Upstairs at the White House by J
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Upstairs at the White House By J. B. West With Mary Lynn Katz was to enter the halls, we knew someone One day the valet wheeled President From Franklin D. Roosevelt to Richard AL important was coming. We had been told Roosevelt up to the rose room, opened the Nixon, J.B. West has been involved in to prepare for a VIP, but we didn't know door, and there mod his unclothed guest. running the White House. As assistant ro who. It didn't. take long for the cigar The Prime Minister didn't mind, but the the Chief Usher from 1941 to 1957 and smoke to announce Mr. Churchill's pres- President did. He quickly backed out into Chief Usher until 1969, when he retired,he ence. the hall until Mr. Churchill could get some- had a view of the First Families denied Mrs. Roosevelt had arranged for him to thing on. most of us. The following excerpts are stay in the Lincoln bedroom, then located * * from his recently published memoir. Up- off the West Hall, the favorite of most male stairs at the White House, written with guests. However. he didn't like the bed, so n 1943, as the war raged on, the Mary Lynn Kora (Coward, McCann & he tried our all the beds and finally !derma White House opened its doors to two Geoghegan, Inc, New York). the rose suite at the east end of the second I most unusual official guests—Mad- floor. ame Chiang Kaishek of China, and Soviet The staff did have a little difficulty ad- Foreign Minister Vyacheslav M Molotov. justing to Mr. Churchill's way of Living. The staff was nearly floored by each of The first thing in the morning, be declined them. Roosevelt the customary orange juice and called for a On her first day in the White House, he most colorful visitor to appear at drink of Scotch. His staff, a large entou- President and Mrs. Roosevelt received the wartime White House was Win- rage of aides and a valet, followed suit. Madame Chiang for formal tea in the West T ston Churchill. His living habits are The butlers wore a path in the carpet carry. Sitting Hall. Knowing how the Chinese are still the subject of White House staff gos- ing ways laden with brandy ro his suite. about tea, Mrs. Roosevelt had secured sip, and every visitor who sleeps in the We got used to his "jumpsuit," the ex- some very special Chinese tea, supposed to Queen's Room is compared ro the trusty traordinary one-piece uniform he wore ev- be a hundred years old, for the occasion. old Prime Minister. ery day, but the servants never quite got When the China doll, as Mr. Crirn called He first arrived secretly, just before over seeing him naked in his room when her, sipped daintily without comment, Christmas in 1941. When the Secret Serv. they'd go up to serve brandy. It was the Mrs. Roosevelt couldn't resist telling her ice passed the word chat from two until jumpsuit or nothing. In his room, Mr. about it three o'clock in the afternoon of December Churchill wore no clothes at all most of the "ln my country, tea kept so long is used 22 no one was to leave his office, no one time during the day. only for medicinal purposes," Madame 12 TM Witherkpoun Post/Potamselocrober V. 197J Collages hvAilee App.l Chiang replied sweetly. Caesar, the same valet who unpacked if she needs a ride, - the President directed. Madame Chiang, who proved not to be Miss Rung, rushed into the Usher's office The fourth time this incident occurred, so democratic as her publicity had us be- the day Mr. Molotov arrived. His hands the Secret. Service men following the Presi- lieve, traveled with an entourage of 40, were trembling. dent began to be aware that the same lady, many of whom were stashed away on the "He's got a gun in his suitcase," the valet on the same country road, always needed a third floor, the others at the Chinese Em- whispered excitedly. "What shall I do?" ride. They'd rake the long route to her des- bassy. With her on the second flour were Mr. Crim's eyes opened wide. That was tination, giving the President and his pas- her personal maid, and her closest aides, a piece of hardware most unwelcome in senger a scenic spin in the big car. One of her niece and nephew, the Rungs. At first, the White House. But delicate interna- the agents mentioned those drives to the we thoughr they both were nephews. tional conferences were going on in the Usher's office, wondering if any of us Miss Kong dressed like a man, and the President's study. The Chief Usher called might know the mysterious lady. So one White House valets, thinking she was Mr. the Secret Service, explaining the situa- day Wilson Searles talked the agent into Kong, went into her room to unpack her tion, then hung up the phone_ He turned to letting him accompany them on an excur- bags and help her undress. In a short time, Caesar, who was still waiting. sion. When he saw Searles in the Secret they were in the Usher's office. "Your Mr. "Just hope he doesn't use it on you!" Service car, Mr. Roosevelt laughed. Kung is a girt - Caesar the valet cold the "I see it's your turn to find out what's go- horrified Mr. Crim, who immediately sent * * * ing on!" the President said. The lady was two maids up to attend to her nerds. Quite often, but only when Mrs. Roose- Mrs. Rutherford. But even the President was fooled, and velt was out of town, the President invited called her "my boy- very expansively at his friend Mrs. Lucy Mercer Rutherford to Truman dinner. call all young people 'myboy,' " the White House. An attractive, vivacious On April 22, 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt he tried to cover.) woman in her forties, she'd arrive at the died and Harry Truman became Presides-IL Miss Rung proved to be quite a nuisance front door, the north entrance. We'd t the end of the work day, the Tru- for the First Lady. Mrs. Roosevelt called watch her hurry up the steps, to be es- mans had cocktails in the West down to the Usher's office, exasperated. corted by an usher to the second floor. The Hall, which is the family sitting "Mr. Crim, can you please explain to Miss butler would serve tea, close the door, and room. One drink each, before dinner. But Kong that she is to call you if she needs leave the President and Mrs. Rutherford it took a while to learn their tastes. Shortly anything? She pops into my room a dozen alone. After about an hour's time, the Pres- after they moved in, the First Lady rang for time during the day. ident rang for the doorman to escort her the butler. Fields came up, tray in hand. The tiny, delicate-looking Madame back to her car. "We'd like two old.fashioneds, please,- Chiang stayed at the White House nine In good weather, the President enjoyed she requested. days, and the White House maids were taking a drive in the Virginia countryside Fields, who often moonlighted at Wash- never so happy to see anybody leave. -Mrs. with his little dog, Fala, and the Secret ington's most elegant parties, prided him- Generalissimo" brought her awn silk Service guard. One day Mr. Roosevelt di- self on being an excellent bartender. sheets with her, which had to be laundered rected the driver to go along a certain "Yes, Ma'am, he answered. by hand every day, and stitched back in- wooded, dirt road. Suddenly, he ordered In no time flat, he was back with the or- side the heavy quilted sleeping bag she had the driver to stop. "There seems to be a der, in chilled glasses, with appetizing brought along from China. lady walking along the road. Let us ask her fruit slices and a dash of bitters. Mrs. Tru- P.tifter.ranc/Omber n. nu/ 13 "Mr. West, we have a little problem." man tasted the drink, thanked him, but man's study at nine, as usual. "Yes," 1 waited. made no other comment. She scanned the day's menu, then, in a She cleared her throat, demurely. The next evening she rang for Fields. rather small, uncomfortable voice, she "Ir's the President's bed. Do you think "Can you make the old-fashioned a little said: drier?" she said. "We don't like them so you can ger it fixed today?" "Why certainly," I said. -What's the sweet-" Fields tried a new recipe, and again she matter?" "Two of the slats broke down during the said nothing. But the next morning she told me, night." i They make the worst uld.fashioneds here "I'll see that it has all new slats put in," I've ever tasted! They're like fruit punch. - said hurriedly. "It's an old antique bed any- The next evening, Fields, his pride way, and if he'd like a newer one . " hurt, dumped two big splashes of bourbon "Oh, no," she said. "This one is just over the ice and served it to Mrs. Truman- fine." She tasted the drink. Then she beamed. Our the Truman, certainly aren't anti- Now that's the way we like our old- ques, I thought to myself.