticed. Next, it was the Abraham Lincoln portrait on the wall. After that it was the two bronze busts--Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lincoln. The ceiling, the bright lighting, the fresh apples on the table, the Presidential Seal on the rug, it was a lot to take in all at once. I could have stared into that room for a very long time but it was time to keep moving.

My kids have questions in the Press Room. ~ Photo by Don Rescigno

I could write a great deal about what we saw inside the West Wing. Frankly, it is a bit of a blur. In addition to what I have described above, we also visited The Navy Mess where many of the staff can dine, the West Wing Reception Room where everyone has to wait for their appointment with the President, and the hallway near the Oval Office that features original artwork by Norman Rockwell.

Near the end of the tour we entered the Press Briefing Room. This is the room you see on CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and the local news. The Press Secretary is often found here reporting on significant White House events, Presidential decisions, and answering questions from the press. This room was one of the few where photos were allowed. Our kids got a big kick out of sitting in the press' seats and pretending to ask questions of the President. You may notice from the photo that my four year old used her headband to attract the most attention. 

Dwight Eisenhower Executive Office Building. ~ Photo by Don Rescigno

An unexpected surprise was the chance to go inside The Dwight Eisenhower Executive Office Building (a.k.a. the EEOB) which is right next to the West Wing. In my opinion, this building is an architectural wonder. It looks beautiful at night and the holiday decorations added to its appeal. The building has over 500 rooms and many White House employees have their offices here. As we learned from our escort, soon after it was built it was hated by many. The architect was roundly criticized.
In fact, the architect committed suicide shortly after President Theodore Roosevelt told him he didn't like the building. Online I learned that even Mark Twain called it "the ugliest building in America." Maybe I just have bad taste but I really like it. 

On our way out of the White House, we posed for a final family photo. I noticed someone was trying to exit the building so I asked my family to step aside. Low and behold, political mastermind David Axelrod opened the door. I couldn't help myself and greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Axelrod." To which he replied with a smile, "Good Evening." Is it bad that within seconds all I could think of was "Quaxelrod" and Twitter? If you missed that reference, look it up (trust me it's comedy gold).

Presidential M&M's. ~ Photo by Don Rescigno.

Finally, nothing caps off a tourist experience like souvenirs. Our escort had developed a great relationship with our children during the tour. So strong that one of them asked him, "Can I have a treat?" My wife and I were mortified. I said, "He can't get you a treat!" But within seconds he replied, "Well, you know what...I think I can get you a treat." I was embarrassed but said, "Listen, that means you have to show us your best behavior ever. Then you might get a treat of some kind." At the end of the tour our escort disappeared only to return with Presidential M&M's. The boxes featured an M&M waving the Flag on one side, the Presidential Seal and Barack Obama's signature on the other. The candies were red, white, and blue. Yes, our children tore right into them.

After the tour we walked back to our hotel. The kids were no longer exhausted--they were buzzing with excitement and M&M's chocolate. We put them to bed and had a few minutes to reflect on the experience. "Can you believe we were in the West Wing of the White House?" I asked. Two days later I still can't really believe it. What a great memory. I hope my children remember it too.

Take an interactive tour of the White House by clicking here.