The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that began way back in the 1940s. However, Ronald Reagan was the first to coin the phrase, although he didn’t technically use that word. During the ceremony, the President of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey by the National Turkey Federation. The birds are usually males selected for appearance and gobbling sounds.
The first president to officially pardon a turkey was in 1999 when President Bill Clinton pardoned ‘Harry the Turkey.” During Trump’s presidency, there was Drumstick in 2017 and Peas in 2018.
The "Nuclear" Football
Wherever the president goes, his "nuclear football" always follows closely behind. "The Football" is the nickname of the briefcase that follows Mr. President around. It is also known as the President's emergency satchel, the button, the black box, or (our personal favorite) the atomic football. The public has no idea exactly what is housed inside but you can be sure that it contains very important and secretive items. The football dates back to Eisenhower's presidency. However, its current purpose came about in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis when JFK was concerned that a Soviet commander in Cuba might launch missiles without approval from Moscow.
It's rumored that the briefcase has nuclear codes so that in the case of a nuclear attack, the president would have access to codes if needed. A small antenna protruding from the bag near the handle also suggests that the briefcase carries communications equipment of some kind. The briefcase apparently weighs roughly 45 pounds... so there must be some other top secret items hidden in there. The football, which is a metal Zero Halliburton briefcase, is held by an aide-de-camp. It is carried in a leather jacket.
The Presmobile
One perk of being the president of the United States is that you get a new car. And this is no ordinary car. For starters, it is usually referred to by names such as "The Beast," "Cadillac One" and "first Car," despite it not really being a car. This official state car of the President is currently a unique Cadillac that debuted in September, 2018.
This car is definitely not like the one that you are picking up the kids in for carpool. Actually, calling it a tank would be a more accurate title than a car. It is fitted with the essential bulletproof glass and reinforced with enough armor that it could withstand the intensity of a bomb. Thanks to its sealing capacity and internal oxygen system it can also uphold a nuclear attack. Basically, if disaster strikes, this is where you'd want to be. In an interview with CNN, Joe Funk, a former United States Secret Service agent and driver of Bill Clinton's presidential state car during part of his service, described the car. He shared that while the president is completely cut off from the outside world by the armor and bulletproof glass of the vehicle, he has at his fingertips communication capabilities including phones, satellite communications, and the Internet.
Driving in Public
One thing that the president and First Family are not able to do is operate motor vehicles on public roads. While those who are reluctant to get behind the wheel of a car may see this as a relief, many past presidents have felt as though a major privilege was being revoked from them. This can be especially burdensome for somebody like President Trump who has quite an impressive collection of cars. While having a driver to chauffeur you around is probably very convenient most of the time, there is something very liberating in driving. Some people may even call it therapeutic. But, presidents aren't allowed to drive on public roads, for safety reasons. The last president who was allowed to drive was Lyndon B. Johnson.
So you might be thinking, if the president and first family can't drive on public roads, can they drive on private ones? You bet they can. George W. Bush used to love driving his truck around his private ranch in Crawford, Texas. He shared with Jay Leno that he hasn't driven on public roads for nearly 25 years. He recently auctioned his truck for charity and raised $300,000. Ronald Reagan was also a fan of taking his jeep for a ride around his Santa Barbara property.
The First Lady Must Decorate
There is no interior designer staffed in the White House. This means that the responsibility lies on the first lady to hire an interior designer that the first family chooses. She hires the interior designer shortly after the family takes up residence in the White House. Melania Trump hired Laotian-American interior designer Tham Kannalikham. Tham got her start at Ralph Lauren Home in New York and is the owner of firm Kannalikham Designs. Women's Wear Daily noted that “While pundits and comedians have mused about the likelihood of an Oval Office adorned with gold and marble accents … their White House is likely to be more toned down given Kannalikham’s ethos.” Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, former senior adviser to the first lady, told Women's Wear Daily prior to the inauguration "Mrs. Trump has a deep appreciation for the historical aspects of the White House and with Tham’s traditional design and expertise, they are focusing on a seamless integration of elegance and comfort into where the President, the First Lady, and [their son] Barron will be spending their family time and calling their home."
The designer assumes the role of redesigning and organizing the White House. But, the historical rooms are to be left untouched. For these rooms, there is a designated curator on staff to ascertain that the historical artifacts are being appropriately cared for. The tradition of redecorating is usually a light and public affair, with the first lady happy to share all the decor details to curious Americans. Michelle Obama, for instance, regularly shared information about her designs with Vogue or Architectural Digest. The First Lady isn't required to disclose this information. Considering the rather reclusive life that Melania Trump lives, it doesn't come as a surprise that she has chosen not to share much about the newly redesigned private quarters at the White House. It was reported, however, that before Donald Trump even moved into the White House, Melania Trump already had plans to set up a designated room for hair, makeup, and wardrobe, according to Vanity Fair. Her longtime makeup artist supposedly said, “Melania wants a room with the most perfect lighting scenario.” That “perfect lighting” would “make our jobs as a creative team that much more efficient, since great lighting can make or break any look.” Apparently, it takes an hour and a half of zero interruptions to do Melania's makeup.