Most people think the Vice President just sits in a fancy room a few doors down from the Oval Office. That’s partly true. But if you’re actually looking for where is the vice president office, you’re going to find yourself walking across a lot of high-security pavement in Washington, D.C.
The Vice President doesn't have one desk. They have several.
It’s weirdly complicated. Depending on whether they are acting as the President’s right hand, the President of the Senate, or just trying to get some actual work done away from the West Wing tourist vibes, the VP jumps between three primary locations.
The West Wing: The "Power" Office
You've seen it in movies. This is the one everyone cares about.
Located right down the hall from the President, this office is all about proximity. It’s small. Smaller than you’d think. But in DC, square footage doesn't matter; what matters is how many seconds it takes you to walk into the Oval Office. Since the Mondale administration in the late 70s, the Vice President has kept a working space here to stay "in the loop." If a crisis breaks out at 2:00 AM, this is where they’re heading.
It’s iconic. It’s cramped. It’s where the high-level meetings happen.
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But honestly? It’s not where the bulk of the VP's staff lives. You can’t fit a full policy team in a West Wing closet. For the actual day-to-day grind—the policy drafting, the speech writing, the scheduling nightmares—the action happens elsewhere.
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB)
If you look at the White House and turn your head slightly to the west, you'll see a massive, French Second Empire-style building that looks like a giant wedding cake made of granite. That’s the EEOB.
This is the Vice President's "Ceremonial Office."
It’s gorgeous. We’re talking 22-foot ceilings, massive windows, and the "Vice President’s Desk," which has been used by everyone from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson. It’s a piece of history. Most of the VP's staff—hundreds of people—are housed in this building. When the VP needs to sign a major document or host a small delegation without the cramped quarters of the West Wing, they come here.
- The Vice President’s Room (S-212): This is the third spot. It’s in the U.S. Capitol.
- The Residence: We’ll get to that, but that’s at the Naval Observatory.
- The West Wing Office: The "proximity" spot mentioned earlier.
The EEOB is where the real "government" happens. If you’re a staffer for the Vice President, your badge probably scans into the EEOB, not the West Wing. It’s where the Vice President’s press team, National Security advisors, and legal counsel actually drink their coffee and stare at spreadsheets.
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The Constitutional Office: The Capitol Building
People forget the Vice President has a literal job description in the Constitution that isn't just "waiting around." They are the President of the Senate.
Because of this, there is a dedicated office in the U.S. Capitol (Room S-212). It’s right off the Senate floor. It’s ornate, filled with gold leaf and historical portraits, and honestly, it's mostly used for high-stakes legislative days. If there’s a tie-breaking vote needed, the VP isn't driving over from the White House at the last second. They’re already there, sitting in S-212, taking meetings with Senators who are trying to play hardball.
It’s a weird dual-role. One foot in the Executive branch, one foot in the Legislative.
Why are there so many offices?
It seems redundant. Why not just pick a spot?
History explains it better than logic does. For most of American history, the Vice President was a bit of an afterthought. They stayed at the Capitol because they didn't have much to do at the White House. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the VP became a true partner to the President.
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Now, they need to be everywhere at once.
The West Wing office is for the President.
The EEOB office is for the Staff.
The Capitol office is for the Senate.
If you’re wondering about the "home office," that’s at Number One Observatory Circle. It’s about two miles away from the White House. It’s a 19th-century white-painted brick house on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory. They don't live in the White House. They haven't since the 1970s when Congress finally got tired of paying for the VP's private security at their personal homes and decided to give them an official residence.
Understanding the security perimeter
You can't just walk up to any of these. If you're trying to visit, you're looking at:
- Background checks weeks in advance.
- Magnetometers (the fancy word for metal detectors).
- Secret Service checkpoints that make the airport look like a playground.
- No phones allowed in "SCIF" areas (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities).
Most people see the EEOB from the street and think it's just part of the White House complex. It basically is. The entire area is a "fortress" of sorts, connected by underground tunnels and highly secure walkways so the VP can move between these three offices without being exposed on the street.
Actionable Steps for Seeing These Locations
If you’re actually interested in the geography of the Vice Presidency, you can't just knock on the door, but you can see them.
- Public Tours: You can request a tour of the White House through your Member of Congress, which might get you a glimpse of the West Wing exterior, but rarely the VP's actual office.
- The EEOB Tour: These are much harder to get and usually require specific invitations, but the building itself is visible from 17th Street NW.
- The Capitol: You can tour the U.S. Capitol easily. While you won't get into S-212, you can see the Senate side where the VP presides.
- The Naval Observatory: You can't go inside the residence. Period. But you can see the gates at the intersection of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW.
Essentially, the Vice President's "office" is a shifting target. It’s a triangle of power that covers the executive, the legislative, and the administrative heart of the country. If you're looking for the VP during business hours, check the West Wing first, then the EEOB, then the Capitol. They’re likely moving between all three.