Columnist Susan Snyder: Online chat is capitol idea

Monday, Sept. 29, 2003 | 8:23 a.m.

So, I really never expected Clare Pritchett to answer my questions about White House tours.

No sense responding to a query about whether visitors get to see The Nook where the blue dress was allegedly -- well ... you know -- when she could field such insightful interrogatories as:

"If you could eat only one of the following foods for the rest of your life what would you pick -- A. Pizza. B. Hamburgers. C. Grilled cheese, or D. Candy corn?"

Pritchett: "As a Texan, I would choose E. Mexican food!"

Pritchett, White House Visitors Office director, was among the federal employees who last week conducted an online "Ask the White House" chat. The 30-minute public forum, launched in April, allows us peons to ask questions of White House officials and employees.

Discussions have been led by former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer (on his last day), first lady Laura Bush, first runner-up lady Lynne Cheney and Mike Brown, undersecretary for emergency preparedness and response to the Department of Homeland Security.

(Ever notice how really long job titles tell you less about the duties than short ones?)

To sign up for participation, log onto whitehouse.gov/ask. The next discussion moderator and topic is listed, along with printable copies of past chats.

Pritchett is in charge of the office that leads public tours of the White House. In addition to my question about The Nook, I also asked how many rooms are included on a tour and whether visitors have to empty their pockets and take off their shoes for metal detectors, as required at airports.

Pritchett instead answered this from Eris in North Carolina:

"Is the carpet in the Oval Office re-designed to suit a current president, and does he receive it when he leaves office?"

Each president does get to design his own Oval Office carpet, Pritchett said, but it stays in Washington after he (or she?) leaves in case a future president wants to use it.

"President George W. Bush used President (Ronald) Reagan's carpet for the first few months of this term before the current carpet was made," Pritchett wrote.

Odd. Bush borrowed his father's unfinished political vendetta. Figured the carpet would have been a shoo-in.

Anyway, Pritchett said the "soft, warm tones used in (current) President Bush's carpet were inspired by the West Texas sky."

Well, smog is quite colorful at sunset.

With The Nook and metal detectors out of the running, John from Memphis came closest to hitting a juicy topic. He asked:

"When some movies, mostly comedies, depict the White House, they have hidden rooms or secret passages. Is this fact or fiction? If it is not true, why does Hollywood insist on putting this in movies?"

Pritchett's response: "Ahh, yes, I wondered the same thing when I first came here. Although, I still haven't gotten a clear answer on this, I do think it's fun to think about. I guess Hollywood agrees that hidden rooms and secret passages are fun at every age. The mystery continues ..."

Ah, well. The White House has been the source of so many mysteries these past couple of years, what's one more?