July 19, 2007 -- Presidential Pay Trivia

The President of the United States, George W. Bush, is paid a yearly salary of $400,000 and gets additional money in various expense accounts.

TRIVIA QUESTION:

How much per year did George Washington get paid when he became President back in 1789?

TRIVIA ANSWER:

$25,000


The First U.S. Congress voted to pay Washington a salary of $25,000 a year - a large sum in 1789 and about $531,000 in today's terms.

Washington, already wealthy, declined the salary, since he valued his image as a selfless public servant. At the urging of Congress, however, he ultimately accepted the payment. A dangerous precedent could have been set otherwise, as the founding fathers wanted future presidents to come from a large pool of potential candidates - not just those citizens that could afford to do the work for free.

By the way, today Vice President Dick Cheney receives a salary of $208,100. Back in Washington's time his VP, John Adams, was paid $5,000.

On top of the salary and expense accounts, both the U.S. president and vice president are given free housing with plenty of amenities. The White House has 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, a movie theater, bowling alley, billiards room, tennis court, jogging track and putting greens. Bush also has use of Camp David, the presidential retreat. Cheney lives in Number One Observatory Circle, which has been the official vice presidential residence since 1974.

Here's a link to an interesting article on Presidential salary:

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/24/pay.raise/

>>>>>>>> NET CHECK IN's <<<<<<<<

Congratulations to all who got the answer to tonight's Trivia Question and a hearty thank you to everyone for playing along. Here is the list of stations that checked in to tonight's net along with their answers:

* WB6A - Pat - $50,000
* AC6AJ - Lee - 50 Pounds (Just don't ask pounds of what)
* WB6ATV - Ron - $150
* KE6CZH - Robert - $300
* W6DTS - Ted - $100
* K6FCC - Khalil - $22,500
* KF6GKR - Terry - $400
* N6HY - Ernie - $100
* KB6IS - Madeline - $500
* KD6JEV - John - 50 Pounds
* N6KAS - Andy - $1300
* KG6KTC - Leon - Nothing
* NY6L - Jay - $300
* K6LMN - Roger - Nothing
* KE6MSS - Thomas - $25,000
* N6NGU - Lee - Nothing
* W6NVY - Gary - $1000
* KG6NWJ - Barry - $1 Plus Expenses
* KF6PIH - Scott - $50
* K6QVZ - Joe - $25,000
* KG6RDA - Sidney - $10
* KG6TRR - Bob - $600
* AD6UP - Louie - $25,000
* KF6YBM - Henry - $600 Pounds but he did not accept it.
* KF6ZQM - Harry - Checked in by KG6RDA
* N6ZZK - Theo - $1
* KN3ICK - Nick - Late Check In

de N6CIZ.