I’ve toured The White House a couple times. Like many other buildings in our nation’s capitol, it seemed almost like a shrine — a spiritual symbol of the American ethos, our shared heritage. A picture of my family with the stately executive mansion in the background hangs in my home, where I enjoy seeing it every day.
It’s not an exaggeration to say I experienced awe, walking through spaces where giants of history had walked and events of monumental significance had taken place. Standing in the East Room, viewing the portrait of George Washington that later First Lady Dolley Madison rescued before British troops burned the building during the War of 1812, literally sent shivers down my spine.
It is a building designed to reflect its significance. Begun during the presidency of our first chief executive, George Washington, it was first inhabited by John Adams, our second president. At the time, no doubt, early Americans felt they needed a building with gravitas that showed The United States of America deserved to be counted among the sovereign nations of the world, but with a subdued nature that reflected the democratic nature of the new nation, not the aristocratic excesses of the old world.
They succeeded.
The building has changed over the centuries. A growing nation and the accompanying growing government required more space for the growing work force within. The east and west wings were added for that purpose and designed thoughtfully, with the symmetry that is naturally appealing to human eyes.
The interior of the building was extensively renovated during the last century, allowing the then-ancient structure to continue being a useful space. Again, thoughtful design was brought into play. The interior retained its historic charm and the only exterior change was the addition of the “Truman Balcony,” which overlooks the South Lawn.
Recently, the current tenant of “The People’s House” had the nerve center of the building, The Oval Office, redone — adding so much cheesy gold trim that it seems less like a serious seat of power than like the parlor of a cathouse in an old western movie.
It’s a fitting symbol of his character, if not of our nation.
As sad as it was to see The Oval Office cheapened, it’s sadder yet to see what’s happening to the East Wing.
As we all know by now, Trump is demolishing the wing — including the walkway designed by Thomas Jefferson, to make space for a giant ballroom that he, no doubt, will name after himself.
When he announced plans for the ballroom, Trump said the new structure “won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”
He lied, of course. It’s what he does.
The extent of his lie became evident this week, as the East Wing began to disappear, chewed up by demolition equipment.
The Trump Monstrosity, as it shall always be called in this column, will be 90,000 square feet in size — almost double the size The White House was before it began getting smaller this week. For reference, a football field is 57,600 square feet, if you include the endzones.
This is going to be horrible — an enormous pimple on the face of history, and for no good reason. Even the cherished East Room will be torn open, turned into an anteroom for The Trump Monstrosity.
Estimates for the construction are in the $250 million range. Trump says it’s being done with private funding, but we should remember this is the same guy who said Mexico would pay for his border wall.
This isn’t anything our nation needs. It’s nothing more or less than a symbol of the most monumental ego that has ever haunted The People’s House — a place that has harbored many an enormous ego during its more than two centuries of existence. It’s an insult to our history, our nation and the many who love them.