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Home , Blair House, Entrance Hall, West Executive Avenue

Upstairs at the 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 , 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 , 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 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. The President's fashioneds!" wife was blushing like a young bride. * * * * * * When Mrs. Truman left to take her mother to Independence for the summer, Jr was during the Truman years char the the President was disconsolate. He'd pick White House was found to be falling down at his food if he had to eat alone, and often, and the President and his wife moved on the spur of the moment, he'd call over a across the street to . There an crony for an evening's visit in the drawing event happened that changed the shape of room. Solitary thinking was not his favor- the Presidency. ire approach to solving problems. He liked At one in the afternoon, punctual to the a verbal sounding board. And he liked second, President Truman walked into company. Blair House, nodding to Mr. Crim and me, The President.had the poker game come as we sat in our little office just inside the to the White House only once, in his earli- front door. est days in office. We'd even bought a spe- The President went upstairs for a few cial poker table. However, he preferred to moments, then came down to lunch with spend his evenings alone with his wife. Mrs. Truman and Mrs. Wallace. Things But when Mrs. Truman was out of town, were quiet, sleepy. . . the President returned to the poker game. I checked the Usher's log as Mr. Truman When she returned that fall, the Presi- went back upstairs to take his nap. The dent was jubilant. He met her train at Un- President had one appointment for the af- ion Station and they came back arm in ternoon, a ceremony at Arlington Ceme• arm. rcry. "It's good to have the real boss back," he "You can sleep until 2:30," 1 joked to beamed at me. "But we'll have to mind our Mr. Crim. "His car won't be here until p's and q's around here from now on." then." Mr. and Mrs. Truman were so obviously Mr. Crim laughed. ''I'm afraid I might glad to see each ocher, butlers kept grin- nut wake up," he said_ ning as they went back and forth' through I looked out the window—Blair House, the house. like most period townhouses, is right on After a light dinner in the President's the street—at Officer Birdzell, dressed in brary, they sent the maids downstairs. his winter uniform, standing on the side- The next morning, I was in Mrs. Tru• walk.

The W.rthumum PosciPogortmiCtrober P. 1973 14 and asked a priest to meet him at Emer- twice as wide as a single bed—and we'd gency Hospital. Fields and I stayed with like it as soon as possible, please." Taking the wounded, bleeding man until the am- a pencil from her bedside table, she bulance arrived. There had obviously been quickly designed a double headboard for an attempt to kill the President. But who the bed, to be upholstered and tufted in —end why? the same pink fabric as the easy chair in One of the would-be assassins was 's sitting room, and 3 killed. The other lived ro explain that they dust-ruffle to match. were Puerto Rican nationalists, who had The bed must have been an immediate tried to kill the President because they success. The morning after it arrived in a hoped to set Off a revolution in the United White House truck from New York, Mr. States so that their country could declare Crim and I accompanied the butler bring- independence. ing Mrs. Eisenhower's breakfast ray. It was a frightening experience for all of "Come in, come in," the First Lady sang us to see people murdered just a few feet out, as Rose Woods opened the door to the away, as they tried to invade the residence new bedroom. to kill the President of the United States. She was nestled in the big bed, propped But we were astounded minutes Later to up against half a dozen pillows, deep in sue the President come downstairs and conversation on the white bedside tele- leave by the back alley door to make a phone. Waving gaily at Mr. Crim and me speech, unveiling a statue of a British war to rake a seat, she said, still talking ro her hero, at Arlington Cemetery. friend, ''. . y And I've just had the first "I bet he'd like to be in his shirtsleeves If the killers had arrived at 2:50, instead good night's sleep I've had since we've today," l said. of 2:20, the President would have been been in the White House. Our new bed fi- Mr. Crim and I were sitting in the office walking our the front door of Blair House nally got here, and now I can reach over just inside the front door with the window —a frighteningly easy target. and par Ike on his old bald head anytime I open, because it was so unseasonably From that moment on, the Secret Serv- want ro!" warm outside, The house was 50 quiet, the ice, the police, and the President were * * * day so close, it was a struggle to stay never allowed to forget the possibility of a awake. madman's bullet. No longer could Presi- have but one career, and its name is Suddenly a shattering noise brought us dent Truman walk across the street to his Ike," Mrs. Eisenhower once an- both to our feet. office nor rake his constitutional. From c I nounced. But as far as we were con- "That's gunfire!" Mr. Crim exclaimed as then on, his car 'always picked him up at cerned, she made a career of the Presi- we ran to the window. the back alley of Blair House, drove him dent's house. I saw the White House policeman Davi- around the back to the southwest gate of On the wall opposite the elevator, she son and Secret Service agent Boring, their the White House to his office. nailed a little plaque, "Bless This House." pistols drawn and shooting, running down , between the It had hung in rwenty-eight previous the sidewalk from the police box, at the White House and the old State-War-Navy homes, from a one.room apartment to a east end of the house. They were shooting Department building, was closed to traffic French mansion, and now in the B. Alt- at somebody near the front door of Blair forever. Pedestrians no longer could stroll man White House. House! on the sidewalks in front of Blair House. She never treated the mansion as govern. I ran our to the and found We began to know the feeling of life be- ment property, it was hers. And she rook the front door wide open. hind a barricade, a feeling that never again such fastidious care of it that we almost be- Wade, the doorman, was just standing left us. lieved it was hers. She became truly there, scaring at a man in a dark striped alarmed if things went wrong. suit, who was firing at the policemen. Eisenhower One such problem rated a 7 a.m. phone "Close the door," I yelled and wheeled Mamie Eisenhower was almost as used call to the housekeeper. around M ger at the open windows, when to being in charge as her husband, and, "Come up to my bedroom as soon as the saw Mrs. Truman coming down the stairs. says West, "She established her White President goes to his office!" Mrs. Eisen- "What's happening?" she asked wor. House command immediately." hower ordered. Miss Walker, alarmed, riedly. There'd be no separate bedrooms for the stopped by my office first. "Perhaps you'd "There's a shooting outside," 1 said Eisenhowers- Mary Geneva Doud Eisen. better come up with me," she said. "It "Somebody is shooting at the police." bower made that perfectly clear her first sounds like disaster. " Eyes wide, she turned quickly and morning in the White House. after she'd It was the earliest we'd ever seen Mrs. walked back upstairs. spent the night in 's narrow, Eisenhower. And She wasn't in bed. When f saw Officer Birdzell, who'd single bed in the little room known as the But the bed was a mess. All over the been standing out front only a few mo- First Lady's dressing room. sheers, covers, pink dust-ruffle, head- ments before, fall to the ground bleeding, I "I'd like to make some changes right board, everything, were big black spots - realized we were under attack I had no away," she said, lighting a cigarette and or, 03 be exact, dabs and blotches and idea how many gunmen there were or surveying her new quarters. swipes of indigo. whether there'd be an invasion of Blair "First of an, I'm not going to sleep in "What on earth can we do?" the First House. Then city police and Secret Service this little room. This is a dressing room, Lady wailed. agents appeared in droves, and the shoot- and I want it made into my dressing room. Miss Walker began jerking the sheets off ing suddenly stopped. The big room"—she indicated with a the bed herself. "I'll take these down to the The man in the striped suit lay on the sweep of her arm the mauve-and-gray laundry room to soak, and one of the maids bottom doorstep. another man was crum- chamber next door, where Mrs. Truman will bring up some spio-temuver for the pled in a heap inside the hedge in front of had sat listening to baseball games—"will rest," she said. Lee House. Officer Coffelt was dead, and be our bedroom!" Once the housekeeper had disappeared Officer Downs was seriously wounded. "Prior to the Roosevelts, it had been with the soiled Linens, Mrs. Eisenhower be- "Get me a priest," Downs gasped, as used that way," Mr. Crim ventured. gan to explain. they dragged him into Mies Walker's office "Good!" Mrs. Eisenhower went on. "We "You see, my nose was all stopped up," at Lee House. I called St. Stephen's Church need a 'king-sized' bed—with a mattress Continued on page 1 7

TN, IVarl,m).1r.ro PrnrOPorarrur/Orrober 1. 14'..1 15 West, from pegr I

bedside table. So during

laughed. "Black and blue all over — and nostrils. Well, it seemed to just get drier, instead of moister," she went on, "so I

nestly, but now, knowing that it could all kept applying more and more. I didn't my throat. The President and the First be

she began, "and I had a jar of Vicks on my damaged," I assured her. "I'm sure it will all come our in the wash. -

the light. Then this morning, I discovered want CO wake up Ike, so I didn't rurn on that I was using woke up, I reached over to put some in my

Lady, in all their dignity,

ished, still laughing

hasty retreat. Not since Harry Truman's good bedtime story. the President, too."

four-poster broke down had I heard such a eyes. There was wonder in chose eyes, de- face and respond to her direct, compelling

plished.

people assumed that she was shy, uncer- ingenious way of getting things accom- merely her method of studying vulnerability. situation: memorizing the room, or assess- to her opinion, mattered. ing the people in it. She spoke no small room as if searching for the nearest exit,

and what does your husband do?" She lim- termination, humor and—sometimes- ited her conversation merely to what, in tain. I don't chink she was ever shy. It was

talk — no "I'm so wish, murmured with a "Do you think much a command as Mrs. Eisenhower's "I was her knowledge, and she had a subtle,

phoned from the hospital this morning," I no servants on the upstairs floors. And I bedroom one morning several weeks after plan to leave at 1:30. so have my car ready." said. "Please have the rooms in order, but want this done immediately."

the 1960 election.

the house at neon on December 9," she

told the outgoing First Lady. "She asked

j acqueline Kennedy whispered. Or

She had begun the conversation very ear- "Now don't you cell a soul," she admon- "Bur you should have seen . ." or "Could you please . . ." was as "I don't think anything is permanently I held down the chuckle that rose up in "Certainly nor,"

Mrs. Eisenhower had called me CO her I soon learned that Mrs. Kennedy's Her interests were wide, however, as

set right, she began to smile. When she looked around a crowded

"I've invited Mrs. Kennedy for a tour of

"Mrs. Kennedy's Secret Service agent

listen intently,

so I thought spoke so softly that

Kennedy

5

ink

I

forced to

,

to cure my cold."

very glad

promised, and beat

at -Mt. Actually

covered

the

one

night when I

focus

to meet you

was forced

me," she

in ink.

on her

,

she

the

e

her Caesarian surgery of November 25,

at Georgetown Hospital, recovering from

arrives."

"I wanted to take her around alone."

grandest of the First Ladies, pushing a

that we have a wheelchair for her when she when John senger had been a political enemy — was White House — especially when the pas-

manicured fingernails drummed the night wheelchair through the corridors of behind a door somewhere, our of sight. It too much for me. said.

table. "We'll gee a wheelchair, but put it hat and gloves, she could have been a peared. Dressed in a dark coat, wearing nedy drove a dark blue station wagon into Lady. gatory call. She was taller than I had real-

house was spruced up in its Christmas ized, as tall as I, even in her low heels. will be available side the elevator, and I was waiting at the pered. As if I didn't know. south entrance to meet the future First best, the wheelchair hidden in a closet be- stepped out. troduced myself. young Congressman's wife paying an obli- opened the door for her. Very thin, it seemed to me, and quite pale. into the Diplomatic Reception Room, looked around at the walls, sofas, and rug,

agent who had been assigned to Mrs. Ken-

and I could tell she was somewhat ill-at- and, without saying another word, walked the circular driveway. She was sitting in ease. the front seat, next to him.

with me through the green-carpeted hall- tain eyes cook in everything around her, way toward the elevator. Her wide, uncer-

The thought of Mamie Eisenhower, the At that moment, Mrs. Kennedy was still "Oh, dear," Mrs. Eisenhower frowned.

"I'll tell you what .

"I'm "Thank you," she smiled at him, and Harriston. the silent, genial doorman, Just before noon, the Secret Service

On the morning of December 9, the

"I'm Jacqueline Kennedy," she whis-

I was struck by how young She stepped, a bit hesitantly I thought,

Mr.

F.

West, the Chief Usher.' I in-

Kennedy, Jr., was born.

if she asks for

." her carefully

she

ir," she

the

ap-

Fiviuwaph by hAviihew l ewn

ond floor, Jacqueline

audible breath.

hall, a tiny figure under the high ceilings, explained, as we entered the elevator.

looked forward to this meeting. senhower did not come forward.

office for a call hower gave a nod and extended her hand surrounded by the beige expanse of hall. denly turned to me. Beach for me?" she asked. "We're going peared, off to her card game. Mrs. Ken- in her most gracious meet-the-visitor pose. Eisenhower stepped regally into the back graphs of the rooms, I saw pain darken her her, to give her blueprints and photo- scending, and I dashed to the elevator. now. And how is the baby?" "I do hope you are feeling much better around the third floor, Mrs. Kennedy sud- old station wagon. As I caught up with entrance, where their cars were waiting. And very much in command. nedy walked slowly over to her three-year- After the goodbyes and thank-yous, Mrs. that never came. Ar 1:30 on the dot, the the room to meet her formidable hostess, I two buzzers rang, indicating First Lady de- seat of her Chrysler limousitie and disap- was very much aware that neither lady had there to rest until Inauguration Day."

hind the closer door next to the elevator. ordered a wheelchair the day I first went explanation. certainly there, waiting for you. Right be- around the White House?" she asked.

back to bed for two whole weeks!" face.

scared of Mrs. Eisenhower to ask," she We were waiting for you to request it."

saw Jacqueline Kennedy uncertain again. this house for two hours that I had to go was so exhausted after marching around whispered. From that moment, I never

President.

family, they work for the White House. As the mansion, which makes life simpler for the President, but probably makes it rather frustrating for people who work for the

Mrs. Eisenhower stood in the center

"Mrs. Eisenhower is waiting upstairs," I

"Mrs. Kennedy," I announced. Mrs. Ei-

The two women walked out the south

"Yes, I turned and As I escorted the young woman across As the elevator door opened to the sec- "Hello,

"Could you please send them to Palm "Then why didn't you have it for me? I Two months later, as we were tromping

To my surprise, she giggled. "I was too

"Mr. West, did you know that my doctor "Well," I answered carefully, "it was She stared into my eyes, searching for an She looked bewildered.

The Chief Usher is personnel officer for

I did," I answered.

For

Mrs.

left

they no longer work for the

for

Kennedy," Mrs. Eisen-

* * *

them, and waited in my

the wheelchair, a call

Kennedy

Continued on page 29

took a deep,

17 West, from page 17 staff. for a change of tenants I manager of the household As the lawyer warned, the couldn't imagine what bed and , 1 was responsible for pledge did come under as- gone wrung ca,4,669- hiring.--and firing. And earls Pierre Siding., the it doesn't have enough through the years, I found President's press let-reels", let pressure," he complained. "It's a terrible shower, theta that she Kest Emilie.' per- it slip nue as a poses confer, ether it is. Now my shower at man deb- once, and newspapers across zooid servants rook The Elms... ," he went on to ate handling than those on the country were up in smoke describe the special, multi- the regular White House about the White House mut. nozzled fixture that could di. staff. sling in employ.s. Pierre, rem spray up. down, side- I discovered the sensitivity who protested lamely that ways, wide, narrow, and of President Kennedy's politi- "we just felt that it is a step so powerful. Than he repeated. cal ancernme es 1 carried out ensure that the President's "If you can's get it heed. I'll "the West Oen" to relieve Jul. wife will have privacy." was just move back to The Elms" isis of his inb. The rimming I besieged by newsmen. And without a smile, he turned on his heel and walked assigned Julius to his guest And the President, who away. room on the third floor, I met tied just squeaked by in the Immediately we charged the President et the elevator, election, wee In a right spot. upstairs to check the shower. and walked with him to his He called me from the Welt Nothing seemed to be wrong west wing office. wing. except that it wasn't what be °Mr. President. I have re- -Mr. West, may I come to was used to leased Julius Spessoz from the see you in your office" A feet minutes later, Mrs. kitchen today, bemuse Mrs. "Certainly. Mr. President," Johnson called, asking me so Kennedy would like to have • answered, snarled. come to the second floor. She pastry chef." I informed him. President Kennedy strode was Staffed in the Queen's sit- ting room, a small room with "Gadd you give him an auto- in. looking no official I all but one door. graphed picture?" saluted. "1 guess you've been told 'Sure, be glad to," the want you to help me, Mr. &bout the shower," slic said President enswereei Then he West," he began. "This "Yes ma'am," I smiled. frowned. "But aren't you 'pledge' business is causing She smiled back "Any- afraid he might went no write lot of trouble. Would you take thing that's done here, or something?" the blame for it?" needs to be done, remember "No, he doesn't know "I. did •sk the staff to sign this: my husband comes first, enough to write," I replied. it. Mr. President,' I an- the girls second, end I will be Sayer.' days later, Mrs. swered_ satisfied with who's left." Out toThe Elms we wen. Kennedy called me to the sec- "Geed. Well put am • with the White House engi- ond floor. "Mr. Wert, I've statement saying it was emu neer said plumbers. so study drawn It had some StaterraSIGI idea, and you initiated ie the shower. IN was sit unusual up by my attorney. Do you will look mare official, and one, but by contacting the chink It's all right for the ern• less of a personal thing corn- manuftecturer we felt sure ployees to sign a pledge that ing from you." that it could be duplicated. they won't write anything Nat so. Word came down about their experiences in the prom the second floor that the White House?" Johnson repleeement we had installed I was taken abeck a bit. just didn't work the same. Out it came. Before the sec- I'll certainly check on it," When the Johnantu arrived in ond installation, we invited said and I telephoned her az. the White House, the Press- engineers from the factory to Carney. James McInerney, to dens rook an immediate dis- task at The Elms' bathroom, cheek out the legal implica- like no his shower. to provide an exact duplica. tions In effect, the pledge was non. They, of coulee, jumped purely peychological• he ex- at the opportunity to custom- plained "Legally, it really has o Monday. December build * shower for the Presi- no force of effect. " 9, Airman Paul dent of the United State]. The attorney had drawn up Glynn, who'd been BM shower number three the steternem "so conform to assigned to the White House wouldn't do either. Nor num- Mrs. Kennedy's requirements as the President's valet, ber four. nor number five. phoned me just as I walked The problem was water pees. and chow of the Presidential into my office -The President sure. We even put a special step out lightly Office," and he had oho writ- Want, the Usher to pleats water tank in the stairwell ten Mrs. Kennedy a warning meet him at the ground-floor closet, with a pump of its You con put your best foot forward be- that "if publicly disclosed, the elevator landing" own. Piet for Mr. Johnson's agree-merit may be falsely con. The President stepped off shower. The Park Service was cause you know you can't get too much of =end as a further 'drone the elevator. "Mt. Wen, if celled in. R. Scouter, now in the area of executive privi- you can't get that shower of the White House liaison offi- a good thing! This slim classic iersey shirt- lege (of non-disclosures), mine fixed, I'm going to have cer there, jumped into the which had come under snack no move back to The Elms" shower in his bathing clunks dress sports colors cherry and navy, or He didn't sound es if he were to test the pressure. In was by the congressional Freedom deep wine and green. Sizes 12 to 20 or of Informariart Conwolemea." joking. strong enough for Rea, but There had been no com- OM for the President. We So, under the instruction of 141/2 to 221/2. Four Seasons casuals. All plaints from the Kennedy. kept designing, redesigning, Mrs. Kennedy. I had the house- And everything in the house towing out, installing, and ten stores. hold employees sign the had been doublechecked by fooling with that shower until pledge. I assume die Preli. the engineers after Mn, Ken. Lyndon Johnson moved out dent, himself, asked his own nedy moved out, as is usual Continued on page 6 '24 Th. wedietesoe P.,./P....,./Or.her 21. 5973 39 West, from page 29 of the White House. Despite Nixon all the talk of savings in elec-

tricity, we spent thousands The only initial change was Aaat€6- 9 and thaasaods of dollars, not the President's bedroom counting the man-hours, try- "Take out the big canopied ing to build a shower to please bed and put in a simple dou- him. It was the strongest, ble bed,- Mrs. Nixon re- most elaborate shower we'd quested. We went to the ever had, with shout six dif- storehouse, and there we ferent nozzles at different found President Truman's old heights, directing spray an ev- bed, the one that also had ery part of the body. been in the room during the Eisenhower Administration, * R * but seldom was used by the The White House was President then. steely always full of people. The First Lady liked Mc,. There were droves of house Johnson's bedroom. guests—the President's Aunt "I'll have to have a room of Olivet and Aunt Josef., On. my own," she confided to me ck Huffman Baines, Becky in her mellow, throaty voice. Bobbin, various Texas Nobody could sleep with friends, friendly governors Dick. He wakes up during the and their Families, famous night, switches on the light, Americans, schoolgirl friends speaks into his rape recorder of Lynda and Loci. The sec- or takes notes—it's impossi- ond and third floors were ble," she laughed. more "open house" than But although the new Pres- they'd been since the Rouse. ident kept two dimaphooes by veks' days. his bedside, he quickly got rid But there was one relative of most of the eleCtrOttill the President always kept equipment, wiring, and r track of. cordings in Mr. Johnson's At one point, the White bedroom, House served as a long-term On a first tour around the w ay station for Sun Houston living quarters, President Johnson, the President's high- Nixon peeked underneath the spirited brother whose ex- oversized four-poster bed ploits sometimes gained pub- Presidents Kennedy and bitty that bothered President Johnson had used. Johnson. At one point, Sant "What on earth is all [hie" Houston lived on the third he asked, amazed at the cat's floor for months His princi- cradle of electric wires, all pal activity was clipping tangled on the floor. THE CAPRICE CAPRICE newspapers, which the Presi- I explained that they were Nan-aloe!s easy dapping dare Pm the midi:a much velth o veld wed trend running dent told him would be useful telephone COrtbeCtiOrle, from for a future political cam- the elaborate, console phone amend k. nod had and liner gold 4ilte Ma en the Sort bow. Yoshi love ihe Nature al she paign It seemed, in fart, ss if system of dozens of direct Spanah crushed aspen and ihe rah. supple pedetter. tit. In taxa brawn cc navy. nod Sam Houston was under some lines that Mr. Johnson had Ow mien for dew loll and WrPTIK ob. wardrobe. Slat AA 7 to 14 a 5 to 10. mel C roe sort of house arrest At any used, remote control wires to 9 20.00 Variant Foshan Shaer. all an liana rate, a Secret Service agent the television sets, tape-re- kept a log of his movements coding devices, and heaven teenier easithes, phew. 737-7500 and visitors, and his contact knows what else. earwig. ireeldneeen one, diet (1100) 421-9203 tell tree with the world was pretty -I don't want any of that much United to long conver- under here.' Mr. Nixon told THE HECHT CO., Derpi. 255 Washington, D.C. 20004 sations with Assistant Usher me. "Take it all OW, whatever male..d laced XV EWNIrr.A....d.,N61,.., Nelson Pierce. it is All I need is one line to ❑ Orvp.wiy ASCIS41, NO. I'll never forget the night the operator. She can find an- 0 Check ar m.o. 7 Met.. Condon. fPossete or O., delnary) that Sam Houston brought yone else for me. " Prin, Name Wane reo. light into the White House. We took out all the phone The President's sometime munitions from the bath- Adams. Ara. No. tenant bad been told, in no MOMS, the West Hall, and the Cary uncertain terms, to observe dining room. The three televi- Slab ZIPS*, 1,10.21 the "electriciry-saving" black- sion sets went, ton, right ions ar the White House. One sway. And the Rube Gold- - emus Wale! evening, when President and berg shower. Mr. Johnson Mrs. Johnson had been out, had proudly pointed our that they returned Late at night to a shower to his successor, de- pitch-dark mansion. Not a scribing its pleasures in great light on in the place. detail. weld 411. Sakes Tea d yen live d Maryland, Vin ra; They 9% 9, Watheaden. D.C. Ins groped their way to the eleva- "Please have the shower 0 cam lsor Mond Omega widen ad delivery weal tor, got off on the second heads all changed back to nor- • C 0 D. Order 310.00 C.O.D. Cbli. flour and saw, at the end of mal pressure. " the new Presi- Add 70c for shbpprq and handing charger beyond the hall, only a dim flicker of dent requested after the lint on delivery one, light. blast of Johnson-strength ADO very let amen wooer on cadge It was Sam Houston, work- spray had almost knocked a rasa OfeWl widen our delivery ads Toad ing at a desk, with only one him right out of the bath- small candle. room. 6 The W.olli.von 1,13m/Pocaenackhroher 21, 1973