The Blair House is a residence right across from the White House that foreign leader, when invited, often stay in during their trip to Washington and the president-elect and his family traditional reside in the house five days before the inauguration.

(The House is the one on the right)

That would put the Obama move in at January 15, 2009. One problem: the Obama girls start school at Washington’s Sidwell Friends on January 5. The Obama have no residence in Washington and that’s way they have asked the White House for permission for an early move in so their girls can start school on the first day of Spring semester.

The White House has denied such permission. “We explored the idea so that the girls could start school on schedule, but there were previously scheduled events and guests that couldn’t be displaced,” an Obama spokesman told the New York Times.

The Blair House is bucked until January 15 with gathering and reception being thrown by staff members of the Bush White House.
It remained unclear who on Bushes guest list outranked the incoming President.

“It’s not a public schedule. It’s not a question of outranking the Obamas. Blair House will be available to them on January 15. There’s nothing more to say other than that it’s not available and won’t be available until January 15. You’re trying to make a story out of something that’s not a story,” said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush.

A White House official said Blair House had been booked for “receptions and gatherings” by staff members, and that such event “don’t make it suitable for full-time occupancy by the Obamas yet.”