THE PRESIDENCY: New Folks at Home

The new tenants at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue had their share of moving-in headaches. Ike Eisenhower found the bookcases empty in his White House office, and the pale green walls all but stripped of their pictures.* When Ike started to open his mail, he had to buzz for a letter opener. A little later he tugged in vain at the drawer of the broad mahogany presidential desk (which once belonged to Teddy Roosevelt). "Mr. Simmons." said Ike to Receptionist Bill Simmons, "is there a key to this desk? I can't get into this drawer." Simmons produced a key, Ike opened the...

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