There is a hysterical incident about once when she had a cold. But she insisted that no footprints should ever be visible on rugs and the staff was only to use service elevators, no matter how impractical that might be. She was friendly, out-going and vivacious. Bess Truman treated the staff with immense respect, even taking the time to introduce each to visitors. Each of these women was very different and you get a feel for their personalities. Much of what is presented here concerns what the author learned about the respective First Ladies. It is both a powerful and a delicate position that calls for the ability to communicate with politicians, officials, servants and First Families of widely divergent character. The post is not political they must be able to provide exemplary, individualized service without personal preference. (For example, costs for a State Dinner are not to be charged to the Executive Residence.) They supervise the White House staff. Budgetary duties are extensive and intricate. They are responsible for the management, maintenance and budget of the Executive Residence. A Chief Usher oversees the First Family's private as well as public life, ensuring that public and private events don't conflict. In 1957 he became the Chief Usher and continued in this post until March 1969. The author began as Assistant Usher in 1941 to the Chief Usher Howell Crim. It covers life in the White House under the administrations of FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and finally the first six weeks of Nixon's first term. Kennedy’s assassination), West’s book is an enlightening and rich account of the American history that took place just behind the Palladian doors of the North Portico. Johnson’s showerheads) to the tragic (the aftermath of John F. Alive with anecdotes ranging from the quotidian (Lyndon B. In Upstairs at the White House, West offers an absorbing and novel glimpse at America’s first families, from the Roosevelts to the Kennedys andthe Nixons. For twenty-eight years, first as assistant to the chief usher, then as chief usher, he witnessed national crises and triumphs, and interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, their parents, children and grandchildren, and houseguests-including friends, relatives, and heads of state. He directed state functions planned parties, weddings and funerals, gardens and playgrounds, and extensive renovations and with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue-and coordinated its daily life-at the request of the president and his family. The doors, which awkwardly stood closed for about 10 long seconds as the Bidens watched, are typically opened by Marine guards.A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at life on Pennsylvania Avenue with America’s first families, by the man who spent nearly three decades in their midst The absence of a chief usher was one manifestation of the chaotic transition period, but it doesn't entirely explain the curious breach in protocol where nobody opened the doors for the BIdens when they arrived at the White House, the Times notes. And Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, was "unhappy" with Harleth "for trying to send briefing books about the residence to the Biden transition team in November." Harleth "had worked with Jill Biden's staff for weeks to organize the move of household belongings," The Washington Post adds. He "had found himself in an untenable position" since the election, "trying to begin preparations for a new resident in the White House, even as its occupant refused to concede that he would be leaving the premises," the Times reports. Harleth was already in hot water with Trump's team, though. A Biden White House official told CNN that Harleth "was let go before the Bidens arrived," though CNN reports it was the Bidens who gave him the ax. The Bidens had communicated to the White House counsel that they intended to bring in their own chief usher, a person familiar with the process told the Times. Reid, hired in 2011, was only the ninth chief usher since 1885, though she was the first woman hired for the job. It is typically an apolitical job, and ushers typically stay through several administrations. The White House chief usher is in charge of the first family's residence, overseeing everything from personnel issues to budgets. Former first lady Melania Trump had hired the chief usher, Timothy Harleth, from the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., in 2017, after the previous chief usher, Angella Reid, was dismissed a few months into Donald Trump's term. He had been fired at about 11:30 a.m., half an hour before Biden was sworn in as president, The New York Times reports. Jill Biden arrived at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, there was no chief usher to greet them.
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