-By Warner Todd Huston
Leftist lunatics are suddenly all outraged over President Trump’s plans for the East Wing of the White House and the new ballroom. But here’s the thing… it isn’t a sudden plan at all. The plans were well known and fully public and made apparent in July. So, why no outrage before when the plans were announced?
But, let’s talk about the East Wing. Is it “historic” like some of these braindead leftists are saying? Not all so much, as it turns out.
The East Wing was built starting in 1942 and meant to be a suite of offices. But the biggest reason it was created is so that Franklin Delano Roosevelt could build an underground bunker. The offices were just the cover for the construction.
What offices are in the wing? Nothing super important, really. The biggest occupant of the East Wing has been the first lady. It has been where the first lady’s offices have been located since FDR finished the construction. But “the office of the first lady” is just a traditional sop. It isn’t an “official” office. That is why “first lady” is not capitalized in histories and news stories. It isn’t an actual office or title. It is just a traditional appellation.
The East Wing also has housed the social director’s office and a small theater. It has a reception desk where visitors are held after being approved by security, a long hallway, a coat room, and that is about it. In other words, the East Wing contains nothing super important or key to the operation of the White House. The whole wing is a bit of wasted space in many ways.
Now, what is the new ballroom supposed to do? Well, for one it is supposed to be a better place to entertain than the White House East Room (which is in the original White House, not in the East Wing). The East Room has often been the place for receptions. But the East Room is only about 80 by 37 feet and is not really that big for large gatherings. By the way, Abe Lincoln refurbished the East Room in 1861, so let’s not get all excited about the White House itself being untouchable!
The new ballroom is expected to give the White House space to hold full-sized state dinners and other events that are currently impossible at the White House facility today. The new facility will have the room needed to facilitate large events and handle the security and media presence required at such things in today’s climate.
The truth is, there is nothing especially “historic” or vital in the East Wing of the White House. Nothing of a truly historic nature ever occurred there. It was never the scene of any major event or historic scene. It houses no vitally important office or facility. And it isn’t even that old.
So, in the end, if you are all filled with heartache and your head is pounding over the construction of the new East Wing and presidential ballroom, it isn’t because you are swooning over any loss of “history,” It is because you are mentally deranged over Donald Trump.
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