Grover’s Rulz

Each American presidential administration sets the rules for what is considered proper etiquette their White House.  For example, the George W. Bush administration in an effort to correct the casual Friday mind set of the Clinton White House instituted a coat and tie dress type dress code.  Of course Dick Cheney publically noted that as Vice President he was not part of the executive branch and White House rules did not apply to him.  We have no confirmed reports that Cheney showed up to cabinet meetings in a wife beater and flip flops. 

The White House rules are a strong indicator of the acceptable social standards of their time period.  President Grover Cleveland’s 1887 White House rules reflect Victorian social norms.  Here are a few samples from Cleveland’s rule book:

• ·         A gentleman should not bow from a window to a lady, but if a lady recognizes him from a window, he should return the salutation.  It is best, however for a lady to avoid such recognitions.  It is not in the best taste for her to sit sufficiently near her windows to recognized and be recognized by those passing on the streets.  
• ·         Cleanliness is the outward sign of inward purity.  It is not to be supposed that a lady washes to become clean but simply to remain clean. 

·         (To the fellows): Do not indulge in long hair, thinking it gives you are an artistic look.  Except in painters and poets, coming from the guy that married his ‘niecflowing locks are a ridiculous affection. 

Wow—pretty heavy stuff e’!  Oh well I did get a haircut last week.

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