These days, everyone thinks of our President's ranch in Crawford, Texas as the "Western White House." And though it certainly is the current one, there have been numerous Western White Houses before. The LBJ Ranch was referred to as such and was also located in Central Texas. President Nixon had Casa Pacifica in San Clemente as his original White House-away-from-the Washington Press Corps-White House. President Reagan's Rancho del Cielo northwest of Santa Barbara, California once was used to entertain Mikhail Gorbachev and was a spot Reagan referred to as "heaven." Roosevelt wins the award for the most western Western White House, having worked from a hotel in Hawaii for part of WWII. What president wouldn't want to get out of the way for a bit given the scrutiny over everything they're subjected to every day? TheEastBayKid understands.
Man, it's tough. If you've got a gay colleague, a relative with Alzheimer's, or a buddy who gives you rides in his shockingly refined LS460 L, it can really turn your life upside down. Best to stay on the ranch—the world can be a scary place.
Bill Clinton is actually the only president in recent history that didn't maintain another, government-funded residence during his term... though we hear he found ways of entertaining himself in the White House. [Photo: Texas Parks & Wildlife]