On a presidential election theme, did you know that President Harry S. Truman and his family had to

On a presidential election theme, did you know that President Harry S. Truman and his family had to move out of the White House for most of his term because the building was in such bad shape that the interior had to be gutted and renovated? Materials deemed usable were offered to the public packaged as souvenir “kits” containing the raw material — stone, nails, wood or bricks — and a “small metal authentication plate,” in return for a modest fee covering shipping and handling. The second most popular kit, with 5,000 distributed, was “enough old pine to make a gavel” for two dollars. The program proved hugely popular and orders exceeded available kits, turning a profit of $10,000.

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