Perks Galore
Being a former president may need you to follow a lot of annoying rules that you may not want to follow in your lifetime, but not all is bad though, if you look into it, you may find several perks that work for them.
There are several perks that the president can enjoy during their lifetime. So, yes a president cannot enjoy freedom but they can enjoy several perks.
Transitionary Stipend
Apart from a prestigious title and global recognition, there are certain financial perks that come with holding the most powerful position in the US.
The president who retires or is on his way to completing the term and moves on his way out will receive a stipend for six months even six months after completing the term at the office. The federal government can offer an amount of $900,000 for this transition stipend. Apart from a six-figure salary and a famous address, presidents also get a stipend to bank upon.
Free Security At Their Disposal
Secret service is always there around the president, but as we know protection does not end after the president leaves the White House. Retired presidents can receive protection in life and their children can get protection till the age of 16. In the year 2017, the secret service's budget was said to be around $1.9 billion, as per Homeland Security.
So, although it may turn out to be annoying and intrusive, they can be happy about one thing their kids remain safe, with all the life threats the presidents and their family have to endure, this is certainly a great thing.
Living in the Presidential Townhouse
When an erstwhile president comes paying a visit to the White House, they’re encouraged to stay in a presidential townhouse right across the street.
While they may not follow the rules set by the secret service, it is encouraged because it can offer you the right security accommodations. And when you hold powerful political positions you need to take care of your security and hence it is always advisable to abide by the security protocols as per the Security Services.
The Truth About Acting Presidents
Not only the former presidents, but the acting president may also have to follow a lot of strange rules and it may turn out to be even weirder for the current presidents than for former presidents.
But if rules get weird they have to accept it as it is. But as they say, when it comes to presidents, their job is hardly easy, even being a ruler in a free world can hardly be easy.
Maintain As Goodwill Ambassadors
Former presidents need to uphold certain roles, one of them being goodwill ambassadors. As such, the erstwhile presidents are encouraged to travel as much as possible and they are provided with a budget amounting to million dollars annually.
They also enjoy many other perks such as receiving diplomatic passports so that they can travel freely without needing to get visas. Well, a president can act as the perfect goodwill ambassador and travel around.
They Can't Travel Alone
Erstwhile presidents cannot just drive places alone, they cannot travel anywhere alone. In fact, a president cannot travel anywhere alone at all. So, if you are a bit of a loner and don't want to have people around you all the time, then you should probably think about a different profession.
There are experts who believe that it is the most intrusive profession that you ever find yourself in and once you are in it you can never really complain about it.
Can't Do What The Heart Says
It is just not about driving which you as a president cannot do, but there are other things that you cannot do if you are a president. One of them is you cannot just follow your heart and do anything you want.
The secret service will be after you so that they get heads up before they go anywhere. The Secret Service has to check out the location to which you may go. So, every time you may have to go somewhere, you cannot go anywhere spontaneously, first, you have to inform the Secret Service.
Can Open Windows As Per Their Whims
What if it is a hot day? Can the president reside at the White House can open the window to let the air in? Unfortunately, they cannot even crack open a window at the White House, or even in the car.
It was at the end of her husband’s presidential term that former first lady Michelle Obama spoke about the window problem to Stephen Colbert and how she can easily open the window now at her free will.
Have to Stay Away From Their Kids' Events
Being the president of the United States can certainly not be easy, especially for the family. In certain cases, they cannot be there for their kids even when it happens to be one of the most important sports events in their lives.
Missing sporting events or school performances of any kind may require a lot of problems and since the president have to be there among a whole lot of strangers it may not turn out to be a safe proposition for the president and the family members.
Planning Their Own Funeral
Have you heard of anyone who planned their own funeral? Well, the president of the United States of America has to plan out his/her own funeral. We have heard about planning or rather writing a will, but for a president things are different.
A president has to plan out their own funeral when the president has to enter the oval office. It must be a strange feeling and the feeling may seem rather overwhelming for most people.
Planning Everything in Advance
Just like the case of former presidents, the current president must have to notify the secret service about anything he may want to do wherever he wants to go.
The erstwhile President Obama wanted his morning coffee from Starbucks whildst he was in office, but it needed the Secret Service to block the street and even stop the pedestrians from moving. Imagine what would happen when the President wants to dine out in a restaurant. It's a complete no-go!
Oversee The Construction of a New Presidential Library
There is a fact that you may know that a library is named after every president. And the fact is true, it is mandatory for former presidents to start a library. It is all because of the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955, that each erstwhile president must ensure that there is construction of a new library in their name.
There is more to presidential libraries than just monuments as you will discover in the next segment. Each library has something new and unique about them.
The Library Must State As It Is
If you compare any other library with that of a Presidential library, then you'll be making a mistake. President library is in fact one way of documenting every single aspect of a president's life, even the bad stuff.
It is primarily because it is available for the public anytime they want to read about it. The public can then read about the current president even former presidents and learn about all the nitty-gritty details of their life in office. There is a wealth of information out there for the public to consume.
Continue to Read National Security Briefings
The president has to keep a tab on everything that is happening around the world. They also have to read up all about the national security briefs and ensure everything is perfect.
The only way to protect the country from any impending attacks is to keep abreast of all the security briefs. Even former presidents have to do it and they can pass on the valuable piece of advice, to the current administration. They keep themselves updated about all the information is because they have to answer to the reporters.
Smack-Talking is Frowned Upon
While this isn't an official rule to adhere to, smack-talking other presidents are not looked at kindly by others. but not all presidents have followed this advice to the T.
If you go hunting for some fact-finding, you may find out that it has been there in the past and not going to go away in a hurry either. But, there is no hard and fast rule that since it has been there over the years, it may not go away in the near future. Here's hoping, everyone follows that.
Checking The Mails
You can't just send a mail to the president and expect it to pass through without it getting thoroughly scrutinized. Well, it is followed because people may send the most inane things to the president and it is the responsibility of the security to take care of the president's life through thick and thin.
Whether it is a suspicious-looking package or a letter it has to be thoroughly checked before it reaches the president. We are sure that this is one rule that the president will have no qualms about following it.
President's Don't Drive
Of course, it's a true fact that presidents don't drive and who won't like to be driven around? Not the president for sure when they have to worry about so many things all at once.
Some of them even have to work while they commute from point A to point B. The only place they can drive is their own grounds. It is all because of maintaining the water-tight security of the president. Their lives are always under constant threat and presidents cannot go out and about without supervision.
President's Tech Usage Monitored
A smartphone can contain a wealth of information. And it is true that most big tech companies keep a tab on their clients. In this case, the president's cell phone is also scrutinized to ensure that nothing untoward happens to the president.
Let's just say that a smartphone can reveal a lot about you, or the president's confidential information that can lead to security breaches and impact the president/s life and the country in a detrimental way. So, a president's smartphone can never be too private.
Sign a Waiver If You Don't Like The Rules
While the rules for erstwhile presidents can be really strict, there is of course another solution for all those looking to avoid the trappings of various rules and regulations. You can just sign a waiver saying you don't want the mandatory protections for the erstwhile presidents.
If you have completed your presidential term, you can sign the pact and that you no longer need the protection from the Secret Service. This will help them give the leeway to travel around as per their whim. Well, it is certainly one way of enjoying your freedom in your own way.
Government Health Benefits Continues
If you thought that the stipend was the only thing that the former presidents and their families enjoy after their term at the White House ends, that's not true at all. You may also get access to quality treatment at military hospitals and government healthcare, but there’s one catch, only federal employees who worked for the government for at least five years may get to enjoy the perk.
Of course, they get the opportunity to discontinue government healthcare to get better, private insurance, but we don't have very many people who may want to do that.
A Lifetime Pension Awaits
It is largely because of the former Presidents Act, that erstwhile presidents can get an annual salary of nearly $208,000 after their term at office ends.
That’s another great perk to enjoy, once you begin your term as a president, it may just be the beginning of an avalanche of perks that do not stop. They also receive a generous amount of $150,000 per year for two years after that the amount may then drop slightly to $96,000.
Pension For Spouses too
Ex-presidents can get a bunch of benefits following their presidential term. It includes a pension and funds for things like travel, office space, and other personal staff. Dwight D. Eisenhower went on to pass the act mainly to help Harry Truman, who had struggled to support himself after leaving the White House.
Presidents don’t need to worry about their spouse's financial security too, if they die, their widow or widower goes on to receive $20,000 per year as long as they don’t get married again before the age of 60.
Free Office Space For Them
A former president needs a spacious office and good staff to work. And this is where this perk comes in especially handy for the ex-presidents. There is a yearly budget allotted for the U.S. General Services Administration and that includes office space for the erstwhile president and his staff, and he can choose any place in the United States! It's not just the supplies but also furnishings that come in with the office space.
So, it definitely pays to become a president of the United States of America, don't you think so?
They Get A State Funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, that observes strict rules of protocol, held to uphold the national significance. State funerals are usually carried out with a lot of pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and are carried out with military tradition. A state funeral often gets mass publicity from both national and global media outlets.
Erstwhile commanders-in-chief are buried through a state funeral, which has figures of national significance. They are also other world leaders that have religious and military overtones.
A Few Rules To Follow
The state funeral comes with few compromises and it doesn't come with a private memorial service, as there are various strict rules and regulations that must be strictly adhered to.
This also includes the speed at which the funeral procession moves from one point to another and there is also a difference in the way the soldiers walk during state funerals. State funerals are often watched by millions of people and hence have to follow a certain protocol and have to be perfect in every way.
Pay For Their Own Food
As it was stated by First Lady Michelle Obama on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2018, the president and his family may be missing out on a lot of restaurant foods but the best part is that they have their own private White House chef, so they may not be missing out on a lot of gourmet food.
But they would have to buy their own groceries unless it is for special occasions such as for official state functions. A bonafide chef at your disposal may mean you can have your favorite meal every single day!
Paying For Their Designer Clothes
If you happen to be a president or first lady you may have a penchant for expensive designer clothing, but they don't get it for free they have to buy them themselves.
However, a designer may sometimes gift them an item of clothing but it also means they have to donate it after only one wear which may turn out to be a reasonable proposition. We just wonder do all the fashionable clothes you may see the president and her spouse, wear goes to charity?
Paying For Their Private Homes
When a president and his family are sworn in, and they finally move into the White House, they have to leave their old home for at least four years at a time.
Regardless, it is mandatory for them to pay their old home’s mortgage and if they have to refurbish their house they have to do it from their own pocket. The president and their family after the completion of the term move back to their private homes, well president or not, this is one home they can call their own.
Cannot Travel on Commercial Airlines
While the president cannot commute on their own, whether they are traveling in a car or hopping into a plane, the president has to go through a lot of rigors, if the president happens to step foot into a regular airport without any prior warning.
But the point is if you have Air Force One always at your disposal, why would you need to fly commercially? We are sure the president is quite happy flying in the comfort of Air Force One. It is one of the many perks that the president enjoys while he is in office.