In Obama's White House, Informality Rules

When George W. Bush was in charge, no one was allowed to enter the Oval Office without a suit and tie—and 43 even demanded business attire on weekends. Barack Obama's White House is a more casual place, where even the president himself works in shirtsleeves, the New York Times reports. It's only one of several changes Obama has made to daily life at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Obama starts work around 9, hours later than Bush—he spends his mornings working out and seeing his daughters off to school—and often returns to the Oval Office after dinner. His meetings last longer and go into greater detail, often running overtime. One other change: Obama has cranked the thermostat up to near-tropical levels. "He's from Hawaii, OK?" said David Axelrod, his senior adviser. "You could grow orchids in there."