Upstairs At The White House

 J.B. West was the head usher at the White House. He wrote about his occupational memories with the help of Mary Lynn Kotz in the book Upstairs At The White House; My Life With The First Ladies. The author started as an assistant usher when Eleanor Roosevelt was living at the White House. He worked with Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, and Pat Nixon before he retired. He handled odd requests, planned events and dinners and directed state functions such as weddings and funerals. He helped to redecorate the rooms over the years. He handled the budget and informed each First Lady how much she could spend on redecorating. I enjoyed this fascinating behind the scenes look at the families who lived in the White House.