4. Tennis
Tennis courts have been in place at the White House since 1902 when there was a court just off the South side of the West Wing, adjacent to the Oval Office. It was on this court where the then-president’s son, Calvin Coolidge, Jr. got a blister after playing without socks, which led to his death by blood-poisoning at the age of 16. This court ultimately made way for the West Wing Terrace.
Ford built a new tennis court in 1975 and on occasion the President would invite Washington bigs over to talk politics over a couple of sets, as he was doing with number 22, Donald Rumsfeld, pictured above.
5. Horsehoes
Nothing says America like horseshoes. Maybe Barack Obama could redeem some middle America cred it he buffed-up his horseshoe toss on the George H.W. Bush installed horseshoe pit next to the basketball court. Pictured above with son Marvin, Mr. Bush apparently preferred to use an underhand grip, whereas, Marvin preferred the overhand. [I'll have to go with the elder Bush on this one]
6. Golf
A putting green was first installed on the South Lawn by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954. While most presidents since have been golfers of various abilities, playing golf on the White House lawn hasn’t always projected the best image of a person Americans expect to be working for them tirelessly.
In 1996 President Bill Clinton moved the putting green to its current location with the assistance of a professional course architect. Unless I knew better, I would guess the above was taken at a country club.
7. Billiards
After a long day of sporting around on the White House grounds with Heads of State and foreign dignitaries, where better to retire to and discuss the intricacies of international law than over a game of eight-ball, cutthroat, or snooker? The billiards table currently sits in the White House game room on the third floor in what used to be a bedroom.
Presidents as far back as John Adams had pool tables installed in various spots throughout the White House. Abraham Lincoln was a self-confessed “billiards addict”, who described the game as a “health inspiring, scientific game, lending recreation to the otherwise fatigued mind.”
Follow Tim Hurst on twitter @ecopolitologist
Images: All images except; 1. Front View of White House (Scott Ableman via flickr under a Creative Commons License)and 4. Bowling Alley Concept (Bowlers’ Proprietors Assoc. of America) come courtesy of WhiteHouseMuseum.org
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About Timothy B. Hurst
Wonderful photos !