Say Cheese

Today is the Virtual Big Block of Cheese Day, during which senior officials in the Obama administration will be available to the public via social media. Ask your burning questions using #AsktheWH on Twitter. See more information, including the Cheese Day schedule, on the White House blog.



The day was inspired by an episode of the television show The West Wing but has roots in U.S. history: admirers presented President Andrew Jackson with an immense cheese 4 feet in diameter, 2 feet high, 1,400 pounds (1.2 m diameter, 0.6 m high, 635 kg) as incontrovertible proof of his popular support. After suitable aging, the cheese played the starring role in a reception that was open to all to symbolize the openness of the administration. The idea was very well-received; the original big block of cheese was gobbled up in less than two hours.