At 8.30pm yesterday evening a group of five of us had a privately arranged tour of the West Wing of the White House. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to see an awful lot, but boy was I wrong. Our guide was a friend of one of our group, who works in the next door Dwight Eisenhower Old Executive Building (which President Bush calls 'The Ike'). We walked into the main entrance of the West Wing, next door to the swimming pool. You're immediately struck by the homely feel of the place. The corridors are bedecked with pictures of Dubya at work and at play on his Texas ranch. There was a particularly fetching one of him covered in dirt. It was the kind of picture that women of a certain age would go gooey over, I suspect.
Our first stop was the Rose Garden and the colonnade, which leads to the outside door of the Oval office. I remember a great black and white picture of Ronald Reagan walking down the colonnade with George Bush Snr. We were then shown the Cabinet Room before being taken to the Oval Office.
To be honest I had doubted we would get to see the Oval Office, so it was a real surprise to walk up to the door and get a panoramic view of it. You're not allowed inside, but, kid that I am, I did put both feet inside the door under the rope and sent a blogpost (see three blogposts down!). Shane Greer did the same about ten seconds later. We both got a kick out of that!
The Oval Office was a bit smaller than I imagined and looked more like a living room than the replica in the West Wing TV series. The decoration was very light and airey - all creams and yellows, including the carpet, which I had imagined to be blue. We saw the Churchill bust given to Bush by Tony Blair. The only jarring part was George Bush's chair behind the famous desk. It was a high backed leather chair which looked a bit plastic - totally out of kilter with the rest of the furnishings.
We then got to go the White House press briefing room, which has just been refurbished and had our pictures taken in front of the podium.
I have to say that the 90 minutes we spent there were well worth the cost of the entire trip. It was an honour to get to see the place where so much history has been made.
Afterwards, we went to a Brazilian restaurant. What superb food. They give you a plate and the waiters come to you with about 15 different kinds of meat until you cannot eat anymore. It wasn't cheap but it was certainly an experience.
This morning I was woken at 3am by a text message from my cab company who I had booked to meet me off the plane tomorrow. The driver was at Heathrow and was wondering where I was. I had given them the wrong day! Aaaaagh.
I went back to bed then convinced myself I must have also booked the flight for yesterday. So I got up again, checked the paperwork and it said Feb 9. In my delerium I thought that was yesterday so started to ring Virgin to beg for a seat today - it was only then that I realised Feb 9 was indeed today. So I went back to bed and then of course couldn't sleep.
My morning got worse when I discovered that my iPod had given up the ghost and refused to work. Luckily I had just enough time to go and buy a Nano and download some music for the flight home.
And then I went to CPAC to interview Newt Gingrich. His minder cut me off after only three questions, so I'm not sure I'm even going to bother posting it. He did not impress me.
One hilarious tale from this afternoon. I got talking to a young girl from Alabama at CPAC and was explaining to her the differences between British and American Conservatives. I mentioned that neither abortion or gay rights were big issues in British politics. "Oh," she said, "I've never met anyone who's gay." I then offered my hand and said, "well now you have!" She roared with laughter and then added: "We don't have any gay people in Alabama." I told her the horrible truth and we then joked that they had all probably left or been driven out of the state.
Anyway, after that little ramble, I'll stop now and let you wish me bon voyage!
Normal service is resumed tomorrow.
34 comments:
Iain,
You will never guess who's two rows in front of you. Hint: neither David Starkey nor Charlie Falconer. :-)
And ask the First Officer to waggle the wings just before landing to make sure there's no air in the fuel lines!
What a lovely post!
Thank you, Iain. And for all the other posts this week!
Gay internet icon disapproves President's chair.
You couldn't make it up.
No gays in Alabama! Tell me how I find it again? They're all over the place here. The BBC is full of them and I hear that most LibDems are that way inclined - oh, and Gordon Brown might be too. Plus most West Ham supporters and Verity, of course.
It's amazing - it's like a rash. Is there a cream you can get to stop it?
Seriously, though, no gays in Alabama? I suppose that as they were all black they hanged them? You must admit that the KKK are very efficient.
Great country that America.
Have a safe journey home Iain, and I've really enjoyed your Washington blogs. I was in DC last July and had the best time there. I really related to your blog about the Lincoln Memorial, it is a very special place, and I love your photos as I didn't get to see it in the dark.
This is my first US election process that I've taken any interest in, and followed a link to your blog from Ed Vaizey's page (he could take some serious lessons from you in communication!!) Anyway, I just wanted to say that I enjoy what you write, and you've made some things clear to a novice, as I am. However, one gripe - I don't think you answered my question about why you think Mitt Romney (YAY, he's quit!!) was an unworthy candidate. (If you have replied, my apologies, have just moved house - against my will as my home is flood damaged and finally will be repaired, so haven't been able to read everything these last few days)
@ tapestry; Well at least he didn't criticise the curtains.
No gays in Alabama? Just like Tehran, according to that nice Mr Ahmadinejad.
Diabolo - "Seriously, though, no gays in Alabama? I suppose that as they were all black they hanged them? You must admit that the KKK are very efficient."
That is one of the nastiest paragraphs I have ever read on this blog. You're very weak.
Or very drunk.
Either way, no thanks.
.One hilarious tale from this afternoon.
Well, humour is a rather subjective thing. You might find it rather less amusing if on your next trip to the United States you were in an accident in the great state of Alabama, and your partner was denied visitation rights because... well, he just doesn't exist.
Good on you for being civil, Iain. Because I'm not so sure I'd have kept my cool in the face of such casual -- and unthinking -- stupidity.
I'm listening to Obama live from Virginia, his having won some more primaries.
He has mentioned 'Common Purpose' positively in two consecutive sentences - could the conspiracy-bots please investigate & report...
Is Alabama a bit like Iran, then? :)
Additionally, since your last.fm hasn't updated in centuries, you might like to look at getting an ipod scrobbler, so that your profile more accurately reflects your music tastes.
OT Your old sparring partner Derek Draper, is having problems:
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2008/02/10/kate-garraway-and-strictly-come-dancing-partner-anton-du-beke-s-close-friendship-98487-20314519/
"We don't have any gay people in Alabama."
Bit like Iran then...well now you mention it!
Verity, I am not sure it was meant to be lovely. It was, at least ultimately, a sad inditement of the prejudice and hatred that still pervades life in certain areas of "God's Own Country".
"We don't have any gay people in Alabama." They're probably dangling from trees somewhere.
verity said...
"Diabolo - 'Seriously, though, no gays in Alabama? I suppose that as they were all black they hanged them? You must admit that the KKK are very efficient.' "
"That is one of the nastiest paragraphs I have ever read on this blog. You're very weak."
Verity, it looks like you've got a rival
Oh what fun, 'the differences between British and American Conservatives'.
Those are best summarized by saying that many of the latter would characterize many of the former as homosexual socialists.
Crikey don't let Tatchell read that somebody in Alabama could honestly assume they'd never met anyone gay, he'll have a seizure.
I myself as a wishy washy pinko liberal british Conservative would certainly avoid visiting Republican states.
I've enjoyed this week. You've convinced me to visit Washington.
I'm sure Newt Gingrich regrets not running for the White House now .. though I'm glad he didn't.
O/T i kno, but fans of the beautiful game (and the national side in particular) should look away now....
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2008/02/10/gordon-brown-i-m-fan-of-fabio-capello-98487-20314685/
it seems that jonah have climbed aboard...
Jetlag, Iain? Flying against the sun is always hell (even if its at night, you're still flying in opposition to the sun and are wrecked at the other end). Flying with the sun, i.e., from Britain to the US is a piece of cake.
11:01 - No. I take issue with people I think are wrongheaded or actively malign. I do not lash out blindly and feverishly fuelled by hatred of the United States and Hollywood movies.
I also address facts. The KKK has long been illegal in the United States, made so by white legislators. It's a long-dead issue in the US - although clearly not for little malign and ignorant America-haters who have never been to the United States. But they know they hate it. They "know" that there is no medical care for people who don't have private insurance, example. They "know" there is this vast religious fundamentalism (which I never once encountered in the years I lived there).
If you lived in the US for a few years and just hated it (I have never encountered such a person, but they could exist) that is one thing because there would be a genuine reason for the dislike. Not blind, jealous, vicious, ignorant hatred.
So no. There is no mental connection between Diabolo and me.
BTW, all, including Iain, the gal who said they didn't have gays in Alabama: tongue-in-cheek. J-o-k-e.
Sea Shanty Irish here:
Agree, Iain, great posts from the Homeland!
Ku Klux Klan is not illegal anywhere in America.
It is true that the KKK, its leaders, factions and members have been targets of MANY criminal and civil prosectutions on account of their illegal acts.
And the KKK is very marginalized today, but by no means a dead letter. Just ask David Duke - who a relative of mine once had to literally kick off his front porch after the SOB refused to leave after being asked nicely.
The young lady from Alabama that Iain met may have been joking. But it didn't sound like it.
As for "vast religious fundamentalism" yes, Verity, there is a Bible Belt. Just drive from say Cumberland, Maryland to Lubbock, Texas and count the number of "Jesus Saves" signs. Would test the powers of an idiot savant!
Anti-gay prejudice in the USA is today most prevelant among following groups:
--Older people 65+
--people of all races with lower education & income
--evangelical Protestants and conservative Catholics
But even among these groups anti-gay sentiment appears to be dissapating.
One thing that bothers many very conservative Christians and others who are leary of homosexuality, is the meanspiritedness of much anti-gay sentiment.
The more gay people they actually know and like, the harder it is for them to maintain the barracades.
And perhaps now, Iain, you see why I've always said that Newt Gingrich is WAY overrated as a politico or as a person.
Verity (3.43am)
It's true then? You have to get an irony by-pass when you live in America.
(And I am tee-total at present - it is Lent, after all - so your remark about me being drunk was insulting. That makes us equal, I guess!)
I can believe that the girl who said that to you, Iain, was neither trying to be rude nor did she think she was lying.
I had a flatmate a few years back, a young graduate from Florida, who was a staunch evangelical Republican and she would have said something very similar (she wasn't from Miami). After a few weeks in London she changed her tune.
She left London no less Christian and no less Republican, but she was no longer on the homophobic wing of either. In most cases, as someone above says, the reason these people maintain such staunch attitudes is because they don't know any people who would confound the stereotypes fed them by bigoted leaders. Once they do get to know and like them their irrational opposition melts away.
not this woman of a certain age Iain
How funny that Verity is now lecturing us on this side of the pond that we don't know enough about what's going on on her side to be able to make comments!
Pots and kettles ...
Ah! You've discovered the rodizio! Did you have coração de galinha? I wonder if they told you what it is first... tasty though!
There's a few rodizios in London too; I recommend looking them up!
I know I'm a newby to your blogsite, but this is twice now that you've ignored my question.
I really would like to know why you think Mitt Romney was an unworthy candidate? I won't debate it with you, if that's what you're worried about, but I'd like to know why he's unworthy in your eyes.
Thanks (said hopefully!!)
I haven't ignored the question- well, I have, I suppose - but I haven't on purpose!
Mitt Romney has changed his views on virtually everything. he makes out he is a conservative, yet when he was governor of Massachussets he wasn't. Is he pro life or pro choice? he says no he is pro life, but in the past he has adopted a different stance. There are many other policies where he has seemingly changed his mind according to the audience he is addressing. He doesn't connect with normal voters. He looks like an identikit US presidential candidate but hasn't got any personal warmth.
thanks Iain, and sorry for nagging!!
Gaydar has profiles of 1,929 gay men in Alabama, and 293 in Iran.
Fancy the President daring to have a chair that he likes to sit in! Out of kilter with the other furnishings? Terrible.
Is it me, or has the US election turned into the West Wing series 7?
No gays in Alabama? LOL that's just seems hard to beleive seeing how living in Jacksonville AL you don't go into town without seeing someone who one could assume gay... guess JSU is just lucky ;-)
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