The historic Willard Hotel.

The White House is only a block and a half left/west as the crow flies. This is where Lincoln checked in when he came to town to be president. It was also where General Grant checked in when Lincoln summoned him from the West to take command of the Union Army. Representatives of special interests wishing to dip their hands in Uncle Sam's pockets would lurk in the lobby of Willard during the Civil War in hopes of snagging meetings with public servants passing through. They came to be called lobbyists.