Barack Obama’s Capitol Hill, Pre-Election Apartment

Watch CBS Videos Online

Some friends of mine live on the northeast side of Capitol Hill, a few blocks away from Union Station, and according to them, right near Barack Obama's old D.C. apartment. Every time I've walked over there, I envisioned strolling by him smoking on his front steps, perhaps talking to his wife on one of his rare breaks from the campaign trail.

That never happened.

But during last night's 60 Minutes interview with Obama, host Steve Kroft not only brought up Obama's old apartment, they showed a picture! I'm displeased to report there were no steps included in that photograph—another affront to my imagination.

But now there are a few more details to flesh out the vision: Obama said that his staff told him he was the only senator who lived in a worst apartment than his 25-year-old employees. Michelle Obama visited the place, but didn't sleep there. When in D.C., she always stayed in a hotel with her husband. The one-bedroom unit had sort of the "vintage college dorm, pizza feel to it," according to Obama, and it reminded Michelle of "a little better version of the apartment you had when we first started dated." (This part starts around 4:45 in the clip.)

Also, in June 2007, Obama's apartment building caught on fire. He was not there at the time.