The biggest perk of being the President of the United States is obviously the power that comes with it. U.S. Presidents are among the most powerful people in the world. Not that everyone would welcome that amount of power and the responsibility that comes with it—according to Vanity Fair reporter Todd Purdam, who spent 24 hours with President Obama to see what his life is really like, “in the White House, every day feels like a week.”
Besides power and prestige, though, the President enjoys numerous other perks—ones we all can appreciate. Between having a huge staff at his beck and call, all kinds of recreational facilities in his own (enormous) house, and transportation tricked out like something out of a James Bond movie, the POTUS has got it good.
Here are the five best of the Presidential perks, which are awesome enough that all that pressure just might be worth it:
White House Staff
Obviously the POTUS doesn’t clean his own house, but his staff perks extend far beyond maids. He enjoys a chief usher, who is like the Presidential butler and is in charge of everyone else. Under the usher are the executive chef and his staff, who are available 24 hours per day to whip up whatever the POTUS and/or his family desire. Naturally, a specialized pastry chef is on staff as well, because the leader of the free world can’t be eating stale baked goods. The First Family enjoy the services of a social secretary who plans all their killer parties, a chief florist, and a chief calligrapher for the design of attractive official documents. Finally, the current administration enjoys the services of their long-time personal trainer, who not only makes sure the First Lady’s arms remain the envy of women all over the world, but has convinced many of the President’s staff to get fit as well.
Recreation
The White House is full of recreational awesomeness, including a movie theater, bowling alley, pool, gym, putting green, and jogging track. Since moving in, the Obamas also added tennis and basketball courts to the South Lawn (which, incidentally, now features a working beehive and organic, heirloom vegetable garden as well.)
Of course, if the President gets tired of life in the city, a quick helicopter ride takes him to his very own vacation home, Camp David, which is located on a Maryland mountaintop. Besides nature, Camp David features a pool, bowling alley, and skeet shooting range.
Air Force One
When the President travels for business or pleasure, he needn’t wait in long lines at the airport or remove his shoes and be groped by a surly TSA agent. Of course, he flies everywhere in Air Force One, which actually refers to two Boeing 747s tricked out with a full Presidential office, bathroom, bedroom, workout room, and telecommunications center. It also can comfortably hold 70 passengers and the 26-person crew. For short trips, however, the President flies in Marine One, his less luxurious helicopter.
The Presidential Car
The black limo that the POTUS rides around in looks pretty normal from the outside, but is actually a rolling security and defense unit the likes of which James Bond can only dream of. It has features so advanced and awesome, they’re actually classified, but we do know that it’s fully armored (5” thick, with doors that weigh as much as a Boeing 757 door) and that it can drive even on punctured tires. It features an oxygen supply, firefighting system, and a stash of blood matching the President’s type. Infrared video and the ability to shoot tear gas and grenades round out the movie-style awesomeness of the POTUS’s sweet ride.
Awesome Parties
U.S. Presidents have always been party givers. After all, social events are where a heck of a lot of schmoozing and real business get done. But few Presidents have had parties like the Obamas. Imagine being powerful enough—and having both the funds and the staff at your disposal—to throw any kind of party you could ever want, and know that almost anyone you invited would fall over themselves to attend. This is how the legendary B.B. King and Mick Jagger came to perform a special, private Salute to the Blues for the President and his guests just last month. Naturally, President Obama was invited to sing along, and did so with great skill. Once in a lifetime, blow-your-mind parties: one of the best Presidential perks of them all.
