The plan stalled, however, and eventually, Congress decided to refurbish a certain cream-colored house as a “temporary residence” for the vice president: Number One Observatory Circle. In 1966, Congress agreed to build an official residence for the vice president’s use. Before then, vice presidents lived in homes, apartments, or hotels, and received a housing allowance just like cabinet members. You might imagine that there’s always been a historic mansion set aside for the vice president’s family residence, but in fact, the vice president’s mailing address has only been consistent since 1974. “So, I do want to set an example for those in the future who can look back at the way I’ve approached it and hopefully that’ll help them as well,” he said.We all know the president’s address (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue), but where does the vice president live? It turns out that there’s a vice presidential white house too! Emhoff said he was honored and humbled to be the first man to hold the role and said he would make it his own. Emhoff, who will take on a position that traditionally has been defined by hosting and decorating for the holiday, as well as robust work like caring for military families and developing healthy eating habits for children. Harris’s arrival will put a “much needed spotlight” on the home.įollowing the inauguration and while repairs are being completed on Number One Observatory Circle, CBS News reported that the couple temporarily moved into Blair House, a guesthouse near the White House that is often used for visiting heads of state.Įyes will also be on Mr. “Think about this, who has lived in that home for the better part of 45-plus years, white males, and here comes this completely different person,” Mr.
“It’s kind of a shame that we waited as long we did to give the vice president a home of their own,” said Mike Purdy, a presidential historian and author of “ 101 Presidential Insults.” “But in some ways that is reflective of the insignificant role of the vice presidency as it was seen for so many years.” At the time, lawmakers approved $315,000 for repairs, renovations and some furnishings. (The “temporary” designation still remains.) It was the first time in history that a home was provided for the second in command. Agnew’s home in Maryland among others - Congress designated Number One Observatory Circle as “the official temporary residence” of the vice president in 1974. At the time, Vice President Hubert Humphrey was living in his own home in Chevy Chase, Md.Īfter years of spending thousands on security measures at the private homes of vice presidents - $81,000 for Gerald Ford’s home in Virginia and $245,000 on Spiro T.
Johnson postponed the construction until economic conditions improved, but the house was never built. In March 1966, the House Public Works Committee approved the construction of a three-story mansion for $750,000 on the grounds of the Naval Observatory for the vice president. When did the house become the official residence for vice presidents? The house was described as “imposing” and valued at $500,000.Ĭalvin Coolidge, who served as vice president from 1921 to 1923, lived at a hotel during his tenure and later said in his autobiography that an “official residence with suitable maintenance should be provided for the Vice-President” and that the position “should have a settled and permanent habitation and a place, irrespective of the financial ability of its temporary occupant.” Henderson of Missouri offered a newly built home as the official residence of the vice president, according to The New York Times. But the desire for the second in command to have his own residence dates to at least 1923, when the wife of Senator John B. Traditionally, vice presidents had lived in their own homes or in hotels while in office. Ford Presidential Library Where had vice presidents lived before? Ford, his wife, Betty, second from right, and their daughter Susan, center, in 1975. They are pictured with President Gerald R.
Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, right, and his wife, Happy, second from left, entertained guests at Number One Observatory Circle but did not live there.
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