The Presidency: A Mingling of Old and New

They have tugged the couches around in the Oval Office, forming a fireside rectangle for informal talking. A few of Ronald Reagan's gadgets are in place on the desk that John Kennedy retrieved from the White House basement. But a Remington bronze of a cowboy and the paintings on the curved walls are from the defunct presidency of Jimmy Carter. The huge grandfather clock installed by President Ford still thumps out its relentless rhythm. Beyond the tall windows, the sun slants across the South Lawn, where Thomas Jefferson had mounds graded to add visual interest. Fresh-cut flowers burst...

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