Evening star., 1951-06-05
How Others Felt About the White House
By Edword Boykin

J. mark that washington Is an awful
place to live in, especially II you live
in the White House." raises the ques-
ton OF what other Presidents have
thought on the subject.
Most OF the 81 Presidents who have
resided in Washington have recorded
how they felt about the Nations top
job and life at 1900 Pennsylvania
Avenue.
The founder Of the Presidents Party.
Thomas jefferson. enjoyed the social
side Of Washington immensely. He
regaled his guests with oceans of wine
and good food. Jefferson spent an
average of $3.50 year for wine while
President. This was huge sum in his
day.
But Jefferson found the presidency
itself irksome. OF the job he once gave
this description: 'The second Office Of
the Government (vice presidency is
honorable and easy; the first (presi-
dency) is but splendid misery" Near
the end of his second term, he painted"
for his beloved Monticello.
Theodore Roosevelt probably enjoyed
the exciting rounds Of the presidency
more than any other. He takes top
honors for his apt summary of Presi-
dents day-by-da existence: you don't
live in the White House. You are only
Exhibit A to the country"
Shortly after becoming President. he
opined: "I enjoy being President and
I like to do the work and have my
hand on the lever. But it Is worrying
and puzzling." He felt the same way
six years later when he went out OF
office: mo President ever enjoyed him.
self as much as ! have. I shall miss
having my hand on the lever Of the
great machine"
Millard Fillmore thought Washington
ga delightful city" 1t was, he said.
"The emblem of our Union and the
symbol of our greatness" But Millard's
father, Squire Fillmore, disagreed with
his sons exalted regard for the National
Capital. After visit to the White
House, the Squire chirped: II don't like
it here. Washington isn't good place
to live. It is not good place for Mil
lard. l. wish he was back home IN
Buffalo - ss-
Fillmores successor, Franklin Pierce.
found Washington a place Of sorrow.
Two months before his Inauguration
Pierces only child, son. was killed in
a railroad wreck. Pierce opened his
inaugural address with reference to his
crushing grief: "It is relief to feel
that no heart but my own can know the
personal regret and bitter sorrow over
which I have been borne to a position so
suitable for others, rather than desirable
for myself" Deep shadows marked his
sojourn in the White House.
Being President was no fun for Abra-
ham Lincoln. He called the White
House this damned old house" and he
liked Washington only after fashion.
Sorrow and conflict marred his stay. OF
the Presidency he said, "If to be the
head of hell Is as hard as what have to
undergo here, could find it in my heart
to pity Satan himself" To a friend
who asked how it felt to be President.
he replied: 'I feel like the man who
was tarred and feathered and ridden out
of town on a rail" When somebody
asked him how he liked 1t he replied that
IF it wasn't for the honor Of the thing.
I'd much rather walk"
The presidency brought martyrdom to
James A. Garfield. Shortly after enter
ing the White House he threw up his
hands in disgust. MY God. what is there
in this place that man should ever
want to get in it!"
Woodrow Wilson enjoyed Washington.
but resented being put In the same
category as the National Museum, the
Smithsonian Institution or the WASH
ington Monument" Said he: There
are blessed intervals when I forget by
one means or another that am Presi-
dent Of the United States
BENJAMIN Harrison had four pleasant
years in Washington, but was irritated
by the constant surveillance Of the Sc
cret Service. Said he, IT'D rather have
slant dread Of one"
Bachelor Grover Cleveland took
lovely bride to share his first four years
In the White House but he quailed at
a second round. Bemoaned Cleveland:
IT look upon the next four years as q
dreadful, self-inflicted penance for the
good OF my country. ] see no pleasure
In It,"
The Zachary Taylors disliked Wash.
ington. Margaret Taylor, who enjoyed
a corncob pipe, came to the city much
against her will. When Taylor was dy-
ing in 1850 he murmured: IT did not
expect to encounter what has come to
me in this office. God knows I have
tried to do my duty. My motives have
been misconstrued and my feelings out
ragged"
John Adams, first President to live
in Washington, could not get out Of the
wilderness City (his wife's nickname
for the unfinished Capital City fast
enough in 1901. He was our unhap-
.piest President. He did not live in
Washington long enough to find out
whether he liked it or not, but his wife
said it had possibilities.
The James Madisons had royal good
time in Washington. Charming Dolly
was queen Of all she surveyed. But for
the War of 1912 and the tragedy that
fell on Washington, the Madison regime
was long revel Of dinners, soirees and
balls
The Calvin Coolidges enjoyed Wash
ington until Calvin. jr. died. In his
autobiography Coolidge voiced his grief