In the new issue of mental_floss magazine, Ethan Trex answers The Biggest Questions of 2009. All this week, he’ll be answering additional questions of various sizes here on the blog.
Like all presidents, Barack Obama and his family will have to pay for their own food while they’re living in the White House. But does someone actually send them a bill? How does this system work?
President Obama may have his own executive chef now, but when his family and personal guests eat what’s coming out of the kitchen, he’ll have to foot the bill himself. Luckily for him, though, the government picks up the tab if he’s having a state function at the White House, which could get pricey since the White House’s website touts that its five chefs can crank out dinner for 140 or hors d’oeuvres for over a thousand people.
Does someone really keep track? Apparently, the White House functions like a luxury hotel in this regard. At the end of each month, the president receives a bill for his food and incidental expenses. Nancy Reagan was famously taken aback by this practice when an usher presented her first bill in 1981, saying, “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 got used to the bills, though, the Reagans loved the White House; President Reagan often joked that all the amenities made it like living in an eight-star hotel.)
The president and his family get to pick what snacks they want, what brand of toothpaste they use, and what menu they want the chef to prepare for them, but it can still get a bit pricier than new commanders in chief expect. In a fascinating article in this month’s National Geographic, former White House chief usher Gary Walters said that he couldn’t remember any first families not complaining about the high prices of the food. Walters added that Rosalynn Carter was particularly miffed by the high-priced fare, which must have been a bit more expensive than what she’d been getting in Georgia.
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Loved it, thanks.
posted by Sarah in CA (formerly just Sarah) on 1-22-2009 at 12:50 am
Navy officers have to pay for their food when stationed onboard ships. They are also issued a bill for each month on board. Enlisted men eat for free.
posted by Juan Grande on 1-22-2009 at 2:38 am
So I guess the bed of luxury in the White House isn’t what it seems…
posted by Kathy on 1-22-2009 at 2:56 am
Enlisted men do 10 times more work for 10 times less pay. Free food is the least that could be done.
posted by Adam on 1-22-2009 at 5:35 am
Leave it to the rich to bitch about prices.
Ditto what Adam said. Plus they have to obey dumbass officers.
posted by BassMan on 1-22-2009 at 9:39 am
Enlisted men pay for their meals on the ship, but they are given a BAS (Basic Allowance for Substinence) to do so. They just never see a bill because it comes right out of this part of the paycheck. BAS, BAH, COLA . . . boy, the Navy has its own wacky ways.
posted by catherine ann on 1-22-2009 at 9:40 am
The price for my meals on the ship was actually less than my BAS, so I was getting paid $30 a month to eat crappy ship food. Still better than MREs and sleeping in the dirt though!
posted by Jess on 1-22-2009 at 10:10 am
Dumbass officers? Sounds like someone’s bitter they never worked hard enough to become an officer.
posted by BW on 1-22-2009 at 10:27 am
Growing up in the military, I have to say that most officers–at least in the Air Force–start out as officers because they join with a degree. My father made it to the highest rank an enlisted man could be, and officers saluted him because they knew he had worked his ass off to get there. Hard work has little to do with being an officer.
posted by Orange on 1-22-2009 at 10:56 am
It’s true that enlisted work much harder, and don’t get paid nearly as much. And from my personal experience, while there are fine naval officers, most are just arrogant and a waste of taxpayer dollars.
posted by Dustin on 1-22-2009 at 11:08 am
Do you think there is a process by which the First Family can clip coupons and send them on to whoever does the First Grocery Shopping?
posted by Jennifer on 1-22-2009 at 11:20 am
orange,
while i absolutely appreciate the hard work any enlisted man puts in to his job, i have to point out that getting a degree is no walk in the park either… im not saying that someone who has experience and the knowledge to be higher ranking shouldn’t be given the same opportunities. but if i spend 4+ years of my own time and money earning a degree, you’re damn straight i expect some recognition for it. that may just be the student loan bill talking though :)
on the article – i always assumed that was one of the perks… very interesting
posted by tiffany on 1-22-2009 at 11:24 am
My father also attained his degree–while he was working, which is part of the reason he did advance. He has his Master’s now.
posted by Orange on 1-22-2009 at 11:26 am
Ironically, my wife and I were discussing this exact issue last night. I personally thought the President’s food bill was on us, the taxpayer. My wife was appalled; she will be pleased to know this.
Thank you mental_floss – you just saved my marriage (OK not really)
posted by Justin L on 1-22-2009 at 11:59 am
Anyone would be surprised at the price of food in Washington. The last time I went, I was appalled at the price of a hotel breakfast, so I found out where the staff ate. The food was better at those little side street cafeterias at a much better price!
posted by Miss Cellania on 1-22-2009 at 1:44 pm
Great point Tiffany. I don’t think I can add much more except that when someone generalizes officers of our military as “dumbasses”, I sense some sort of bitterness or just a complete lack of knowledge on the subject. My wife was an officer in the Coast Guard for about 10 years. She didn’t get accepted to the academy, graduate, get her Master’s, and excel in her positions in the Coast Guard from lack of hard work. She chose her path in life and others have chose theirs. And she certainly isn’t a “dumbass”.
posted by BW on 1-22-2009 at 2:07 pm
@ Justin
In a sense it still is, given that taxpayers pay the President’s salary, and that salary is likely what pays the food and toothpaste bill.
posted by Steve on 1-22-2009 at 3:24 pm
But the President’s salary is pretty paltry considering. And not nearly what he could get in the private sector. I would have thought all costs associated with living in the White House would be part of the package.
posted by Karen on 1-22-2009 at 5:13 pm
Don’t know if it’s a good thing to call all officers “dumbasses”. But one thing is for sure, my brother is one; an officer and a dumbass I mean. And first class; not officer, dumbass! On the topic of this article, this won’t break the bank for Obama or any other President. We should not forget that the all the men who have arrived to the White House, at least during the 20 and 21 centuries, are millionaires. Including Mr. Obama.
posted by Aisley on 1-22-2009 at 7:07 pm
i am an enlisted member of the air force and i have a degree in mechanical engineering. i got my degree through tuition assistance and the GI bill. i respect all the officers appointed over me, though i sometimes get the idea that officers think they are more then they are. most of the officers appointed over me dont know that i even have a degree. it sometimes bothers me when someone with a lesser degree (i am in maintenance)and less experience can order me around. it doesnt bother me enough to want to be an officer though. i enjoy being enlisted with young men and women who i feel i can help better as their direct, front line supervisor and mentor that an officer sitting behind some desk.
posted by daniel on 1-22-2009 at 10:56 pm
Since the President’s salary is paid with taxpayer money. So when the dust settles it’s essentially the taxpayers who foot the bill.
posted by Area Man on 1-28-2009 at 10:20 am
I would think that the President and his family should not have to pay for there food. It really sounds tacky that they have to. CEO’s are paid more than we pay our President and they get million dollar bonus’s. When I worked at a facility for developmentally disabled adults it came with a apartment that I only had to pay for my telephone. I could eat (for free) there food I just chose not to. Sherrie Malik
posted by sherrie malik on 1-29-2009 at 11:32 pm
See, this crap I hate. When people say “oh, well, taxpayers pay for the President’s salary, we foot the bill.” Yes that is true, that’s how life works around here, stuff needs money to function. But, the President himself pays his own salary too, he pays taxes.
Same with Firefighters, Police, EMS, Military… they too pay for their own paycheck, to an extent.
posted by DutchInfid3l on 4-19-2011 at 8:09 pm
@karen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States#Compensation
posted by beck on 4-26-2011 at 12:06 am