Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies | 1973 | J.B. West | Buy |
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies (1973) is J.B. West’s memoir of his nearly three decades running the White House residence. As Chief Usher from 1941 to 1969, West oversaw everything from state dinners to plumbing repairs, and his account offers a rare look at the private side of presidential life.
The book is organized around the different administrations West served, with each section focused on the First Lady of the period. West writes about Eleanor Roosevelt’s informality, Mamie Eisenhower’s attention to detail, Jackie Kennedy’s famous renovation of the residence, and Lady Bird Johnson’s warmth. The tone is observational rather than gossipy, and West clearly respected the families he worked for even as he noted their quirks. More than fifty years after publication, the book is still considered one of the best insider accounts of how the White House actually runs on a daily basis.