The Residence

A wonderful and fascinating account of service and devotion

There are 96 full-time domestic employees who work at the White House and over 200 part-timers.  Positions include butlers, carpenters, chefs, doormen, electricians, florists, maids, plumbers, ushers, valets and many others.  Although many staffers consider working at the White House to be an honor, it is not a glamorous job.  They are expected to provide excellent customer service, work erratic hours and adhere to a stringent code of ethics that provides an aura of privacy and confidentiality, which helps to shield the first family from the media and the public.

Author Kate Brower compiled this book from extensive interviews with former staff as well as members of previous first families.  I enjoyed this book for several reasons.  It is a nonfiction title that reads like fiction.  It’s a great read for those who have an interest in American history, especially the presidency. Readers will also gain insight into the personalities and idiosyncrasies of presidents and first families from the Kennedys to the Obamas. However, the best aspect of this book are the stories of devotion, loyalty, and self-sacrifice of the ordinary men and women who provided years and in some cases decades of dedicated service to the institution of the presidency.  These accounts are truly inspirational and are an example of a level of service that we should all aspire to in our work.