Politics Spark at The Presidents' Quarters, a Top-Tier Bed and Breakfast Inn Named to Honor America's Presidential Visitors to Historic Savannah, Ge

Savannah, Georgia (PRWEB) October 3, 2007 -- No doubt the 2008 presidential race will spark its share of spirited debate within the historic walls of The Presidents' Quarter, an Historic Savannah bed and breakfast inn. And while the custom of naming a room for each of the presidents who has visited Savannah is non-partisan, some of the guests certainly aren't. Consider this tale.

"A well-spoken lady called to reserve a room," relays Fred Morris, house manager at The Presidents' Quarters. "I advised that the Richard Nixon room was available, at which point the incensed lady quickly remarked, 'My husband would never sleep in a room named for a Republican, especially Richard Nixon!' The John F. Kennedy suite was reserved instead."

Trail of U.S. Presidents to Visit Savannah

Succumbing to Savannah's persuasively polite hospitality, twenty-three United States Presidents have come to Savannah to parlay with pacesetters, supporters, world leaders and military. The world's most powerful men have come with varied intent. Some to touch their own friends or family roots in the South, to meet with international world leaders and U.S. Military troops, to honor the City's founder, host the inaugural meeting of The World Bank, or to tap insightful Savannahians as touchstones to real world issues and visionary possibilities.

Presidential Moments

One of President George Washington's diary entries failed to record his impressions of the Savannah terrain or the architecture during his 1791 visit. However, he did mention "about 100 well dressed and handsome ladies." He is not the first, nor will he be the last to comment on Savannah's beautiful women.

In 1819 President James Monroe came to launch the S. S. Savannah (the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean). Architect William Jay built a platform in Johnson Square for the Monroe presidential celebration.

In 1885 Woodrow Wilson married Anne Axson in First Presbyterian Church, founded by colonial-era Scotsmen.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke in Grayson Stadium during the 1933 bicentennial to honor Savannah's founder, James Edward Oglethorpe.

President George Washington visited more than once, riding on horseback through muddy trails between Augusta and Savannah, and arriving by boat at Mulberry Grove Plantation to visit the widow of Nathanael Greene. Greene was Washington's second-in-command during the Revolutionary War.

Modern Savannah

In 1970, author Anthony Wolf described Historic Savannah Foundation's philosophy for a "vital central city, not a Colonial Williamsburg." Businessman Stephen S. Green's goal for The Presidents' Quarters is to showcase what is exclusive in Savannah, beginning at his newly acquired small trophy hotel on Oglethorpe Square.

Innkeeper Jane Sales points out, "Millions of travelers, including U.S. Presidents, are curious to discover Savannah's charm. Unique places, intriguing people and multi-cultural adventures comprise quintessential Savannah, old and new, especially in the Landmark Savannah Historic District," Mrs. Sales explains.

From the presidential namesake address of 225 East President Street, Mrs. Sales concludes, "We will entertain 32 guests each night at a price which covers the elegant surroundings and distinguishing services, but won't eat into 401K plans."

Curious About the Tally of Presidential Visitors to Savannah?

With renewed interest to keep score of presidential hopefuls, The Presidents' Quarters will be keeping track to see who seeks out Savannah voters before the 2008 U.S. Presidential elections. Meanwhile, of the 23 U.S. Presidents who visited Savannah while in office -- from President George Washington to President George Bush -- more Republicans than Democrats have stopped over in Georgia's first city.

(See PDF file for U.S. Presidents and dates of Savannah visits.)

ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS' QUARTERS

Showcasing one of the most beautifully panoramic social settings in downtown Savannah, plus the best of nearly three centuries in Georgia history, The Presidents' Quarters is acclaimed as an influential place where generals, governors, politicians and industrialists have shaped Savannah and the nation's history. The breakfast inn's two stately Federal mansions (ca. 1855-1860) feature 16 guest quarters, each named to honor U.S. Presidents who visited Savannah. Occupying a full city block on Oglethorpe Square in the entertainment hub of the world-famous historic district, the twin town-home mansions were adapted to a hospitality lodging in 1987. Reported to be a prominent movie location for the television mini-series, Roots, the Oglethorpe Square property was home (ca. 1754) to Georgia's first Royal Governor, John Reynolds, and a British colonial Georgia fort outside the town's palisades. New owner, Stephen S. Green, is reincarnating The Presidents' Quarters as Savannah's Toast of the Town -- "Luxury with a Lineage. A Tradition of Hospitality, a Legacy of Style" (sm). In concert with the property's 2007 renovations, the hospitality-pacesetter is benchmarking distinctive services that portray exclusive Savannah.

Visit The Presidents' Quarters Web site at www.presidentsquarters.com. Toll free telephone is 800 / 233-1776, FAX 912 / 238-0849, and email to the Inn is info @ presidentsquarters.com. For additional information, please contact Sandy Traub, SPATIOR Storyline Marketing, at (912) 398-9828. E-mail is available via straub @ spatior.com.

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