After his historic general election win, President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, requested an early move into Blair House, the presidential guest house which sits across the street from the White House, to smooth the transition to the D.C. for their two daughter who started school this week at the prestigious Sidwell Friends School. However the Obama's request was denied by the Bush Administration who told President elect that Blair House was already reserved. Now comes new that the only guest booked into the presidential guest residence between now and the inauguration is former Australian Prime MinisterJohn Howard.
The Washington Post reports that Howard, one of President Bush's closest allies on the Iraq war will stay overnight at the Blair House on January 12, while the Obamas were forced this week to move into a suite at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington which pales in comparison to Blair House's 70,000 square feet of living space complete with 119 rooms, 14 guest bedrooms, eight staff bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, four dining rooms, kitchen facilities, laundry and dry cleaning facilities, exercise room, flower shop, and fully equipped hair salon.
Was it a slap in the face of the Obamas? Maybe. Maybe not.
While Howard is the only scheduled overnight guest, various other parties and functions including Thursday's private reception honoring the Bush administration's Global Cultural Initiative members that is to be attended by first lady Laura Bush are in fact scheduled for Blair House.
The Bushes also reportedly extended invitations to stay at Blair House to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who are to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush on January 13. Both men declined the invitation, opting instead to make their own arrangements with respect to accommodations.
The Obamas officially take up residence in Blair House on January 15 prior to the inauguration.
