WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2008
President, First Lady Buy Home In Dallas
First Couple Will Move Back To Texas After Leaving White House In January
-
The Bushes previously lived in Dallas from December 1988 through January 1995, before moving to the Texas governor's mansion in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
-
Interactive Bush Presidency The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
Laura Bush's press secretary, Sally McDonough, said Thursday that the Bushes purchased a home in the Preston Hollow area, where some of the state's wealthiest residents live in some of its most expensive houses.
"We picked out a house but we don't have occupancy of it so as soon as we do, we'll announce exactly where it is," Mrs. Bush told NBC News on Thursday. "We're looking forward to that."
While the White House has declined to disclose the address, local property records indicate that Robert McCleskey, a Bush family friend from Midland, Texas, who has done accounting work for the family, recently bought an 8,500-square-foot house with a market value of $2.1 million on a cul-de-sac with about a half-dozen homes.
McCleskey is listed as a trustee on the ranch-style brick house on Daria Place, and he said the house was bought Oct. 1. He said he could not say for whom the home was purchased.
The president is buying his post-White House home at a time of falling real estate prices and lowered mortgage interest rates.
A constant parade of reporters, TV news trucks and curious onlookers drove past the home on Thursday on the news. A gate at the top of the driveway affords some privacy to the four-bedroom house, which was built in 1959 and has a wide front yard and dark shutters The home also has four and a half bathrooms, a wet bar and a fireplace.
The records indicate the gable-roofed home is in very good condition. The total estimated taxes on the property are listed at $43,984.
A woman identifying herself as the home's owner confronted photographers and asked them to stop taking pictures of the house. She refused to identify herself.
Dallas County records show that the house was previously owned by Daniel Boeckman, a Dallas investor, and his wife, Laura. Daniel Boeckman did not immediately return a phone call Thursday.
Christine Tomasides, a mother of two and corporate contract writer who lives a half-block from the home, said she knew something was up about a month ago when black SUVs began rolling into the neighborhood. Secret Service agents often use such vehicles.
"It all makes sense now," Tomasides said.
She described the neighborhood as peaceful, quiet and a place where people stay out of each other's business. She said she'd never seen as much traffic as there was on the street Thursday. Tomasides welcomed her new neighbors — and the heightened security they'll bring.
"Laura Bush seems like such a fine person, and I can't imagine anyone not wanting her as a neighbor," Tomasides said. "And him, too, regardless of your political affiliation."
Another of Bush's possible nearby neighbors is Allan Bell, 63, a retired accountant who's lived up the street for 22 years.
"I like the guy. I think he did a good job," Bell said. "This should be interesting once all the hoorah dies down."
The Bushes previously lived in Dallas from December 1988 through January 1995, before moving to the Texas governor's mansion in Austin, Texas. The Bushes will continue to spend some time at their ranch in Crawford, Texas, McDonough said.
©MMVIII, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
Add a Comment See all 154 Comments
- Bush is not responsible for Clintons mistakes. Posted by lady_organs at 02:44 PM
Just looked up this very interesting information after I was questioning the timing of things. This is what the White House website states: George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. He was sworn into office on January 20, 2001. Since 911 happened in 2001, wasn''''t he already in office? Yes!
Posted by MyOpinion381 at 02:49 PM : Dec 04, 2008
You had to look that up? Word to the Wise--Presidential elections happen every 4 years and they will always be even years... so 1992 and 1996 for Clinton -- 2000 for Bush, 2004 for Bush---2008 For Obama--next is 2012, and then 2016, then 2020... are we learning yet? LOL - Reply to this comment
- Bush''s home is paid for by defense contractors 8 years ago.
- Reply to this comment
- actually he said that was his biggest regret not getting him, and yes that was a bit of imcompetence. But you president IGNORED the threat! PERIOD!
Posted by hakori at 09:44 AM : Dec 05, 2008
Since we know Bush only does daily security briefings 6 days a week are you sure that specific brief was not prepared on his day off. He has taken more vacation days than any other president in history. - Reply to this comment
- By this he means the Rovian revisionist history currently being assembled at the White House. A book librarians will forever be baffled as to where to classify it inside the fiction section of the library as a tragedy or next to the fractured fairy tales.
Posted by misha128 at 09:45 AM
I thought it would be in the childrens section amongst the coloring books....
Posted by earache4 at 09:48 AM : Dec 05, 2008
Might that be executive summary edition with popups? - Reply to this comment
- By this he means the Rovian revisionist history currently being assembled at the White House. A book librarians will forever be baffled as to where to classify it inside the fiction section of the library as a tragedy or next to the fractured fairy tales.
Posted by misha128 at 09:45 AM
I thought it would be in the childrens section amongst the coloring books.... - Reply to this comment
- Posted by hakori at 09:39 AM : Dec 05, 2008
I am patient. I''''ll wait for the real history books to come out.
Posted by ffoulkes at 09:41 AM : Dec 05, 2008
By this he means the Rovian revisionist history currently being assembled at the White House. A book librarians will forever be baffled as to where to classify it inside the fiction section of the library as a tragedy or next to the fractured fairy tales. - Reply to this comment
- ffoulkes, not to insult your inteligence but Bill also warned Dubya about Bin Laden, as did Richard Clark as did the PDB of Aug 1 2001. My brains works just fine thank you, and unlike you, I deal with facts not retoric.
Posted by hakori at 09:41 AM : Dec 05, 2008
So, then why didn''t Billy take him out when he had the chance? I mean if he really thought he was a threat...sounds like a bit of incompetence there too. - Reply to this comment
- I am patient. I''ll wait for the real history books to come out.
Posted by ffoulkes at 09:41 AM :
FUAX NOISE HAS A PUBLISHING COMPANY TOO?!?!?! - Reply to this comment
- Dubya''''s history is already being written and you are on the wrong side. That''''s fine with me, live in that self imposed state as long as you like. Be a fool.
Posted by hakori at 09:39 AM : Dec 05, 2008
______________
I am patient. I''ll wait for the real history books to come out. - Reply to this comment
- 1. 9-11 was planned and underway to hit within a year of inauguration. (BUSH RECIEVED AND IGNORED WARNINGS)You mean that same report along with the thousands of others that looked just like it? NO ONE expected 9-11 to occur...especially not to be what it was. You people seem to be able to predict exactly what will happen 7 years later. (THAT''S CALLED INCOMPETENCE)
2. Internet bubble was set to burst. (THAT IS CALLED FREE MARKET, THE HOUSING BUBBLE BURST ON HIS WATCH AS WELL)True...housing bubble was caused by false inflation caused by lending practices brought into play by Mr. Bill. (AND NEVER FIXED IN SHRUB''S EIGHT YEARS)
3. Banking deregulation was started just prior to swearing in (leading to the mess we are in now) (AND NEVER FIXED IN HIS EIGHT YEAR TERM)True. But that is Congress'' job. (FDR AND LBJ KNEW HOW TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED IF HE WANTED IT DONE)
4. Record numbers of huge natural disasters both here and abroad happened throughout his presidency. (SO CLINTON HANDED THOSE TO HIM?) Didn''t say Clinton gave him this. They did occur on his watch which is going to be disasterous for ANY President. (THAT JUST MEANS GOD HATED BUSH AS MUCH AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DID BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW GLOBAL WARMING IS A MYTH roll eyes)
try again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by ffoulkes at 09:31 AM - Reply to this comment
- ffoulkes, you are evey bit as foolish as rowdy, and perhaps more misinformed.
Posted by hakori at 09:33 AM : Dec 05, 2008
____________________
You liberals always think you have a corner on intelligence...however I must inform you that you are sorely lacking.
You are an idiot...that ''implicit warning'' was just as reliable as all the other ''implicit warnings'' both he and Mr. Bill had to sift through. That is the ONE that was real...who the heck could have (with the intel capabilities we had at the time) determined this was real while another was not? - Reply to this comment
- EXCUSE ME! What other reports read "Bin Lauden determined to strike in US"? That''''s not prediction darling..that''''s negligence. If a democratic president had ignored such a warning you''''d be all over him,and rightfully so, but since it was a republican you overlook it. There''''s a word for that.
Posted by hakori at 09:31 AM : Dec 05, 2008
____________________
Like I said...there were thousands of intelligence reports including many many ''planned attacks'' that had to be shifted through. Armchair quarterbacks never make mistakes, do they? - Reply to this comment
- 1. 9-11 was planned and underway to hit within a year of inauguration. (BUSH RECIEVED AND IGNORED WARNINGS)You mean that same report along with the thousands of others that looked just like it? NO ONE expected 9-11 to occur...especially not to be what it was. You people seem to be able to predict exactly what will happen 7 years later.
2. Internet bubble was set to burst. (THAT IS CALLED FREE MARKET, THE HOUSING BUBBLE BURST ON HIS WATCH AS WELL)True...housing bubble was caused by false inflation caused by lending practices brought into play by Mr. Bill.
3. Banking deregulation was started just prior to swearing in (leading to the mess we are in now) (AND NEVER FIXED IN HIS EIGHT YEAR TERM)True. But that is Congress'' job.
4. Record numbers of huge natural disasters both here and abroad happened throughout his presidency. (SO CLINTON HANDED THOSE TO HIM?) Didn''t say Clinton gave him this. They did occur on his watch which is going to be disasterous for ANY President.
And no, I am not Rowdy. - Reply to this comment
- ffoulkes....I think I know your style. Do you have a couple other names?
Posted by hakori at 09:22 AM : Dec 05, 2008
___________
Nope...only name I go by on this forum. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by hakori at 09:21 AM : Dec 05, 2008
________________
You mean that same report along with the thousands of others that looked just like it? NO ONE expected 9-11 to occur...especially not to be what it was. You people seem to be able to predict exactly what will happen 7 years later. - Reply to this comment
- And there goes the neighborhood. Need to check the covenants to see if they include ex-presidents, morons and deciders
- Reply to this comment
- 1. 9-11 was planned and underway to hit within a year of inauguration. (BUSH RECIEVED AND IGNORED WARNINGS)
2. Internet bubble was set to burst. (THAT IS CALLED FREE MARKET, THE HOUSING BUBBLE BURST ON HIS WATCH AS WELL)
3. Banking deregulation was started just prior to swearing in (leading to the mess we are in now) (AND NEVER FIXED IN HIS EIGHT YEAR TERM)
4. Record numbers of huge natural disasters both here and abroad happened throughout his presidency. (SO CLINTON HANDED THOSE TO HIM?)
Posted by ffoulkes at 09:15 AM
Try again.... - Reply to this comment
- ffoulkes ....I''''m disgusted by self imposed ignorance.
Posted by hakori at 09:16 AM : Dec 05, 2008
_____
Just step away from the mirror, and the wave of disgust should pass. - Reply to this comment
- The man was handed several hard negatives coming in,
Posted by ffoulkes at 09:07 AM
Name 3.
Posted by earache4 at 09:10 AM : Dec 05, 2008
____________
Not that it matters as you all hated him since 2000, but here:
1. 9-11 was planned and underway to hit within a year of inauguration.
2. Internet bubble was set to burst.
3. Banking deregulation was started just prior to swearing in (leading to the mess we are in now)
4. Record numbers of huge natural disasters both here and abroad happened throughout his presidency. - Reply to this comment
- The man was handed several hard negatives coming in,
Posted by ffoulkes at 09:07 AM
Name 3. - Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
