Smithsonian Documents Detail Chief's Expenses

Offices in the Castle

Small's office suite is on the second floor of the east wing of the Smithsonian Castle, the historic Gothic revival building that is the oldest in the institution's system. The first secretary of the Smithsonian and his family in the late 1800s lived in the space that now contains Small's offices.

I. Michael Heyman, Small's predecessor, began working in the secretary's offices in the castle in 1994. "I didn't change the office at all from the time that I got it," Heyman said, adding that he was reluctant to talk about his successor. "I might have brought in a small table."

In late 1999, as Heyman was moving out, the Smithsonian retained an architectural firm, Adamstein & Demetriou, which had designed Marriott Corp.'s board room and adjoining test kitchen. The architects were paid $43,000.

Small's office also turned to a Georgetown interior designer, August Georges, to purchase two chairs that now sit in his office. Debbie Winsor of August Georges described English-made George Smith chairs as "probably some of the best quality chairs you can buy." Winsor said she did not remember the purchase for Small because the sale occurred seven years ago.

One chair was purchased in January 2000 and the second in April, according to a spreadsheet. They cost $2,043 each, plus shipping.

Small also borrowed from the Smithsonian collection to decorate his offices. On the landing outside his office, Small placed a large stuffed Bengal tiger from the Natural History Museum and placed it on the royal blue carpeting. It sits in front of the model of a jet airplane from the Air and Space Museum. Inside Small's office are artworks from Smithsonian galleries, artifacts from Air and Space and the skull of a black rhinoceros from Natural History.

"It looks like the Smithsonian Castle has been turned into Mr. Small's palace," Grassley said. "It's a display of disregard for the Smithsonian's mission to keep institution artifacts and artwork in the executive office. With tax benefits and tax dollars, donations are made and items are purchased for the public to enjoy. Having a catalogue's worth of art in your office goes against the standards set by top museum directors."

Heyman said that he and his predecessor did not showcase artifacts in the secretary's office, but he expressed no objection. Asked if he thought the offices needed a makeover, Heyman said: "No. That's all in the eye of the perceiver."

Sant said he does not think Small's office is ostentatious. "I think it is only appropriate for a museum director or secretary of the Smithsonian to have some artifacts in his office because that's what he represents," Sant said. "That doesn't mean that there ought to be artifacts withheld from the public."

Housing Allowance

Some previous Smithsonian secretaries have been allowed to live rent-free in an institution-owned house. But Small owned his own home in Washington when he became the 11th secretary. He received a housing allowance so he could use his residence for "official Smithsonian hospitality," according to his employment agreement.

Heyman, who paid rent for a house in Washington, said he received no housing nor any reimbursement for the few times he entertained at home.

Under the terms of his housing allowance, Small was allowed to be reimbursed for half of his actual housing costs, up to $150,000 for the first year. He was required to provide receipts of his expenses, but the inspector general in her review found that he was allowed to stop filing receipts after a few months for "administrative ease." Every year of his tenure, Small has collected the maximum reimbursement, which has grown to $193,000 this year.