Buzz
As with all U.S. presidents, Barack Obama and his family are required to pay for their meals while staying at the White House. But how does the process work? Do they actually receive a bill for this?
Although President Obama has an executive chef, when his family and guests dine, he has to cover the expenses. However, when hosting a state event at the White House, the government picks up the cost, which can be quite high. According to the White House website, its five chefs can prepare dinner for 140 or serve hors d'oeuvres for more than a thousand people.
Is there a system to track all this? It turns out that the White House operates much like a luxury hotel in this respect. At the end of every month, the president receives a bill for his food and other incidental charges. Nancy Reagan was notably surprised by this practice when she first encountered the bill in 1981, remarking, "Nobody ever told us the president and his wife are charged for every meal, as well as incidentals like dry cleaning, toothpaste, and other toiletries." Once they adjusted to the bills, however, the Reagans found the White House quite appealing; President Reagan often joked that its amenities made it feel like living in an eight-star hotel.
The president and his family have the freedom to choose their preferred snacks, toothpaste brand, and the menu for their chef to prepare. However, the costs can often surprise new leaders. In an insightful article in this month's National Geographic, former White House chief usher Gary Walters shared that he couldn't recall any first families who didn't express frustration over the high prices of food. Walters also noted that Rosalynn Carter, in particular, was upset by the expensive meals, which were likely a significant increase over the prices she was used to in Georgia.
