At Home in this Nation We’ve Made

When I was in 5th grade, we were assigned a “President’s Pack” to complete. It was a just a bunch of worksheets with facts about the Presidents, but it was enough to get me hooked. Ever since, I’ve been completely fascinated by the lives of U.S. Presidents. I’ve never cared as much about their political accomplishments–I wanted to know more about their families and their day-to-day lives. This is exactly what The Residence is about, and I found it completely enjoyable.

Kate Andersen Brower used to be a journalist covering the White House beat, and after attending a fancy champagne luncheon hosted by Michelle Obama, she decided to write a book about the White House from the point of view of those who know it best–the domestic staff that worked there for decades, regardless of political beliefs. She interviewed ushers, butlers, maids, chefs, doormen, florists, painters, carpenters, and more who had worked under several different presidencies, from the Kennedy administration all the way up through the Obamas. Her interviews offer a “slice of life” from the East Wing.

There’s some great stuff in here. George H.W. and Barbara Bush were the most popular of the modern Presidents and First Ladies, thanks to the kindness and respect they showed the staff, while Lyndon Johnson and Nancy Reagan were pretty unpopular (I feel like this book is worth it for the story about Johnson’s shower alone). The stories of the staff interacting with family members are so touching–one staff member, called upstairs to do some repairs, ended up reading a book to 2-year-old John F. Kennedy Jr. The pastry chef during the Clinton years made a mocha cake (Hillary’s favorite) every day during the Lewinsky scandal, because he knew Hillary was going through a hard time and he wanted to have it ready just in case she asked for it. A doorman recalls sobbing in the elevator alongside Jackie Kennedy after JFK was shot. The White House staff is so devoted to their jobs and the families they serve. It’s really incredible to read about.

There’s no political agenda here for Brower–she’s simply reporting on what the staff said, and they don’t seem to care about any of the presidents’ politics, other than Johnson coming in for some criticism over racist comments (and I should say that the criticism actually seems to be coming from his daughter Luci, who was also interviewed, rather than staff). The same staff who cared for Kennedy and Johnson were just as devoted to Nixon. It’s honestly incredible to read about in our current political climate where everyone hates each other. These guys will take the same good care of the next President, too, no matter who it is. They take their jobs very seriously. After reading this book I want to be a Florist in the White House, although I know I could never handle the hours or the pressure. These guys work an insane amount.

I really liked this book. There’s some criticism on Amazon from some other former staffers who state that now Presidents and First Ladies won’t feel like they can trust their domestic staff, but honestly, if these guys can find nice things to say about Richard Nixon (and they do–really nice things, actually), I wouldn’t worry too much if I were President.