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White House officials scouted a number of venues for Wednesday’s summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden before settling on the Filoli historic home and gardens, nestled in a coastal mountain range south of San Francisco.
The Georgian revival-style mansion has a history on the large and small screen: It was seen from the air in the opening credits of the series “Dynasty,” and served as a set piece in 1997’s “George of the Jungle.”
In true California fashion, the home was built in 1917 for William Bowers Bourn II, the owner of gold mines. He chose the name by combing a few letters from his personal credo: “Fight for a just cause. Love your Fellow Man. Live a Good Life.” In 1975, it was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The building has 56 rooms, including servants quarters. It is surrounded by 16 acres of manicured formal gardens, separated by hedges and brick walls. It’s a popular wedding venue for Silicon Valley’s tech executives.
Normally, it welcomes visitors. But on Wednesday, its website announced a closure from November 13 to 15 “while we deck the halls for the Holidays!”
The location for Biden and Xi’s summit wasn’t disclosed ahead of time, as officials worked to avoid demonstrations or security issues.
As they surveyed possible venues, officials took into account security considerations and how much the space could accommodate. But there were more superficial factors at play, too — like the look and feel of the venue, one source said.
“All the logistical arrangements are pretty intense, as you would imagine,” one senior US administration official said.
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