Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies

Compare and contrast the contributions of first ladies Mamie Eisenhower and Bess Truman. Explain how each shaped her contributions to her skill set and personality.

Why did West consider the work that he did for Jackie Kennedy to be the most challenging, creative, and rewarding of all? What does that say about West?

How did Lady Bird Johnson re-shape the role of the first lady? How much of that transformation reflected her efforts versus the changing nature of the presidency?

How did the chief usher and staff fulfill the many, at times unusual, requests from first families? What does that tell the reader about the budget and the resources at their disposal from elsewhere?

What was required behind the scenes in the aftermath of President Roosevelt’s death and President Kennedy’s assassination? How did the staff facilitate the change in power?

Why did West have less interaction with presidents than first ladies? How did President Johnson break that pattern to some degree? How did the staff react?

Of the first families under whom West served, upon whom did White House life exert the greatest influence and whom the least? Explain.

What does the cordiality at the inauguration in 1969 between the Johnsons, who were Democrats, and the Nixons, who were Republicans, say about the politics at that time? How does that politics contrast with politics in the early 21st century?