How do the expenses compare to Clinton’s and Bush’s two term presidencies?
Bush’s is too hard to compare because he went to Crawford but had a huge tax write off for the whole property which I have no idea how much it would have been. Also the expense of making the ranch into a “bunker” and increased security measures for computers and other requirements. It is probably more than 7.4 million though. However it covered his after presidency too so who knows.
I will give that travelling, as President, is an expensive venture because, by default, you have to take a large entourage. Although I cannot tell you where Clinton vacationed, I can tell you that Bush generally went to his ranch or Camp David when he needed a break. He never left America to my knowledge.
Clinton, as I recall, wasn’t a well traveled President when vacationing as I recall.
Presidents usually “hide” their personal trip expenses (side trips, fundraisers) by scheduling some innocuous “official” visit, which enables them to stay over and/or add on other stuff that was paid for because of the official visit. Obama doesn’t feel that he has to play those games because he knows that criticism (if any) from the media or congress will be low key.