Fla. retreat repels the heat of presidency

KEY WEST, Fla., May 25 (UPI) -- Key West, Fla.'s so-called Little White House, now outfitted with a $300,000 air conditioning system, has invited President Barack Obama to stop by anytime.

The AC was added as part pf a seven-year, $1million historic restoration dedicated recently by George McGovern, the former senator and presidential candidate, The Miami Herald reported Monday.

Little White House -- so-named during the 11 working vacations President Harry S. Truman spent there -- lacked cooling, so it was off the list of potential sites for presidential activities, such as trade talks, said Bob Wolz, executive director of the residence's museum.

President George W. Bush was considering using the Key West property for trade talks with his Mexican and Canadian counterpart but a sweep with men and women dressed in black attire revealed "it was like 95 degrees in the building. The president can't sweat. So they turned us down."

Since its renovation to the way it was -- except for the air conditioning -- circa 1949, the Key West City Commission, Little White House officials and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek have extended invitations to Obama to use the comfy quarters for personal or official reasons, the Herald said.