The staff is readying for the arrival. The 44th President and the incoming First Lady come to the White House Monday. First Lady Laura Bush will host Mrs. Michelle Obama. It is expected Mrs. Bush will tour Mrs. Obama around the White House, in particular the second floor of the Residence. Mrs. Obama has never seen the second floor, the private portion containing the family quarters and the Lincoln Bedroom. President George Bush and President-Elect Barack Obama will meet in the Oval Office. The Obama children are not expected to make the visit.
The White House Historical Association previously sent Ms. Obama books on the White House and all that it encompasses. The family portion of the residence is something overseen by the White House Historical Association. The family quarters contains the personal furniture of a presidential family. If Mrs. Obama wants to change furniture in the other sections of the second floor like the Lincoln Bedroom, Queens Bedroom, and the sitting rooms, the White House Historical Association would get involved. They are the funding source for those expensive changes.
Those rooms, to include the Lincoln Bedroom, house modern technology and antiques. For instance, in the Lincoln Bedroom a flat screen television is hidden inside the doors of an antique armoire.
An African American ushers the Obamas into the Executive Mansion Residence and heads there transiton into their new life at the White House. Rear Admiral Steve Rochon is the director of the Executive Residence and will be working closely with the Obamas as they transition into their new life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Rear Admiral Rochon is a New Orleans native who has a passion for history and historic preservation. His mentor was a fellow member of the Coast Guard, the late author of Roots, Alex Haley.
Rochon was hired by President Bush in 2007 as Chief Usher and Director of the Executive Residence. At that time he left the Coast Guard and 36 years of public service to work at the People’s House. President Bush said of Rochon, “Admiral Rochon is a gifted leader and experienced manager who will be a great addition to the White House and the Residence staff.”
