The Strict Rules that the First Family Needs to Follow in the White House

Published on March 18, 2021
It’s no secret that many benefits come with being President of the United States and being part of the First Family. However, there’s corresponding responsibility that comes with these perks. Being the leader of the US doesn’t necessarily mean that they can do whatever they want. Several rules are required to be followed or else severe consequences may follow. In some cases, these rules are daily activities that are commonly taken for granted by most of us. Here are some of the most unexpected traditions and rules that the First Family needs to respect while living in the White House.

No Opening the Windows

There’s a lot of restrictions when it comes to residing in the US’s most historical and well-known White House. Some of these restrictions might seem odd to the public, including that no windows can be opened, which Michelle Obama mentioned missing.

No Opening The Windows

No Opening The Windows

Michelle’s Experience

The former First Lady, Michelle Obama, has gone on to state that she missed being able to open a window and let some fresh air in during her time in the White House. She even joked in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres about spending some time by a window when she moves out of the White House.

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Michelle’s Experience

Michelle’s Experience

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A Presidential Funeral

One of the first things a president of the US needs to take care of is when coming into office is his funeral. This might sound shocking by insiders have revealed that this funeral plan is developed in case something occurs during their presidency.

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A Presidential Funeral

A Presidential Funeral

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Planning a Presidential Funeral

A presidential funeral typically lasts for five days and is lined with arranged ceremonies. Due to this, such a burial is a massive ordeal. In total, eight US presidents have passed away during their team and four of these presidents were assassinated.

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Planning A Presidential Funeral

Planning A Presidential Funeral

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Moving into the White House

This might be a surprising revelation, but the First Family is required to pay for their move into the White House. During this process, the family can choose the moving company they want. However, these movers aren’t allowed inside the White House.

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Moving Into The White House

Moving Into The White House

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Moving Day

After the moving truck arrives at the checkpoint, it falls on the First Family’s own hands to move everything inside the White House. Only the residence staff can help with the move at this point. This procedure also applies when moving out of the White House.

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Moving Day

Moving Day

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The Rule for Driving

The First Family isn’t allowed to drive. None of the members can drive on public roads for safety reasons. Lyndon B. Johnson was the last US President who was allowed to drive on public roads. However, these members of the First Family can drive on private roads.

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The Rule For Driving

The Rule For Driving

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The Interior Design

The White House isn’t equipped with its own interior design. Due to this, it’s the First Lady’s responsibility to hire one. This hiring process is conducted as soon as the family moves into the White House. This interior designer then needs to follow the interior design rules of the White House.

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The Interior Design

The Interior Design

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The Role of the Interior Design

This chosen interior designer is responsible for redesigning and organizing the White House. However, this interior designer doesn’t have the authority to redesign the historical rooms, as these can never be touched. A curator is included in White House staff ensures that the ancient artifacts are properly cared for.

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The Role Of The Interior Design

The Role Of The Interior Design

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The Infamous Football

During the president’s travels, he always brings ‘The Football’ with him. This isn’t an actual football, but a briefcase that contains contents unknown by the general public. However, it’s extremely important and many believe it has nuclear codes in case of an attack.

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The Infamous Football

The Infamous Football

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The Easter Egg Roll

The White House tradition known as the Easter Egg Roll started in 187, but many suspect this tradition to have started during President Lincoln’s time. During this event, children roll Easter eggs with a spoon on the White House lawn.

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The Easter Egg Roll

The Easter Egg Roll

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Easter Sunday

The event is held annually on Easter Sunday and the only time this event has been called off is during major construction on the White House and wartime. First Lady Nancy Reagan began the custom where all participants receive a wooden Easter egg spoon after the event.

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Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

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Assess to Rooms

A common misconception that the public believes is that the First Family has complete control over the White House. This isn’t true as the White House can be seen as a museum and there are various rooms that members don’t have access to, such as the Lincoln Bedroom.

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Assess To Rooms

Assess To Rooms

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The Rules for Decorating

When it comes to re-decorating, the First Family is required to get approval from the historical committee for some decoration changes in the White House. This is the committee that oversees the White House. However, the family can freely decorate the second and third floors.

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The Rules For Decorating

The Rules For Decorating

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The Beast

In addition to the White House, the president of the US also receives a new car. This vehicle is called by many names including ‘Cadillac One,’ ‘The Beat,’ and ‘First Car.’ Its design includes bulletproof glass that’s reinforced with armor that can withstand a bomb.

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The Beast

The Beast

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The Christmas Trees

First Lady Jackie Kennedy started a tradition in 1961 that involves Christmas tree themes. This tradition continues until today. The first Christmas tree theme was Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker’ and was introduced during her husband’s first year in office. Other themes have included ‘Antique Toy’ and ‘American Flower Tree.’

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The Christmas Trees

The Christmas Trees

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January 20th

The date January 20th is significant because this is when a new president is inaugurated. The predecessor is remaining in the residence until January 19th, so the newly-elected president can only move in on January 20th and has a mere 12 hours to do so.

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January 20th

January 20th

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The Procedure for Moving in

Many security issues come with moving into the White House. For these security risks, the new First Family is only allowed 12 hours to move into their new residence. The fastest record goes to the Obamas who took five hours to move into the White House.

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The Procedure For Moving In

The Procedure For Moving In

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Eating Expenses

The presidents of the US don’t live on the hard-earned money from taxpayers. Instead, the president and his family are required to pay for their dry cleaning, toiletries, groceries, food, as well as other personal services and items they deem necessary.

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Eating Expenses

Eating Expenses

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Pardoning a Turkey

The White House is home to an ongoing ceremony that entails the sitting president to pardon a turkey on Thanksgiving. This presentation is a tradition that dates back to 1940. Ronald Reagan was the first president to pardon a turkey.

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Pardoning A Turkey

Pardoning A Turkey

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Continuously Under Surveillance

There’s no doubt that an individual loses some of their common liberties when they become a member of the First Family. One of these common liberties is having the freedom to go somewhere by yourself. You’re constantly being monitored by the secret service as a member of the First Family.

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Continuously Under Surveillance

Continuously Under Surveillance

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The Secret Service

The secret service has an essential role to guard the President constantly. In addition to the US president, this secret service is also responsible for guarding all the members of the First Family and the vice president’s family. These family members are always watched by the secret service.

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The Secret Service

The Secret Service

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No iPhones are Allowed

A US president doesn’t have access to the newest and latest technology. This is done to maintain security. Barack Obama was the first president to own a smartphone during his term, which was a Blackberry. However, it wasn’t any ordinary Blackberry.

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No IPhones Are Allowed

No IPhones Are Allowed

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Obama’s Blackberry

Although Barack Obama was given access to a smartphone, this wasn’t any phone. It was heavily modified and encrypted to ensure nobody could remotely access it. In an interview with Oprah, Obama reviewed that his phone could be compared to a phone you got a three-year-old to play with.

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Obama's Blackberry

Obama’s Blackberry

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The Decoration Budget

One hundred thousand US dollars is reversed for the redecoration of the White House. Due to this, the First Family doesn’t have the means to entirely redesign the entire property. Any expenses above this budget need to come out of the family’s pockets.

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The Decoration Budget

The Decoration Budget

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Past Presidency Decoration Projects

The Carters used this entire decoration budget and added an extra $50,000 from their pocket. On the other hand, the Reagans choose to not use the allocated budget and all expenses for redecorating came out of their own wallets.

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Past Presidency Decoration Projects

Past Presidency Decoration Projects

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Convertible Vehicles

It’s widely known that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while he was riding in a convertible. Due to this, any president after this incident is prohibited from sitting in a convertible vehicle. This only shows how dangerous it is to take on being the president of the US.

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Convertible Vehicles

Convertible Vehicles

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Secure Lines of Communication

One of the most crucial rules for any sitting president is that they only make calls from secure lines. This concerns private and personal calls. All incoming and outgoing calls for the US present are directed on a secure line for national security purposes.

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Secure Lines Of Communication

Secure Lines Of Communication

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Addressing Security Vulnerabilities

A White House expert has revealed that smartphones belonging to high-level government officials are targets for foreign intelligence services, including the US president. For this reason, the US government goes through significant efforts to ensure these phones remain updated to address security vulnerabilities.

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Addressing Security Vulnerabilities

Addressing Security Vulnerabilities

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Every Minute of the Day is Scheduled

It’s not an exaggeration to state that every minute of the president’s day is scheduled. For many reasons, it’s almost impossible to squeeze something into this schedule if it isn’t planned. Obama tried to organize an impromptu basketball game but it was stopped by the secret services.

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Every Minute Of The Day Is Scheduled

Every Minute Of The Day Is Scheduled

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The Correspondents’ Dinner

It isn’t a rule for the US president to come to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. However, it is a tradition that they attend for some humor that’s at their own expense. Pop culture icons, athletes, comedians, and journalists are the individuals who typically attend this event.

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The Correspondents’ Dinner

The Correspondents’ Dinner

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Earning Additional Money

The sitting US president isn’t permitted to earn additional income outside of their government salary, which is four hundred thousand dollars each year. If a president owns their own business, they need to separate from this entity when taking on the role of president.

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Earning Additional Money

Earning Additional Money

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The Rules for Social Media

The First Children don’t have much access to social media accounts. During their time in the White House, Malia and Sasha weren’t allowed Twitter accounts and had limited access to Facebook. However, Michelle seemed to like this restriction as she doesn’t want her kids to partaking in Facebook.

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The Rules For Social Media

The Rules For Social Media

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The Protection of the US President

After the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, the US Congress passed a law that officially made the secret service responsible for the protection of the US president and their family. However, some members of the First Family refuse to be protected by the secret service.

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The Protection Of The US President

The Protection Of The US President

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Car Windows

The First Family is escorted in an armored vehicle. The windows of this armored car aren’t allowed to be opened. However, there are some rare moments where these car windows are opened, but this is only when the car is on private property.

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Car Windows

Car Windows

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The First Ladies

It’s a White House tradition for the incoming and outgoing First Ladies to sit down and have tea together after an election. In a recent event, Michelle Obama had met Melania Trump to discuss the unusual life in the White House.

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The First Ladies

The First Ladies

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Breaking the Law

Although it might seem like the US president is above the law, it only makes sense for these individuals to abide by these laws as they are the ones who sign the bills into laws. For this reason, US presidents are like any other American citizen when it comes to lawbreaking.

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<> On June 18, 2018 In Washington, DC.

Breaking the Law

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The Declaring of War

The president might have tremendous amounts of power. However, he can’t declare war on another country. Only the US Congress has the power to declare war, as this is part of the Constitution. The last time war was declared was during the Second World War.

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The Declaring Of War

The Declaring Of War

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The Annual Hanukkah Party

President Jimmy Carter began hosting an annual Hanukkah Party in 1979. However, the president lit the menorah outside the White House. In 2001, President George Bush was the first present to light the menorah inside the White House during this party.

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The Annual Hanukkah Party

The Annual Hanukkah Party

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The Grand Piano

The First Family has the freedom to redecorate most rooms in the White House, some furnishings can’t be touched. We have already listed a few. However, one of the most famous is the Grand Piano. It can be played by never removed from its place.

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The Grand Piano

The Grand Piano

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