White House Press Awaits New and Improved Briefing Room

ABC News Ann Compton Reports: Presidents might be tempted to boot reporters from their prime real estate — just steps from the Oval Office. But this White House agreed to keep the press in its historic quarters, and next Wednesday President Bush himself will cut the ribbon on an $8 million Extreme Makeover for the scruffy old White House workspace.

Sleek new seats in the briefing room are all wired with Internet connections and audio feeds. The ceilings are higher and vaulted giving a new sense of space and light. Seventy miles of fiber optics and cabling bring the workspace desks and briefing room 21st Century.  There is no additional space, the quarters will still be cramped for 39 print new organizations and smaller companies will have to share desks with others who do not attend briefings every day.

The big surprise at the unveiling will be the President’s backdrop — gone is the simple blue curtain and White House logo. In its place, Greek columns, sliding glass panels and twin flat screen TVs for briefers to display charts and video.

The press room was built more than 35 years ago over an old swimming pool. Historic preservationists insisted there be no demolition of the green tiled pool where polio-victim Franklin Roosevelt used to exercise. From shallow end to deep, the pool now stores all the electronics. Perhaps this will end the jokes about dumping rude reporters through the floor.

The press did not want more spacious accommodations farther away from the West Wing. It seems when it comes to the Press, President Bush is keeping his friends close, and his adversaries closer.