Off the deep end?

White House correspondent Ann Compton blogs about renovations to the White House briefing room — built atop FDR’s swimming pool:

Standing in the deep end of the old White House swimming pool that Franklin Roosevelt built in the early 1930s, I can see the 21st Century. The tiles are sea-green and there are round places filled in that must have once been underwater lights. Workmen have scribbled their names on the deep end wall — which sits directly beneath the floor of the press room and the podium built on top of the pool — where White House Press Secretary Tony Snow once stood to brief reporters, and where, Lord willing, he will again this summer.

Renovations on the White House briefing room started last August and there were many suspicious members of the press who feared that getting the boot meant they would be permanently banished from the President’s campus. But construction on the new quarters has finally taken recognizable shape. It took time to remove unexpected asbestos and re-fit steel structural beams that were faulty. But on the main floor of the briefing room, rows of seats are now recognizable by the new fittings that will give every seat Internet connectors and electrical outlets. 

The next issue for the White House board members: Who will get front row seats in the new briefing room?

Check out a photo essay of the WH press briefing room here.

PREVIOUSLY:
May 03, 2006: An end to televised White House briefings?