The 20-foot (6.1 m) wide and 50-foot (15 m) long pool was created in 1975 by Gerald Ford during his presidency. Before becoming president, Ford swam twice daily at his home in Alexandria, Virginia; early in the morning and after work in the evening. Ford regretted the White House no longer had a swimming pool and did not find playing golf as satisfying for exercise as swimming. The New York Times reported that the pool was built "over strong opposition from his [Ford's] advisers" as Ford had stressed budgetary restraint upon taking office in 1974. Aides had reportedly warned Ford that the construction of a pool would ensure that he only lasted a year in the presidency and should wait until after his potentially successful re-election in 1976.[1]
The area had previously been part of the South Lawn, with a natural screen of bushes and trees. Ford was a regular swimmer and demonstrated his swimming for the press when the pool was completed.[2] The photographer Dick Swanson of People took a picture from the bottom of the pool of Ford swimming.[3] In 1933, an indoor swimming pool had been built for President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his physical therapy for polio. The pool was covered over in 1970 when the space was remodeled as the Press Briefing Room.[2]
The pool under construction in May 1975
A cabana was later added to the pool, with showers and changing facilities, and an underground passage connects the cabana to the West Wing for security. The cabana is solar powered with heated pipes providing hot water with the remaining heat going to the outdoor spa. It was renovated in 2002 with extra windows and a raised roof.[2]
Ford's son, Jack, learned to scuba dive in the pool, and 39th President Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy frequently dived in the pool.[2]Barbara Bush often swam in the pool; in 1990, a rat swam past her and was subsequently drowned by her husband, 41st President George H. W. Bush. Barbara Bush said that she "[swam] with a mask, and it just went right by in front of me...Fortunately, George Bush was there and drowned the beast. It was horrible".[4]Hillary Clinton was also a frequent user of the pool. Clinton had considered recreating the indoor pool of the White House and creating a new space for the media. As part of the White House grounds, the pool and its cabana are the responsibility of the National Park Service.[2]
In the first year of his presidency, Barack Obama wrote that he would leave the Oval Office and "have a cigarette (or two)" by the cabana, "savoring a quieter moment and letting my thoughts wander and deepen".[5]
Costedit
The cost of the pool was estimated at $52,417 (equivalent to $285,068 in 2022). It was entirely funded by private contributions, with donations limited to $1,000 (equivalent to $5,438 in 2022). A swimming pool committee oversaw the construction of the pool; it was chaired by the vice chairman of the United States Olympic swimming committee, A. J. Sehorn.[1]
white, house, swimming, pool, swimming, pool, white, house, official, residence, president, united, states, located, south, lawn, near, west, wing, pool, pictured, 1992, contents, history, description, cost, gallery, references, external, linkshistory, descrip. The swimming pool at the White House the official residence of the president of the United States is located on the South Lawn near the West Wing The pool pictured in 1992 Contents 1 History and description 2 Cost 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksHistory and description editThe 20 foot 6 1 m wide and 50 foot 15 m long pool was created in 1975 by Gerald Ford during his presidency Before becoming president Ford swam twice daily at his home in Alexandria Virginia early in the morning and after work in the evening Ford regretted the White House no longer had a swimming pool and did not find playing golf as satisfying for exercise as swimming The New York Times reported that the pool was built over strong opposition from his Ford s advisers as Ford had stressed budgetary restraint upon taking office in 1974 Aides had reportedly warned Ford that the construction of a pool would ensure that he only lasted a year in the presidency and should wait until after his potentially successful re election in 1976 1 The area had previously been part of the South Lawn with a natural screen of bushes and trees Ford was a regular swimmer and demonstrated his swimming for the press when the pool was completed 2 The photographer Dick Swanson of People took a picture from the bottom of the pool of Ford swimming 3 In 1933 an indoor swimming pool had been built for President Franklin D Roosevelt for his physical therapy for polio The pool was covered over in 1970 when the space was remodeled as the Press Briefing Room 2 nbsp The pool under construction in May 1975A cabana was later added to the pool with showers and changing facilities and an underground passage connects the cabana to the West Wing for security The cabana is solar powered with heated pipes providing hot water with the remaining heat going to the outdoor spa It was renovated in 2002 with extra windows and a raised roof 2 Ford s son Jack learned to scuba dive in the pool and 39th President Jimmy Carter s daughter Amy frequently dived in the pool 2 Barbara Bush often swam in the pool in 1990 a rat swam past her and was subsequently drowned by her husband 41st President George H W Bush Barbara Bush said that she swam with a mask and it just went right by in front of me Fortunately George Bush was there and drowned the beast It was horrible 4 Hillary Clinton was also a frequent user of the pool Clinton had considered recreating the indoor pool of the White House and creating a new space for the media As part of the White House grounds the pool and its cabana are the responsibility of the National Park Service 2 In the first year of his presidency Barack Obama wrote that he would leave the Oval Office and have a cigarette or two by the cabana savoring a quieter moment and letting my thoughts wander and deepen 5 Cost editThe cost of the pool was estimated at 52 417 equivalent to 285 068 in 2022 It was entirely funded by private contributions with donations limited to 1 000 equivalent to 5 438 in 2022 A swimming pool committee oversaw the construction of the pool it was chaired by the vice chairman of the United States Olympic swimming committee A J Sehorn 1 Gallery edit nbsp Gerald Ford swimming in the pool in July 1975 nbsp Buddy reaching for a ball in the pool in 1998 nbsp Susan Ford helping her father dive into the new swimming poolReferences edit a b Swimming Pool Ordered by Ford The New York Times 15 May 1975 Retrieved 20 December 2020 a b c d e The White House Museum Outdoor Swimming Pool White House Historical Association Archived from the original on 2020 12 20 Retrieved 20 December 2020 White House Museum 2002 The White House Actors and Observers UPNE p 179 ISBN 978 1 55553 547 6 Rat Swam Past Her in White House Pool First Lady Reports Los Angeles Times 10 July 1990 Retrieved 20 December 2020 Obama Barack December 9 2020 How I Approach the Toughest Decisions Medium Retrieved 20 December 2020 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to White House swimming pool External links editNotes on the construction of the swimming pool from the Gerald Ford Library38 53 49 N 77 02 16 W 38 89705 N 77 03771 W 38 89705 77 03771 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White House swimming pool amp oldid 1175054039, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
