The White House for Kids by Katherine House

Author:Katherine House
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 2014-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Outgoing president George H. W. Bush, left, and his wife, Barbara, greet the Clintons on Inauguration Day in 1993. Incoming president Bill Clinton pets the Bushes’ dog, while incoming first lady Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton talk to Mrs. Bush. George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Cabinetmaker Morris W. Dove at work in the White House in 1927. He made chairs for the Cabinet Room and also reproduced antique furnishings. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Harris & Ewing, LC-DIG-hec-29057

Moving day is not only physically demanding. It also takes an emotional toll on workers. Earlier in the 20th century, housekeeper Elizabeth Jaffray remembered the day as “a rather sad time.” The “sweeping away of every memento and reminder” of the outgoing family “leaves the whole household depressed and uncertain.” When Jaffray worked in the White House, some members of the staff actually lived there, too. That practice was abandoned long ago, but today’s staff members continue to interact with the first family early in the morning and late at night.

That access provides insight into the workings of the family and the presidency that few Americans possess. Workers know how late the first couple stayed up dancing at a state dinner and whether they were satisfied with the entertainers. They notice subtle changes in body language and eating habits that could indicate a brewing crisis. And they see a president’s heartache when a loved one dies, or they watch him boast about a grandchild with sheer delight. “Every president I’ve served, I’ve seen them laugh and I’ve seen them cry,” recalled pastry chef Roland Mesnier. “Every single one of them.”

After watching presidents interact with friends and family, “the White House became just that—a white house,” Jaffray explained. She no longer saw the presidents as hard-to-approach rulers “but old and true friends.” Indeed, it’s not unusual for first families to form a special bond with the people who work for them. For First Lady Mary Lincoln, Elizabeth Keckley became more than a seamstress. The independent businesswoman was a valued confidante, who listened to the first lady talk about her innermost fears and feelings. After President Lincoln died, his widow refused to see any callers. Instead, she kept Elizabeth at her side for comfort. The Lincolns helped Elizabeth Keckley, too, by providing financial support for a charity she founded.

When First Lady Helen Taft’s son outgrew his knickers, she gave them to one of her maids. She knew Emmett Parks wore the same size as her son Charlie. When a grown-up Emmett experienced health problems after returning from World War I, First Lady Grace Coolidge insisted that the president’s own doctor look him over. In some cases, presidents choose to relax with workers, revealing a more carefree side. Or in the case of George H. W. Bush, a more competitive side. A horseshoe enthusiast, he challenged workers to tournaments on the South Lawn. His successor, Bill Clinton, sometimes invited butlers to watch college basketball games with him in the theater or the Solarium.

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