At Ease in the White House: Social Life As Seen by a Presidential Military Aide

by Stephen M. Bauer, Frances Spatz Leighton

A former White House military social aide offers an account of White House social life during his years working for five presidents.

Genres: History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1991

About the author

Author and lecturer, Colonel Stephen M. Bauer served longer as a military aide than anyone in the history of the White House. Under Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter, he was responsible for supervising the conduct of numerous social and ceremonial functions for the First Family. He later held a staff position under Presidents Reagan and Bush. His books, At Ease in the White House and How to Sell to the United States Government are based on his experiences in working for these five Presidents.

Steve retired from the Army in 1993 after 28 years of service. His military career included a variety of assignments including Infantry combat tours in Vietnam and the DMZ in Korea and a tour with the President's Honor Guard, as well as a number of positions on the business side of the Army. Steve was born in Albany, Oregon in an Army family. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Texas A&M in 1965 with a BBA and from George Washington University in 1975 with an MBA in Government Procurement and Contracting. During an extended period in Washington, D.C., Steve performed collateral duty as a Military Social Aide at the White House from November 1971 to September 1977. He also had a direct part in several Presidential funerals.

Steve’s awards include the Presidential Service Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Parachute Badge, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, Army Meritorious Service Medal, and two Army Commendation Medals among others.

Steve has lectured on his White House experiences for the past 31 years, appearing on the Joan Rivers Show, the Joy Behar Show, and numerous TV news programs such as Fox, CBS and NBC. Both Steve and Linda appeared on CNN News from Mombasa, Kenya during the hijacking of the US flagged freighter, the Alabama. Col Bauer has also been a featured speaker on several World Cruises, more than 25 international cruise ships, The 2005 Texas Book Festival, a variety of fundraisers for civic events, the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M, dozens of luncheon and dinner clubs, the CIA headquarters at Langley, and the Texas Legislative Wives Club. Steve is represented by several speakers bureaus.

Reviews

[Aaron]

This book contains many interesting stories, especially concerning the Nixon years. However, Bauer does not attempt to hide his political orientation, and this in turn colors both the book and his descriptions of events. The last few chapters, espcially, really have no place in the book other than for Bauer to inject his political commentary.

[Danny Theurer]

I never even knew that the position of "Presidential Social Aide" even existed before I got ahold of this book. Well written, but I never really got what was motivating Bauer throughout all of these years. Details and events are great, but I want to know "why."

[Jim]

A gift from my sister and signed by the author. I am not sure I would have picked it up had she not bought it for me. I read it quite a while ago and remember enjoying it as it seemed like an even handed review of an interesting career. Published at a time when former Whitehouse employees respected the honor of the posting and did not "dump" the gossip because they wanted their reputation protected. So I appreciated Mr. Bauer's story telling and respect for the opportunity to work in a place that must be fasinating regardless of who is there

[Lori]

An inside look on the duties and experiences of a social aide, Stephen Bauer. Reads like a who's who in politics, business, Washington, Hollywood, etc. (with social climbing and networking fairly obvious). He served as a social aide under three presidents, Nixon, Ford and Carter and a staffer under Reagan and Bush. Fairly obvious who he most enjoyed working for and those he did not.

[Laura Dye]

An interesting look inside the white house during several administrations. Mostly a collection of anecdotes; nothing particularly insightful.

[Beth]

A great look into the White House and how it is run by a Presidential Military aide who was there for 20 plus years.