Hillary Clinton banned smoking in the White House during the Clinton years -- possibly to keep her hubby's cigars in his pockets. I'm not sure what Bush's policy was, and Obama's "public" policy is no smoking allowed in the White House, though I have doubts as to whether he's observed that policy privately throughout his time there. read more
In today’s heightened state of domestic security, it’s hard to imagine the White House once allowed Washington, D.C. residents to freely gather on the South Lawn for a concert. But that's exactly what they did from 1842 until the 1930s, inviting the United States Marine Band to perform every Saturday afternoon from June to September. read more