White House Chief Usher

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White House Chief Usher is the title of the head of household staff and operations at the White House, the official residence and principle workplace of the President of the United States.

The Chief Usher is, by description, charged with the responsibility for "for the effective operation of the Executive Residence at the White House as the home of the President, site of Official and Ceremonial activities of the Presidency, and a museum of our American history ... [Chief Usher] develops and administers the budget for the operation, maintenance, and utilities and supervises the Executive Residence staff." In carrying out this charge, the Chief Usher must coördinate Executive Residence actions with a host of organizations including the Executive Office of the President, the National Park Service, the Secret Service, the General Services Administration, the military, and other government entitites. The Chief Usher serves at the pleasure of the president and coordinates both official and family life at the White House.

For operations involving official ceremonies and events at the White House, the Chief Usher coördinates activities with the White House Social Secretary in the East Wing, and the Chief of Protocol of the United States, an official within the United States Department of State.

The office for the Chief Usher is located on the State Floor, near to the Cross Hall and Entrance Hall beside the entrance to the North Portico. An 1815 floor plan for the White House labels this room as the Ushers Lodge.

The longest serving White House Chief Usher was Irwin "Ike" H. Hoover who served for 42 years. Gary J. Walters resigned as Chief Usher in January, 2007 after serving in the position from 1986 when appointed by President Ronald Reagan. The current, and eighth Chief Usher is Stephen W. Rochon, a retired Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard.

[edit] References

Garrett, Wendell. Our Changing White House. Northeastern University Press: 1995. ISBN 1-55553-222-5.
Seale, William. The President's House. White House Historical Association and the National Geographic Society: 1986. ISBN 0-912308-28-1.
West, J.B. with Mary Lynn Kotz. Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan: 1973. SBN 698-10546-X.
The White House: An Historic Guide. White House Historical Association and the National Geographic Society: 2001. ISBN 0-912308-79-6.