Existing comment:
"It's just amazing to see the care that they put in, from housemen sweeping the floor, to the chef getting the menu and submitting it to the first lady and then making sure that every item on the plate looks just perfect."
-- Nancy Mitchell, assistant usher, 1981-2006
A Changing Workforce:
As the nation became more diverse, so did the White House staff. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09) employed three Frenchmen and five Irishmen, and John Quincy Adams (1825-29) hired a Belgian valet. Before 1860, southern president also had enslaved workers, who worked alongside free African Americans and European-born servants. In 1909, President William H. Taft (1909-13) hired the first Filipino staff members, starting a tradition that continued throughout the 20th century. Today, a diverse staff from many backgrounds keeps the Executive Residence running smoothly. |