Additional Information
With this illustrated memoir, Gary J. Walters, the longest serving chief usher in White House history, shares for the first time the extraordinary history he witnessed during thirty-seven years of White House service. While thousands of people have worked in the White House, a much smaller number have continued in their roles for more than one presidency, and even fewer have, or will ever, serve seven presidents and their families. One of those few is Gary J. Walters. Walters began his service in 1970 as an Executive Protective Service officer and joined the Usher’s Office as an assistant usher in 1976. In 1986, he assumed the responsibilities of chief usher, a position he held until January 26, 2007. In these roles he was in a unique position to observe life as lived on a daily basis in the White House by presidents Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and their families.
Walters relates the history he witnessed from a unique vantage point. He explains the roles of the White House Usher's Office and the Residence staff while describing first family routines and living spaces, official and informal entertaining, the care and maintenance of the house, the importance of exercise and sport, decorating for the holidays, and the many first pets who brought comfort to the presidents. With behind-the-scenes detail he offers memories of Watergate and President Nixon’s last day in office, the Bicentennial visit of Queen Elizabeth II, the move of three Carter families into the White House, the first White House visit of the Pope, attempted presidential assassinations, surprise birthday parties, elevator conversations, Millenium celebrations, and more. Readers will learn the resources marshalled for the transition from one family to the next on Inauguration Day, the tensions as first families await outcomes on Election Day, and a nearly minute-by-minute account of what was going on at the White House on September 11, 2001.
Heavily illustrated with more than 100 images.