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If you’re a political nerd, geek, or fanboy (or fangirl, or fanperson) you probably loved the West Wing, Aaron Sorkin’s cocktail to keep Democrats alive while George W. Bush was President.
Even if you’re a Republican, you may have appreciated the show for its drama, its humor, or even its amazing camera work.
West Wing fans (like me, at least,) particularly loved the episodes (I remember two — feel free to school me here!) surrounding “Big Block of Cheese Day,” in season one’s “The Crackpots and These Women” and season two’s “Somebody’s Going to Emergency, Somebody’s Going to Jail.”
In a nutshell, Big Block of Cheese Day was a day designated by Leo McGarry in which people who ordinarily wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet with the president’s staff were welcomed into the White House.
“President Obama,” the White House writes, “has always been dedicated to the idea that the White House is truly ‘The People’s House’ and has worked to make 1600 Pennsylvania and his administration open and accessible.”
On February 22, 1837, President Jackson hosted an open house featuring a 1,400-pound block of cheese that sat in the main foyer of the White House. This original “Big Block of Cheese Day” opened the doors of the White House to thousands of citizens to interact with cabinet members and White House staff – and carve off a slice of the four foot by two foot thick slab of cheddar.
On Wednesday, January 29th, with a nod to history (and maybe the TV show the West Wing), the Obama Administration is hosting the first-ever virtual “Big Block of Cheese Day,” during which dozens of White House officials will take to social media for a day long ‘open house’ to answers questions from everyday Americans in real-time on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and via Google+ Hangout.
So be sure to visit WH.gov/SOTU to watch the State of the Union Address live on January 28, 2014 at 9 p.m. ET and stay tuned for a complete schedule of engagement events for virtual “Big Block of Cheese Day.”  You can start asking questions now using the hashtag #AsktheWH.
Yes, the President Obama is having the first-ever Virtual Big Block of Cheese Day on Wednesday, January 29th!
(Although it’s the day after the State of the Union Address, this day may be an unfortunate choice. It’s the birthday of the late 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. Although, his death ushered Teddy Roosevelt — and the Progressive Era — into office, so, there’s that.)
Watch, enjoy, share:
//www.youtube.com/embed/2JJGDieJ5Tc