The Kenyan delegation was welcomed to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, with a red carpet, heavy security, and a large white pillar memorial. Throughout history, the White House has gone by several names, including “President’s Palace,” “President’s House,” and “Executive Mansion.”
The Secret Service was ready to ensure everyone entering the White House was properly credentialed. Each person needed to take everything out of their suitcases and set it aside.
After that, dogs were sent in to smell over the objects to make sure everything undesirable was off the premises. That wasn’t the first check, though. The White House gate was the next point of interest. All those wearing belts had to remove them and bring their personal devices to be screened. Everybody had to pass through a metal detector screening as well.
Officers from the Secret Service unit also carefully watched their movements inside. The Kenyan delegation members rushed to take photographs of themselves, if only to remind themselves later of the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be at the “President’s Palace,” amid the friendly atmosphere that pervaded the White House structure. Nevertheless, the meeting was brief because the orderlies quickly intervened to persuade the delegation members to continue.
“Tomorrow, you will have the chance to snap photos. Only four minutes remain,” one of them remarked. The White House comprises six floors in the Residence, 132 rooms, and 35 bathrooms. It is a uniform structure. In addition, there are eight stairs, three elevators, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, and 412 doors. Over 1,000 people can have hors d’oeuvres and supper served by the White House kitchen to as many as 140 guests. It takes 570 gallons of paint to cover the outside of the White House.
