THE NATION: Raising Up & Tearing Down

There were two things to be done: either tear down the White House and start anew, or save the shell and rebuild the foundations and interior. Tearing it down entirely would have saved perhaps 10% of the bill, but even the most tight-fisted Congressman found a little sentiment stirring in his breast at so crass a thought. Last week a congressional committee approved plans for the spending of $5,400,000 to restore 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a way destined to make the White House survive in all its classic glory for another 300...

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