A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Experiences Serving the First Ladies of the White House

A. Kate: I did not know what to expect. What I found was a delightful, well written book with wonderful characters- and characters they were! This book is written with respect, humor, honesty, and reverence to our countries First Ladles. A very enjoyable book.

United States on Oct 26, 2023

Linda Berger: Lots of history here and a great insight into the workings of this great home. A very enjoyable book, I truly enjoyed it!

United States on Oct 24, 2023

Ace: A true trip to the insights of the White House. Wonderful.

United States on Sep 26, 2023

Leenybean: Enjoyed it, the photos at the end are so well described. Made the books ending utterly amazing.
Well worth the read!

United States on Aug 21, 2023

ron matsu: I enjoyed the writing style of Mr West who was informative but not overpowering with data. He successfully ushered us through the changes in the Presidency without any qualitative asides. He skillfully gave us deep insights into the character and manner of the First Ladies without casting aspersions. There was just enough political reference that provided us with the feelings of the times.

Canada on Sep 03, 2022

Beatrice Wise: Very quick read. Funny interesting stories about the First Ladies of the White House. I had no knowledge of US history or politics and found this a great book

Canada on Aug 31, 2022

Ina: The author is discreet but he did work with many First Ladies so his observations are interesting. They add to the impressions we carry from other sources.

Canada on Jan 30, 2022

Kindle Customer: This recollection of life in the White House during a series of presidential wives and of their different personal influences upon the political and social life of modern America written from the intimate perspective of the White House's Chief Usher is both a glimpse behind the curtain of historical change and a warm personal memoir of the individual women. The author keeps a tight focus on the First Ladies and their work and lives and thus humanises them and their family relationships. Neither succumbing to saccharine hagiography nor moralising judgements the author offers us an evenhanded portrait of the personalities of each of the women. They are not compared to each other according to any personal preferential basis. They are also each presented within the relevant social contexts of their eras and backgrounds. This is therefore a warm, well-rounded description of the First Ladies from a diplomatic, intelligent, devoted public servant which reminds us that history is also written by ordinary citizens who do their jobs exceptionally well under exceptional pressures.

Australia on Nov 03, 2021

Jean: Mr. West begins at his beginning when he first entered the White House to serve as assistant to the Chief Usher, which was during the Roosevelt Administration before the war, from there we move on to to each Administration, to when he is promoted to Chief Usher, and to when he leaves during the beginning of the Nixon Administration. He takes you through the day to day settling in and change over from the old to a new Administration, all the things they will bring, what they want removed, to what staff will come with them and who will have what room. He gives the like and dislikes of each first lady and how they adapted to the job, as well as how they thought the White House should be represented., and how they interacted as couple with their spouses and their family. He reflects his observations of each first lady organization skills from one who just let things roll like Mrs. Roosevelt to Mrs Nixon,who he thought was too thin, to those who thought they own the place like Mrs. Eisenhower, but then those who were true partners and stayed out the limelight like Mrs. Truman, and Mrs Kennedy who loved the White House for its history and its need to be preserved He also gives vivid...

United States on Nov 28, 2020

microfiche: I read this book, after reading  My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House  so many years ago that neither book is available for me to read again from the public library. A pity because both books showed some of the human side of the First Couples, from those who worked in and for "The President's House" in domestic service. So I'm glad to own a Kindle copy. It's still a good, light read.

Mr. West's service as Chief Usher went from the Franklin Roosevelts in 1940 to the end of the Lyndon Johnsons in 1969. Don't expect any beneath the sheets stuff. Getting enough water pressure in President Johnson's shower to satisfy him is as revealing of a President as it gets. It's interesting to see how the wives of the Presidents coped with the job of First Lady. The job was less defined than the Vice-President's, but it is a job, and each woman defined it in her own way. Mrs. Roosevelt was her husband's eyes and ears, as well as Jimminy Cricket social conscience to his Pinochio. Mrs. Johnson deflected LBJ's temper. Mrs. Kennedy strove to make the White House reflect the history of the U.S. Presidency. And Mr. West had to help Mrs. Truman adapt to being First Lady of the...

Canada on May 08, 2014