An Irreverence to Custom opus 869
| 13 June 2026 1408 Hours | | Politics, Current Events, Custom, Ethics, History, Law, Philosophy, Psychology |
Many presidents have lived in the people's White House.
Each one has made relatively tasteful changes to the surroundings.
Examples include many interior and exterior renovations,
Including temporary decor, structural overhauls,
Exterior expansions, and several recreational additions.
1800. Thomas Jefferson added the East and West Colonnades.
1829. Andrew Jackson commissioned the North Portico.
1902. Theodore Roosevelt established an Executive Office,
The first West Wing, and moved offices away from the residence.
1909. William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and
Constructed the first actual Oval Office.
1934 - 1942. Franklin D. Roosevelt increased the size
Of the West Wing and, during wartime, created the East Wing.
1948 - 1952. Harry S. Truman ordered a multi-year gutting
Of the White House, with a steel frame interior rebuilt.
These previous changes were logical, tasteful,
And with authorization from Congress.
Now we have a president who started by paving
The Kennedy Rose Garden with tiles, building to a crescendo,
Continuing with the destruction of the East Wing
To build a still-potential ballroom.
This ballroom project was not authorized by Congress,
Commencing with cryptic speed to establish an illegal entity.
For our 250th anniversary the president has gone one giant step further.
A huge, monstrous construction quickly appeared on the White House lawn.
It was a 5000-seat octagon cage stadium, overwhelming the surroundings.
Must our country's anniversary be highlighted by violent staged fighting?
Many changes have occurred around the White House property,
But this one may be unspeakably, just absolutely too much.
The quotes are: ". . .something . . . that's quite attractive to a lot of people."
"It's going to have the big UFC fight on June 14."
"And I'm looking at it, and maybe we'll never ever take it down."