Growing up is hard enough, but doing it with the Secret Service in your treehouse is a whole different ballgame! From smuggled ponies to prom in the East Room, these “First Kids” lived a life like no other. Ready for a peek behind the velvet ropes? Read on for the most charming and surprising stories of White House childhoods!
Amy Carter’s South Lawn Treehouse Built by Professionals
In the late 1970s, Amy Carter lived every child’s dream by having a professional treehouse built on the South Lawn of the White House. While her father dealt with international crises, Amy hosted sleepovers for her friends, guarded by Secret Service agents who reportedly had to blend into the shadows of the garden to give the girls some privacy. It remains a symbol of the Carters’ attempts to maintain a “normal” childhood for their daughter in the world’s most famous home.
Guests at the treehouse sleepovers were even treated to movies shown inside the White House theater.
Alice Roosevelt’s Pet Garter Snake
Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice, was known for her rebellious and spirited nature, famously owning a pet green garter snake named Emily Spinach. The name was a playful nod to her thin aunt and the snake’s color. Alice was frequently seen carrying the creature in her pocket or around her wrist during formal events, much to the surprise of visiting dignitaries.
Her antics were a constant source of amusement for the public but a headache for her father, who once remarked he could govern the country or control Alice, but not both.