You’ve probably seen the sleek, wood-paneled James S. Brady Press Briefing Room on the news. It’s where the White House Press Secretary stands at a podium, dodging questions from a room full of reporters. But here’s the thing: most people don't realize they are actually looking at a covered-up swimming pool. Honestly, if you ripped up the floorboards and the blue carpeting, you’d find a 1930s-era basin that still holds a lot of history—and a lot of signatures.
The white house pool 2024 conversation usually goes one of two ways. Either people are talking about the "press pool"—the group of journalists who follow the President everywhere—or they’re asking if the President can actually go for a swim in the backyard.
Both are real. Both are a bit complicated.
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The Secret Pool Under the Floor
Let's talk about the ghost pool first. Back in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt needed a place for physical therapy after contracting polio. The public actually chipped in to build it. It was an indoor sanctuary.
Fast forward to the Nixon era. Richard Nixon wasn't much of a swimmer. He was, however, a man who wanted a better place for the growing media presence at the White House. In 1970, he made a choice that still affects the building today: he built the press briefing room right on top of FDR’s pool.
It’s still down there.
If you ever get a rare tour of the "basement" area, you can see the tile walls. They are covered in signatures from celebrities, interns, and world leaders who have snuck down there over the decades. It’s basically a time capsule with a low ceiling. In 2024, it mostly serves as a massive junction for cables and server racks that keep the White House press corps connected to the world.
So, Where Does the President Swim Now?
If the indoor pool is a server room, where does a modern President do laps? You have to head outside for that.
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Gerald Ford was the one who fixed the "no pool" problem. He was a competitive swimmer and couldn't stand not having a place to exercise. In 1975, he had an outdoor pool installed near the West Wing.
It’s tucked away.
Unless you’re looking from a helicopter or a very specific window in the residence, you’d never know it’s there. It’s screened by thick hedges and trees for privacy. Security is, as you’d expect, intense.
Recent rumors about massive renovations to the white house pool 2024 sometimes get confused with larger construction projects on the North and South Lawns. While the outdoor pool gets regular maintenance—heating systems, lining checks, and the usual "pool guy" stuff—it remains a relatively modest, rectangular setup compared to the flashy infinity pools you see in Beverly Hills.
The Other "Pool" (The One That Writes the News)
When you see a headline about a "White House Pool Report," it has nothing to do with chlorine.
The press pool is a revolving group of journalists. Because the entire world's media can't fit into the President’s motorcade or Air Force One, they use a "pool" system. One reporter from a newspaper, one from a wire service like the AP, and a few others tag along and share their notes with everyone else.
In 2024, this system is under a microscope. With the election cycle in full swing and the political climate being what it is, these pool reports are the rawest form of news we get. They aren't polished articles. They are quick, often funny, "color" notes about what the President ate, who he talked to, or if it started raining during a speech in the Rose Garden.
Maintenance and Modern Upkeep
Keeping a pool running at the most famous house in the world is a logistical nightmare. Think about it. You can't just have a local van pull up to the driveway with a gallon of muriatic acid without a three-week background check.
The National Park Service actually handles the grounds. They treat the outdoor pool with the same historical care they give the Lincoln Memorial. In 2024, the focus has been on sustainability—upgrading pumps to be more energy-efficient and ensuring the "cabling graveyard" beneath the indoor press room doesn't overheat.
- The Indoor Pool: Located under the Press Briefing Room.
- The Outdoor Pool: Located on the South Grounds, installed by Ford.
- The Press Pool: A group of people, not a body of water.
What’s Next for the White House Grounds?
Looking toward the end of the year and into 2025, there has been talk of larger structural changes to the White House campus. Some reports mention the potential for a new "ballroom" or expanded media facilities.
Does this mean they’ll finally dig up the old FDR pool and restore it? Probably not. The cost and the sheer mess of moving the entire press operation make it unlikely.
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If you're looking for actionable insights on how to "see" these spots, your best bet isn't a standard public tour. Those stay in the East Wing and the State Rooms. Instead, keep an eye on the White House Historical Association’s digital archives. They released updated high-resolution photos and 3D tours recently that show the "bones" of the building, including the hidden pool area, better than any grainy cell phone pic.
You should also follow the official "Pool Reports" via the White House Correspondents' Association if you want to know what's actually happening on the grounds day-to-day. It’s the closest most of us will ever get to the water’s edge.
Check the National Park Service schedule for any planned "Garden Tours." These happen twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. It’s one of the only times the public can get close enough to see the hedges that hide the Ford pool.