The Residence

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America's First Families remain enigmatic, yet their true character is best understood by those who serve them daily. This account offers a glimpse into life in the White House through the perspectives of the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, engineers, and other dedicated staff who cater to the President and First Family. These professionals manage the mansion's 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases, preparing everything from hors d'oeuvres for small gatherings to meals for grand state dinners. In the basement kitchen, they share stories, trade secrets, and form lifelong friendships, sometimes even falling in love. Through first-person anecdotes from extensive interviews with White House staff and archival research, the narrative reveals the close relationships between the First Family and their staff, as well as the tensions that have arisen over the years. From the love story of a housekeeper and engineer during President Reagan's term to Jackie Kennedy's private moment of grief after her husband's assassination, and the tumultuous events surrounding Nixon's resignation and Clinton's impeachment, this account is rich with surprising and poignant details that illuminate everyday life in the White House.