No Tip?

White House Charges CEOs for Lunch

Guests of the president sing for their supper.

There's no such thing as a free lunch, even at the White House. When four of the country's top executives got the chance to spend their lunch hour in the president's private dining room last month, White House staffers asked the guests to foot the bill. "From time to time, White House guests are asked to reimburse for their meals, the reasons include ensuring there is no conflict or appearance of a conflict," said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. But the Bush administration never charged for these types of meals, a former official told Politico, saying that meals are typically covered by official entertainment expenses under the executive residence budget or by the White House's annual account. "We've got to relax about this," said Letitia Baldridge, who headed Jackie Kennedy's staff in the 1960s. "To have people to the White House and worry about the price of things is laughable." Hopefully Skip Gates brings his wallet.