A tale of two presidential vacation homes:

[MineralMan]

Here's the home Bill and Hillary Clinton rented in the Hamptons:


Here's the home another Democratic President owned for vacations, etc.

[HassleCat]

1. A couple questions

Does this mean the Clintons are like the Roosevelts? Should Roosevelt have sold his family home? I don't get the point of this.

[MineralMan]

3. It's just photos of two luxurious homes where Presidents have stayed.

Both are very nice. Big, too.

[cali]

14. Hyde Park is not the Hamptons.

[MineralMan]

19. Pretty nice neighborhood, though, along

the Hudson. Lots of mansions along that stretch. Some have been converted into schools and other things, but at the time, it was a very, very tony place to live. But that's historic stuff. It was an area loaded with mansions, though. Summer homes for the tycoons, they were.

[cali]

23. it has never had anything like the reputation of the Hamptons

The Hamptons is the Newport of our time. Nantucket is very elite but it doesn't have the reputation of the Hamptons. As I said, it's an archetype.

[MineralMan]

24. Frankly, it was before my time. So, I have no sense of that region's

reputation at that time. I suppose I could go research it, but I have work to do.

You might be interested in this, though:

http://untappedcities.com/2014/09/23/27-historic-estates-to-visit-in-new-yorks-hudson-valley/

[cali]

27. I'm familiar with the area. there are some lovely properties

[MineralMan]

31. Different times, different areas.

The Hudson Valley was home to many of the super-rich, back in time. It has a long, long history of that. It's less prestigious now as a summer home (mansion) location. The Hamptons are more popular these days among the moneyed class. Times change.

[Raine1967]

61. It used to be, The Vanderbilts have a historical site just up the road from FDR. And

up the road from that the Astor estate existed. Above that was where the Livingstons had mansions, there were many hermitages etc;, and a little farther up north is Olana. The Valley was pretty much the Hamptons of its time.

The Hudson Valley is chock full of very wealthy estates and mansions that people can tour.

The valley was where the rich took the trains to get away from NYC.

[sabrina 1]

64. That's what was so great about FDR. He could have been so removed from ordinary people

as most of his 'class' were, but he had the rare ability to use his position to BENEFIT those who were less fortunate.

A very rare trait in people as wealthy as he was.

Wish more of the wealthy could emulate him, but it takes something special in a person with his background to be able to relate so well with all kinds of people.

[tk2kewl]

2. .

[Autumn]

4. And there is the tale of two presidents. Much more revealing than a home and a vacation home

[MineralMan]

6. It just goes to show you.

Houses are not Presidents. Presidents often stay in large houses, whether they live in them or vacation in them. Lots of people around Presidents, whether sitting or former.

That has nothing to do with policies.

[Autumn]

7. Interestingly enough FDR's father originally bought that place for $40,000

because a stable and a horse track had been built already. FDR and his Mother added to it and remodeled. They donated the estate to the American people in 1941 and in 1945 the family relinquished their rights and it became a national historic site. A lot of history in that house.

[MineralMan]

8. There is a lot of history in it, for sure.

I've visited it. Lots of history in all presidential homes, really. Presidents make history.

Many Presidents have lived in very large, luxurious houses. They're prominent people, and often pretty wealthy. Not all, of course, but many. That has little to do with policies, which is the point of my OP.

[Autumn]

9. It has a lot to do with politics MM. That's why you posted the pictures of both houses and

labeled them as to who owned what and who rented what and posted your OP in GDP, General Discussion Primaries. It was a good contrast you did there. The picture of FDR signing in to law the Glass Steagall Act and the one of Bill Clinton signing legislation to end the Glass Steagall Act were nice contrasts also. A tale of two president's no matter which way you look at it.

[MineralMan]

11. Politics is full of contrasting memes.

So is history. Only when we look at a broad view do we get an accurate photo. Where politicians live or where they vacation is just a tiny sliver of who they are. When we look at things through a microscope, we see only very little parts, much enlarged.

[Autumn]

18. Springwood was also known as a summer White House.

Last edited Tue Aug 25, 2015, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

A lot of FDR's political associates as well as other prominent national and international figures visited there. One the eve of his elections he and his political associates would go there and when he would win he would deliver his victory speech from the front terrace. He was born and raised there, it was his home, it was not a rented vacation house. for you to say that

FDR owned that house for vacations

is a new low, even for you.

[cali]

20. it's all about perspective. in politics a tiny sliver can loom large

Last edited Tue Aug 25, 2015, 11:53 AM - Edit history (1)

whether it's Michael Dukakis in a tank or an off hand comment about a cloth coat. Politics 101.

[whathehell]

54. +10 n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

45. Much better

This shows what really matters, and whom both served.

[Armstead]

5. sure Roosevelt lived large

But he also stood up against his own class to challenge the Oligarchs of that era and make life better for average folks.

Haven't seen much evidence of that from the Clintons.

[tk2kewl]

28. he also didn't use his political career as a means to become rich

he was rich to be gin with

[packman]

10. Here's another ex-president's home/vacation home

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

By today's standards, small rooms and wooden floors - really not that grand.

[MineralMan]

13. Got any photos of the slave quarters at Monticello? I do:

[packman]

21. I say - quite sarcastically-

Is that the slave's vacation home? Looks rather rustic,

I toured Jefferson's home with a group back in the early 60's and I remember someone bringing up his relationship to his slaves and I recall how the tour guide became visually upset . She obfuscated the question and we moved on to admire the dumbwaiter, desk and other things. Never got into the back yard, so to speak, to tour the slave's quarters.

[longship]

25. It's a beauty, though.

I've visited there twice in my life. Both memorable. It is an astounding place.

[cali]

12. I don't have any kind of a problem with the Clintons vacationing

in the Hamptons. He's a former president, she's a candidate for the presidency as well as a former SoS and senator. Where do people think they should vacation. Is it good optics in a race where populism is a dominant theme? That's a different matter. The problem with the hamptons is that it's the archetype of snooty, posh socialite summer destinations. Hyde Park? Not so much.

[MineralMan]

15. I don't do "optics."

As you say, where a former President and First Lady vacation is irrelevant, even if the former First Lady is a candidate for President. It's not a valid issue, really. As you also say, "Where do people think they should vacation?"

[cali]

16. you don't, but so what? Millions of voters do.

And optics have destroyed more than a few candidates, and hurt many more. Politics 101.

[leftofcool]

48. Vacations homes usually are the last thing on a list for voters to worry about.

Optics are rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Those who do care about optics won't vote for Hillary anyway.

[cali]

53. lol. tell Mike Dukakis that optics don't matter.

Ask any political consultant or pundit or candidate.

[leftofcool]

56. I usually concern myself with issues like Black Lives Matter etal, not optics

But thank you.

[cali]

58. I've seen your posts here.

Knowing about how politics works does not preclude caring about issues. And you spend quite a bit of time focused on the politics- discussing such things as why it's great that Clinton is spending millions on polling.

[classof56]

17. That does it! I'm votin' for FDR!

[MineralMan]

22. Me, too. Oh, wait, he died

before I was born. Truman was President when I was born, just over a week before Hiroshima. Oddly enough, I had a friend in college who was born the same day, in the Manzanar internment camp. He didn't remember the camp, since it closed in November, 1945, but had photos. His parents lost everything and had to start over.

History is a funny thing, I think. A lot depends on where you were standing when it was made.

[classof56]

46. Actually, one of my first clear memories was of the day FDR died.

Lots of sad family members, I do recall that, as well. In college, I had a friend who, along with her family, had been sent to one of the internment camps, where her younger sister was born. Did not realize the full impact of that ugly part of our nation's history until many years later, actually when I met my friend. I agree with your take on history--it does indeed depend on where we are when it's happening, and I think it's sad but true that if we don't learn from it we're doomed to repeat it.

Always like your posts. Keep 'em coming!

[MineralMan]

47. Thanks. The internment camps were a surprise to me.

I didn't hear much about them until I was in high school, and learned much more from my college friend. Not one of this country's finest hours.

[whatchamacallit]

26. Guess I'm missing the 'tale'

[MineralMan]

29. What tale? I posted a very simple pair of photos, and left the

interpretation up to the individual DUer to make. How people interpret facts varies from individual to individual.

[whatchamacallit]

30. And titled it

"A tale of two presidential vacation homes"

[MineralMan]

32. That's quite true. That was my title for the thread.

The photos tell the story. It's a simple one. How you interpret it is up to you.

[whatchamacallit]

35. I see

It's a simple story... left entirely up to interpretation...

[MineralMan]

37. Exactly.

[Oilwellian]

51. but he doesn't do optics

[NV Whino]

33. Um, you might want to re read your headline.

[MineralMan]

36. A picture's worth a thousand words.

The images tell the tale. I read the title as I wrote it.

[cali]

43. it's completely inaccurate as Hyde Park was not a vacation home. period.

[Autumn]

50. I was impressed so I googled pics of Bill and Hillary's home

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pics+of+Bill+and+Hillary+Clintons+NY+home&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=809&tbm=isch&imgil=ozavhfQ8ABL5nM%253A%253BWmFPruJIQja0sM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fcontact.photoshelter.com%25252Fimage%25252FI0000HQ6WjXMBk7U&source=iu&pf=m&fir=ozavhfQ8ABL5nM%253A%252CWmFPruJIQja0sM%252C_&usg=__caYGkPnSoSWD8IjgTMZngUgF-OA%3D&ved=0CDEQyjdqFQoTCJzV0enoxMcCFYHMgAodbAEHig&ei=8q3cVZyUCoGZgwTsgpzQCA#imgrc=ozavhfQ8ABL5nM%3A&usg=__caYGkPnSoSWD8IjgTMZngUgF-OA%3D

A picture's worth a thousand words is right.

[zappaman]

34. I think its some sort of Dr. Suess thing.

Here are two houses.
One is big and one is small.
Some people own no house at all.

The sky is blue and the grass is green.
This is the best OP you have ever seen!

[whatchamacallit]

38. Hahaha

[Bonobo]

39. Yeah, yeah you totally nailed it, man!

[NV Whino]

41. !

Good one!

[cali]

42. the narrative is that a very wealthy person can be a great president, and

The subtext is conflating Hillary with FDR. Of course the differences between the two are pretty stark on a number of levels. FDR battled the moneyed class ferociously. Hillary and Bill have worked to be part of it. The moneyed class loathed FDR. Many of them are Hillary's are Hillary's biggest supporters. FDR had a strong record of what we now call economic justice. Hillary does not.

There's more to the op's narrative: He stressed that the picture of the house in the Hamptons is a rental whereas the Hyde Park was owned. As we know the Clintons own an estate in Westchester and a very expensive house in D.C. Also, Hyde Park wasn't a vacation home. It was Roosevelt's birthplace and his lifelong home.

We see this clumsy attempt to link Roosevelt with Hillary fairly often here.

[whatchamacallit]

44. Ah...

Thanks for the context. The author was encouraging me to just make up anything I liked.

[Autumn]

49. I looked up pictures of Hillary's home. Wow

their house is was nice too, probably even nicer than FDR's

[adigal]

40. The Clintons like to live well. This surprises who?

What I'd like to see is where Bernie vacations.

[liberal N proud]

52. I have houses in my neighborhood that big

So what's the problem?

I guess you would prefer they live in something like this:

[leftofcool]

57. In mine too and I live on a lake.

[postatomic]

55. Before Edwards imploded

I recall many of his "progressive" supporters justifying his mega-Mansion home.

[SixString]

59. Wrong again, minman.

Hyde Park wasn't a vacation home.
You should self-delete this tripe.

[MineralMan]

60. There you are again.

Sorry. I won't be deleting this.

[postatomic]

62. Check out where a Democrat lives RENT FREE!!!!

A staff to meet his any needs. A fully staffed Kitchen. Can you say Cheeseburger at 3:00am?

[Doctor_J]

63. The Clintons rented that for $100,000 for two weeks

About a third of Sanders net worth.