Homes of Presidents Before They Became President

See Where Presidents Lived in D.C. Before Entering the White House

Aug 15, 2009

Seeing the Washington, D.C., homes of presidents and first ladies when they were still private citizens offers a glimpse into the lives of these famous men and women.

When watching presidents greet world leaders at the White House or walk across the South Lawn to their waiting helicopter, it can be easy to forget that before arriving at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., most presidents and first ladies lived like the rest of us – in regular homes in regular neighborhoods (although admittedly, some of those neighborhoods may be more affluent than your average American neighborhood).

Chances are that most visitors to Washington, D.C., have seen the White House and perhaps even taken a tour of the mansion. They may have even ventured outside the city into Virginia to visit George Washington's home at Mount Vernon or Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville, both open to the public. But most visitors probably have not seen where recent presidents lived in Washington before they became the most powerful men in the world. Seeing the homes and neighborhoods where they lived offers a glimpse into a part of their lives few people know about.

Barack Obama and George H.W. Bush

When he arrived in Washington as a junior United States Senator from Illinois in 2005, Barack Obama rented a small apartment in this brick townhouse at 227 6th Street N.E. on Capitol Hill, just about six blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building. He lived here during the week when the Senate was in session, while Michelle Obama and their daughters stayed in Chicago. By all accounts, the digs were modest. In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes shortly after the 2008 election, Obama said, "I used to get teased, not just by Michelle, but by my own staff. They'd say, 'You know, you're the only senator that has a worse apartment than your 25-year-old staff people.'"

George H.W. and Barbara Bush lived in a 6,200-square-foot house at 5161 Palisade Lane N.W. near Sibley Hospital during the 1970s, when Bush was named envoy to China. The Bushes held on to the house during their time in China, and returned here when he was named director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon

Gerald Ford chose to live across the Potomac River in the Clover neighborhood of nearby Alexandria, Virginia, at 514 Crown View Drive. He and Betty Ford had this unassuming house built in 1955 in which to raise their family, and they lived here until he became president in 1974 upon Richard Nixon's resignation. Ford actually spent the first 10 days of his presidency in this house as he waited for the White House staff to prepare the mansion for his arrival.

Richard and Pat Nixon lived at 4801 Tilden Street N.W. in D.C.'s affluent Spring Valley neighborhood for six years during the 1950s before moving to a larger house at 4308 Forest Lane N.W. in nearby Wesley Heights, which had more space for the entertaining required in his position as vice president.

Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy

Located just a few blocks from the Nixons' Tilden Street home, Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson lived in this gated chauteau-style mansion at 4040 52nd Street N.W., called "The Elms," while Johnson served as John F. Kennedy's vice president. The future president reportedly joked that "Every time somebody calls it a chateau, I lose 50,000 votes back in Texas." He returned to this home the night of November 22, 1963, not long after being sworn in as president following Kennedy's assassination in Dallas earlier that day.

John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy lived in a brick Federal-style Georgetown townhouse at 3307 N Street N.W. while he served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and up until his inauguration as president in January 1961. After the election, Kennedy held several press conferences on the front steps of this home, and on the day of his inauguration, he walked out the front door for the last time and was driven to the White House.

Before Visiting These Homes

Seeing where presidents lived can be interesting for anyone who enjoys presidential history, but everyone should follow some ground rules before seeking out these homes. They should understand that the houses are still privately owned, so everyone should be respectful of the current occupants' privacy. They should not knock on the front doors, trespass on the properties, or even take pictures. Visitors should not act like tourists, and instead quietly enjoy exploring the neighborhoods where presidents and first ladies once strolled.

McCarthy, Ellen, "Navigating History -- #44," The Washington Post, Weekend Section, January 16, 2009.

Parmet, Herbert S., George Bush: The Life of a Lone Star Yankee, Easton Press: 2000, p. 173.

Long & Foster Realtors, "New Listings -- 5161 Palisade Lane NW" (Advertisement), Washington, D.C., December 10, 2004.

Shapira, Ian, "Ford's Former Home Languishes on Market," The Washington Post, December 28, 2006.

Argetsinger, Amy, and Roberts, Roxanne, "The Reliable Source -- Surreal Estate," The Washington Post, July 12, 2007, p. C-3

President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, "Exhibit No. 355: Vice President Detail, Office 1-22, Daily Shift Report -- November 22, 1963," Washington, D.C.: Final Report, September 24, 1964.

Author Unknown, "The President-Elect: Life With Father," Time Magazine, December 12, 1960.

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