Is Rehoboth Beach the new Mar-a-Lago? Biden to be first POTUS to have 'Summer White House' in Delaware
President-elect Joe Biden called himself the poorest man in Congress for much of the 36 years he served in the Senate. Today he owns a $2.7 million Delaware North Shores home with his wife Jill, and which will soon become the "Summer White House" for the 46th president of the United States, much like Mar-a-Lago in Florida is to the 45th.
And the home, which features a swimming pool that overlooks Cape Henlopen State Park and is a short drive from downtown Rehoboth Beach, has a history of its own. Biden bought the beach house after leaving the vice presidency in 2017, after becoming $8 million richer, having signed a multibook deal with his wife. “Throughout our careers, Jill and I have dreamed of being able to buy a place at the beach at home where we can bring the whole family. We feel very lucky that we’re now able to make that happen,” Biden said in a statement after purchasing the home.
One sign on the house reads “Beau’s gift," as the future first couple moved into the house after Biden’s son Beau, a former Delaware attorney general, died of brain cancer. Another sign says, "Forever Jill." The house is just about two hours by motorcade from Washington and is at an even lesser distance from his longtime home in Wilmington. In the couple of years that followed, the Bidens split their time between the beach house and Wilmington. He also used the getaway to host discussions with his family during his presidential run this year before making big decisions, such as choosing a running mate.
Although Joe has become the town's most recognizable figure, he will forever be a local boy. “We’re hopeful that, I call him the famously friendly Biden, will continue his strolls around town,” Rehoboth Mayor Stan Mills said. And the bike rides have not stopped. During the weekend, the president-elect and his wife were spotted enjoying a ride, obviously followed closely behind by Secret Service. As he rode past reporters, one of them asked him if he was any closer to making a cabinet decision, to which he said "Yes."
The Browseabout Bookstore, on the main street of the town, which is currently selling everything from biographies about Biden, to Biden-themed calendars, mugs, coloring books and earrings, used to be frequented by Joe who bought coffee and newspapers after church on some Sundays. “The treatment that they get is the same as everybody. We’re not fan-girling. We want everybody to feel welcome,” Jessie Jones, a senior Browseabout staff member, said of the Bidens. “Now, people in the store, that’s a different story.”
Historically, presidents have had their own personal getaway homes aside from Camp David. These are usually dubbed the “Summer White House” or “Winter White House,” depending on which season the leaders used them the most. Trump had both. His “Winter White House” was his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, while his “Summer White House” was his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Biden will be the first president to have a “Summer White House” in Delaware.