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Oprah: Is living in the White House fun?

Michelle Obama: There's fun every day. I have one of the best jobs in the world. Because I don't have to fix the economy, thank goodness. Yet I get to go say hello to the people who make this government work, who hold us up and who will still be here after we're gone. I get to go read to kids. We're also working on a wonderful new garden project.

Oprah: Will kids get to visit the garden?

Michelle Obama: We want to use it as a point of education, to talk about health and how delicious it is to eat fresh food, and how you can take that food and make it part of a healthy diet. You know, the tomato that's from your garden tastes very different from one that isn't. And peas—what is it like to eat peas in season? So we want the White House to be a place of education and awareness. And hopefully kids will be interested because there are kids living here. We're even putting a swing set on the South Lawn.

Oprah: So Dad can look out from the Oval Office and see the girls.

Michelle Obama: Yes—though I hope the swing set won't be just for the Obama girls. I want the staff to feel that they can bring their children to the place where they work and let them feel connected to what their parents do.

Oprah: It's wonderful that you want to be so inclusive. But do you get privacy when you need it?

Michelle Obama: Absolutely—as much as we need. This is our home, and everyone treats it that way. There is a great deal of respect and decorum around the residence.

Oprah: How will the decorating style change?

Michelle Obama: It will reflect our family. I want comfortable sofas, I want art that reflects contemporary and traditional, I want to bring in new American artisans.

Oprah: You want more than just a few plates on the walls. You want pieces that are inclusive of American culture.

Michelle Obama: Right. And we want approachable comfort.

Oprah: So you can take off your shoes.

Michelle Obama: And you've got to be able to make a fort with the sofa pillows! Everything must be fort-worthy.

Next: Those pregnancy rumors

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