In a disputably controversial move, the current President, George W. Bush, and his wife decided to make a half a million dollar investment, two weeks before departing from the White House: two sets of fine Presidential china. Total price tag? $567,000.
In Laura Bush's defense, they ordered the dishes before the economy went sour; it just took longer than anticipated to be delivered. Plus, the purchase was privately funded by a historical group. Usually only two-term can afford the luxury of ordering such lavish accessories for dinner parties. Mostly because it takes so long to create handcrafted dinnerware. (THAT COSTS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.)
Other Presidents, like Monroe and Truman, also had customized China made for formal dinner parties. G.W. Bush prefers using Lyndon B.'s, or Reagan's.
The purchase might seem (and IMHO, is) pretty frivolous; but, unnecessary additions to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. have their place in history, defining a particular era and term of that President, as well as their personal taste in what looked good.
Now the Texas governor turned second generation President will be forever remembered not only for his disputed misdeeds and Bushisms, but for purchasing some exquisitely tasteful cups and plates, too.
In 20 years, the general public will look back at trivial facts or useless knowledge (GW owned the Texas Rangers, and attended every game for 12 years; or, he's the only President who was also a Cub Scout), instead of bills vetoed (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) and passed (No Child Left Behind Act), or epic failures (Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War).
So what about those other guys? What do we really know about past Presidents?
Name a favorite. A lot of people liked Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt (Teddy and FDR) and Reagan.
A few were a little more notorious.
--Pierce sucked it up for being a doughface, causing his party to stop supporting him. Once he left office, Buchanan directly followed, trumping Pierce by inadvertently allowing the only Civil War in United States history to occur, because of his southern sympathies (FAIL).
--Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were the only two Presidents in history to be impeached. (Both were acquitted.)
--Calvin Coolidge took a five hour nap every day, on top of sleeping ten hours each night. I bet him and Matthias would make good friends.
--JFK was known for his sexual nature and drug use, while his White House staff attempted to cover up his misdeeds. It's rumored he had relations with Marylin Monroe and family friend Angie Dickinson, among others.
--Nixon was almost impeached too. "He was a notorious micro-manager and could never relax..." He was also a part of the Watergate scandal. Many liberal Americans during the time hated the guy... followed by most of the U.S. population. He might have been smart, but he lacked moral fiber, and was forced to resign.
And here's a snippet directly from Little Known Facts About 20th Century Presidents:
Warren G Harding (1912-23) might have been the worst President in American history. His father once said "If you were a Girl Warren, you could never say no!". Though Prohibition was effect the White House poker parties always had alcohol and there was an unofficial bootlegger on the staff. Harding may also have fathered an illegitimate child in one of the White House coat rooms.Harding once bet four priceless sets of Presidential china in a White House poker game. (he won the hand with two pair).
He was criticized for being associated with members of his office accepting bribes, and his involvement of the Teapot Dome oil scandal.
He's generally ranked as the worst President in the United States.
Those are just the big ones. Even G.W.'s Bushisms have covered up Dan Quayle's articulate vocabulary. In two decades, half the population won't even remember half the crap George actually did.
But maybe we'll remember he bought some fine dishes.
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