You’d think the most famous house in the world would have a massive, Olympic-sized lap pool where the President could just do some morning butterfly strokes to clear their head before a briefing. Honestly? It's way more complicated than that. The White House swimming pool isn't just one thing, and it definitely isn't just sitting there in the backyard like a suburban dream. There are actually two distinct spots where Presidents have taken a dip, and one of them is currently buried under a bunch of cables and a very famous podium.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. The press corps literally stands on top of a piece of history every single day. When you see a televised briefing, those reporters are sitting in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, which was built directly over the original indoor pool.
The indoor White House swimming pool that disappeared
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the one who started it all. Back in 1933, the country was in the middle of the Great Depression, but people actually chipped in their own pennies to build a pool for FDR. He had polio, and swimming was basically the only way he could get any real exercise or physical therapy. The New York Daily News actually spearheaded the fundraising campaign. It wasn't some massive government earmark; it was a gift from the people.
The pool was tucked inside the gallery between the West Wing and the Residence. It was high-tech for the thirties. It had underwater lights and a massive sterilization system. FDR used it constantly. He wasn't just splashing around; he was working his muscles.
Then came Harry Truman. He wasn't much of a swimmer, but he liked to keep things shipshape. Later, John F. Kennedy famously used the pool to help with his chronic back pain. There’s a lot of lore about JFK and that pool. Some of it is probably true, some of it is just DC gossip, but we know for a fact he’d take midday swims. He even had a mural painted on the walls by Joseph Boulanger, showing a peaceful Caribbean scene. It was his little escape from the Cold War.
Why did they cover it up?
Richard Nixon is the guy who finally put the lid on it—literally. By 1970, the White House press corps was growing, and they needed more space than the cramped quarters they had. Nixon wasn't a big fan of swimming. He preferred bowling. So, he had the pool floored over to create the Press Briefing Room.
If you go down into the "basement" of the press area today, you can still see the tile. It’s still there. If you’re a journalist with the right credentials, you can actually sign your name on the tiles of the old pool walls. It’s a weird, claustrophobic rite of passage for DC reporters. Some people think it’s a tragedy that such a historic feature was paved over, but in a city where space is the ultimate currency, the media won out over the water.
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Gerald Ford and the outdoor White House swimming pool we see today
By the time Gerald Ford took office in 1974, he was frustrated. He was a legit athlete—he played football for Michigan—and he wanted to swim. Since the indoor pool was now a room full of shouting journalists, he had to look elsewhere.
Ford didn't want to spend taxpayer money on a luxury, so he organized a private fundraising effort. In 1975, the outdoor White House swimming pool was installed. It’s located on the South Grounds, tucked away behind some trees for privacy. It’s not a giant pool. It’s pretty modest, actually.
- It’s a standard rectangular shape.
- There’s a small cabana nearby for changing.
- An underground tunnel connects it to the West Wing so the President can get back to work without being seen in a bathrobe by a tour group.
Ford loved that thing. There are famous photos of him swimming laps while his golden retriever, Liberty, watched from the side. He even did a press conference once while treading water. Can you imagine a President doing that today? The optics would be chaotic.
Who actually uses the water at 1600 Penn?
Not every President is a "pool person." Jimmy Carter used it, but mostly for his kids. Ronald Reagan wasn't a huge swimmer; he preferred chopping wood at his ranch. But the pool saw a lot of action during the George H.W. Bush years. Barbara Bush famously swam there, and there’s a story about her finding a rat in the pool once. She just kept swimming. That’s some old-school grit right there.
Bill Clinton was a fan. He actually had a hot tub installed right next to the outdoor pool. That caused a bit of a stir at the time because people thought it was too "Hollywood" for the White House. But honestly, if you’re running the free world, a soak in a hot tub seems like a pretty reasonable request.
Barack Obama didn't change the pool much, but his kids used it frequently. There was a lot of talk during the Obama years about the family adding a basketball court nearby, which makes sense given his love for the game. When the Trumps moved in, there were rumors about massive renovations, but Melania Trump mostly focused on the Rose Garden and other landscaping. The pool stayed pretty much as it was.
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Maintenance and the "Deep State" of plumbing
Maintaining a White House swimming pool isn't like taking care of the one in your backyard. You’ve got the Secret Service involved in every chemical delivery. Every technician who comes to fix a pump has to be vetted. You can't just call "Bob’s Pool Service" and have them swing by on a Tuesday.
The National Park Service actually handles the grounds. They are the ones skimming the leaves and checking the pH levels. Because the White House is a national park (technically), the standards for upkeep are incredibly high. The water has to be pristine.
- Security sensors are everywhere.
- The water temperature is usually kept consistent for whenever the Commander-in-Chief decides to take a spontaneous dip.
- The privacy screens (landscaping) are meticulously maintained so the press can't zoom in from the Washington Monument.
What most people get wrong about the pool
A big misconception is that there is a secret, massive grotto or an Olympic-sized facility hidden somewhere. There isn't. The outdoor pool is functional and nice, but it wouldn't look out of place in a high-end country club. It’s not "The Great Gatsby."
Another myth is that the indoor pool is gone. As I mentioned, it’s just dormant. There have been various "Bring Back the Pool" movements over the decades, usually led by people who think the press has too much space anyway. But the cost of moving the entire press operation would be astronomical. It's not happening. The pool is now a foundation.
Actionable insights for your next DC visit
If you're heading to Washington DC and want to get a glimpse of this history, you can't exactly walk up and test the water temperature. But you can be smart about how you see it:
Take the Garden Tour. Twice a year, usually in the spring and fall, the White House opens the South Grounds for a garden tour. This is your best shot at seeing the outdoor pool area up close. You need to get tickets early in the morning on the day of the event, and they go fast.
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Look at the Press Briefing Room differently. If you’re watching a briefing on the news, look at the floor. Beneath those feet is the hollowed-out shell of FDR's dream. It's a reminder that in the White House, layers of history are literally stacked on top of each other.
Check the FDR Memorial. If you want to understand why that first pool mattered so much, go to the FDR Memorial. It highlights his struggle with disability and his reliance on water for strength. It puts the "luxury" of a White House pool into a much more human perspective.
The White House swimming pool serves as a weirdly perfect metaphor for the presidency itself. It’s a mix of private relaxation and public scrutiny, built by the people, modified by the residents, and eventually repurposed for the needs of the moment. Whether it's the tiled-over echoes of the 1930s or the sun-drenched laps of the modern era, that water has seen a lot of history.
To see the current state of the grounds or check for upcoming Garden Tour dates, the official White House website or the National Park Service portal for President's Park are the only two sources you should trust for scheduling. Everything else is just speculation.
Keep an eye on the spring calendar for the "Spring Garden Tours" announcement, usually released in March. That's your ticket to seeing the Ford pool with your own eyes. It’s a rare chance to see the personal side of the most public office in the world.