Book Review: Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies
Review:
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies
by J. B. West
The White House chief usher is the head of household staff and operations at the White House. This position directs the maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The chief usher directs state functions, plans parties, weddings, funerals, gardens, playgrounds and is in charge of renovations. As a result of this, the usher works very closely with the First Ladies.
J.B. West (1912 – 1983), worked as a White House Usher for 28 years. West was first the assistant to the chief usher and then the chief usher for six consecutive presidents and first ladies. He worked for the Roosevelts, Trumans, Eisenhowers, Kennedys, Johnsons and the Nixons. West retired shortly after Nixon took office.
This book gives us a glimpse of what life in the private quarters in the White House was like. Always respectful, we learn about the personalities of the presidents, their first ladies, families, and guests. However, it is not a tell-all gossip book, but we do learn some interesting facts. For instance, Winston Churchill liked to spend the mornings in his quarters, unclothed, not drinking orange juice but instead sipping on scotch. Mamie Eisenhower, after she had her hair and makeup done, used to hold her morning staff meetings while sitting on her pink bed. She rarely got out of bed before noon.
I found it interesting that while Congress appropriated money for the upkeep of the White House, the residents paid for their own food, travel and used fundraising efforts or donations to pay for larger renovation projects. Truman came into office but didn’t have the personal fortune to fund these himself. As a result, Congress awarded an expense account for feeding the White House staff.
This book is engaging and informative without being dry. In addition, it is fun to read. You learn a little about the lives of the first families living in the White House from FDR to the early months of the Nixon administration. I highly recommend it!
Book Reviews:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/j-b-mary-lynn-kotz-west/upstairs-at-the-white-house-my-life-with-the-fi/
Something About the Author:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._West
Book Discussion Questions:
Note: I could not find any for this particular book but did find a good list of general questions that could be applied to this book.
https://bookriot.com/2017/08/21/book-club-discussion-questions/
- Another great book I recommend is Playing with the Enemy, by Gary W. Moore.