Originally published January 10, 2009 at 12:00 AM | Page modified January 10, 2009 at 9:23 AM
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Obama's mother-in-law joins family in D.C.
Over the years, several U.S. presidents have been forced to ponder the delicate, sometimes unpleasant, question of whether to move the...
The New York Times
Capital watch
National-security team: President-elect Obama said Friday that his choices of retired Adm. Dennis Blair to manage all U.S. spy operations and Leon Panetta to head the CIA will strengthen the country's intelligence operations. Obama also named John Brennan, a former acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center and top campaign adviser on intelligence, as his White House adviser on counterterrorism.
Gone in 60 seconds: The Presidential Inaugural Committee put 5,000 tickets on sale at 1 p.m. Friday and they sold out in less than a minute, with 94 percent purchased online and the rest by phone, a Ticketmaster spokesman said. The tickets, $25 apiece, were for bleacher seats.
Bailout: The Bush administration is consulting with President-elect Obama's transition team about whether to ask Congress for the second half of the $700 billion financial-rescue package.
Chef stays: One thing won't be changing at the White House: the chef. Transition team officials said Cristeta Comerford will stay on for the Obamas.
Farewell speech? President Bush said Friday he is leaning toward giving a farewell address to the nation before he leaves office Jan. 20.
It's a gift: On behalf of the American people, Congress will give Barack Obama a $2,500 Lenox hand-cut, crystal bowl with an etching of the White House on Jan. 20.
Source: Seattle Times news services
WASHINGTON — Over the years, several U.S. presidents have been forced to ponder the delicate, sometimes unpleasant, question of whether to move the in-laws into the White House.
Ulysses Grant shared space with his father-in-law, who grumbled and squabbled with other relatives, historians say. Harry Truman lived with his mother-in-law, who said she knew "dozens of men better qualified" to preside over the Oval Office.
On Friday, the transition team of President-elect Obama confirmed that his 71-year-old mother-in-law would be moving, at least temporarily, into the grand residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Obama has said he would be delighted to have his wife's mother, Marian Robinson, join the first family in Washington.
"Mrs. Robinson will be coming with the family to help the girls get acclimated, and she will determine in the coming months whether or not she wants to stay in D.C. permanently," said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, spokeswoman for Michelle Obama.
Robinson has been the bedrock of the Obama family. During the campaign, she retired from her job as a bank secretary to care for the Obama girls, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, while their parents were on the road.
While Robinson has been the family mainstay, she has also prized her independence. She chose to work as a secretary, though her parents had preferred she become a teacher. She ran the 50- and 100-yard dashes in the Illinois senior games when she was well into her 60s.
And she has often teased her daughter, Michelle Obama, and the president-elect about their household rules for her granddaughters.
Bedtime at 8:30 p.m.? "That's ridiculous," Robinson told The Boston Globe last year, suggesting that was too early. Television for only an hour? "That's just not enough time," she said.
As for the organic foods the Obamas favor? "That's not my thing," said Robinson, who enjoys salty fried foods and dismissed efforts to make such dishes more healthful. "If you're going to have fried chicken," she said, "have fried chicken."
Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
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