The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House

by Kate Andersen Brower

Jacqueline Kennedy called West “the most powerful man in Washington, next to the president.”

One residence worker said that every time he gave friends a tour of the White House he would end it by telling them to look around and soak it all in: “You have walked through exactly the same space as every president since John Adams was president.”

Not long after taking office, he told Rochon that he wanted the South Lawn tennis court, shrouded in pine trees, to be converted into a full basketball court. Removable basketball hoops were installed, new lines were painted on the court, and basketballs with White House seals were ordered. The effort cost $4,995.

many FOBs actually had criminal records. According to Emery, the Secret Service called the Usher’s Office several times to report that some of the Arkansas guests had not passed their background checks and were deemed “do not admits.” Emery told agents, “The president’s expecting them. Make it happen.” They ended up having to assign Secret Service officers on every floor: “Typically if you bring a worker that has a ‘hit’ [on his background check] they have to be escorted.” Before long, much to Emery’s chagrin, there were several people with “hits” at the house.

“Roland, I’m sorry but that’s not going to do again.” “Okay, madam.” President Reagan interjected from the other end of the table: “Honey, leave the chef alone. That’s a beautiful dessert. Let’s do that, that’s beautiful.” “Ronnie, just eat your soup, this is not your concern,” she said. He looked down at his bowl and finished his soup without another word.

These are the most confident politicians on the face of the earth. You need to be yourself. They’ll like you, or they won’t, but you can’t fool them.”

President James Madison also relied on slaves from his home, Montpelier. His valet, a slave named Paul Jennings, eventually bought his freedom and went on to write the first ever memoir of life in the executive mansion.

When asked what their secret was to such a long marriage, Kay said: “You love a little, you cuss a little, and you pick up and you start all over again.”

Lee Daniels’ The Butler, the film loosely based on Butler Eugene Allen’s life,

“When we changed from the Bushes to the Clintons, we went from the rich to the grits.”

home usually I put my feet up on the table where we lived in Alexandria, but Mom goes, ‘Don’t put your feet up there! That’s Jefferson’s table.’”