Choose Your Own Career Adventure at the White House
If you want to Go to page Keep the White House running smoothly Chief Usher5 Brief the president on world events Intelligence Officer 9 Get elected to the nation’s top job President 13 Keep the world informed about White House news Press Secretary17 Protect the president at all costsSecret Service Agent 21 Throw the nation’s best partiesSocial Secretary25 Imagine a future in the nation’s capital Write a Fun Career Adventure 29 Get some help with tricky wordsGlossary31 Locate specific information in this book Index32 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
Ready to take charge of running the president’s house Looking for an energetic extremely organized individual interested in long-term commitment to manage the household staff and behind-the-scenes operations of the White House Awesome organizational skills a must and budgetary know-how a very big plus Here’s your chance to leave a mark on history Ready to take on this challenge Turn to page 6 Want to explore a career as an Intelligence Officer instead Go to page 9 Rather consider other choices Return to page 4 Learn more about what the chief usher does at www whitehousehistory org questions who-is the-chief-usher CHIEF USHER 5
Work at Home The White House is where the United States of America does business But the White House is also home to the presidential family A staff of hundreds work there every day including maids chefs butlers florists doormen painters plumbers carpenters electricians gardeners and many more As chief usher you are in charge of overseeing the entire staff in the Executive Residence as the White House is also known As chief usher you are the general manager of the building itself including construction maintenance and remodeling You manage the staff in charge of feeding the first family and their guests and also handle the administrative fiscal and personnel functions Your top priority is meeting the first family’s needs All in a Day’s Work Every morning you meet with the Office of Scheduling and Advance to review the day’s events The rest of the day an in house computer provides minute-by-minute updates The first daughter is running late for a piano lesson Got it Time for a veterinarian check-up for the family pet You’re on it Not only that but a tracking system keeps you informed of every member of the family’s whereabouts at all times so you know when and where they are in the house That’s how service 6
staffers make beds nab laundry dust vacuum paint and make repairs without busting up the family’s privacy You also tend to the needs of the family’s guests One day it could be a sleepover for the president’s son Another day it could be arranging for an important foreign official and his wife to have dinner with the president and first lady You work with other staffers to make sure that all guests enjoy their White House visits Committed for the Long Haul So what’s on your agenda for tomorrow It’s time for your monthly meeting with executives from the National Park Service the Secret Service the Military Office and others to go over any repairs upkeep issues or security concerns that need attention Many jobs at the White House end when presidents leave office But not the chief usher You hope to beat the record of your personal role model Eugene Allen Mr Allen served under eight presidents and was the subject for the 2013 movie The Butler 7
