In 1974, VP’s Home Became a “Posh, Plush Pleasure Palace” Costing Taxpayers $2.6M

When Congress wanted to spend $15,000 in 1974 for maintaining and decorating the home of the chief of naval operations for the vice president’s use, Sen. William Proxmire objected.

The measure passed and the Democrat from Wisconsin was assured that “nothing elaborate was contemplated” and that only necessary furnishing would be done and cost $15,000 — $72,000 in 2021 dollars.

The house that was to become Vice President Nelson Rockefeller’s temporary home and the budget morphed into a $537,000 expenditure “for a posh, plush pleasure palace,” Proxmire said in awarding the Department of the Navy the Golden Fleece award in 1976 for wasting taxpayer funds.

The $537,000 — $2.6 million in 2021 dollars — included $41,100 for furniture; $33,000 for linen, silverware chests and accessories; $26,400 for drapes; $21,200 for silverware; $18,100 for carpets; $10,400 for China and $4,900 for crystal.

Proxmire also opposed the Navy’s plan to replace air conditioning window units with a $170,000 central air system.

“Even in the high-priced Washington area, this sum would finance a small housing development,” the senator said, going on to handing out 168 Golden Fleece Awards between 1975 and 1988 for wasteful and nonsensical government spending.

No doubt a $2.6 million expenditure to decorate a house was a waste of taxpayer money.

The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.