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Kamala Harris moves into vice president’s residence after two-month delay

Naval Observatory mansion needed extensive scheduled repairs after Mike Pence moved out

Graeme Massie
Los Angeles
Wednesday 07 April 2021 16:30 BST
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Kamala Harris has finally moved into the vice president’s official residence after a two-month delay.

Ms Harris and husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, started living at the Naval Observatory on Tuesday evening, when she returned to Washington DC from a trip to Los Angeles and Chicago.

“Tonight when she returns, she will take Marine Two to the vice president’s residence,” an official told The New York Times on Tuesday.

The move-in comes more than two months after Ms Harris was inaugurated as the first female vice president in US history.

Since 20 January she has been living at Blair House opposite the White House while extensive scheduled repairs were carried out on the residence.

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Aides said that the repairs were “more easily conducted with the home unoccupied” and included replacing chimney liners, a new heating and air system and refurbished wooden floors.

The 33-room Queen Anne-style home features a swimming pool, a sunroom and a large veranda.

The decision to do essential maintenance work after Mike Pence moved out came from the Navy, not Ms Harris or Mr Emhoff.

Seven vice presidents have lived at Number One Observatory Circle in northwest Washington DC, starting with vice president Walter Mondale in the 1970s.

Blair House is the presidential guest house, and is normally used by foreign dignitaries and the president on the night before inauguration.

A moving truck was seen outside Blair House last Thursday preparing for the move.

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