Upstairs at the White House

My Life with the First Ladies

De: J. B. West

Narrado por: Eric Jason Martin

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at life on Pennsylvania Avenue with America's first families, by the man who spent nearly three decades in their midst.

J. B. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - and coordinated its daily life - at the request of the president and his family. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings, funerals, gardens, playgrounds, and extensive renovations; and with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home. For 28 years, first as assistant to the chief usher, then as chief usher, he witnessed national crises and triumphs, and interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, their parents, children and grandchildren, and houseguests - including friends, relatives, and heads of state.

In Upstairs at the White House, West offers an absorbing and novel glimpse at America's first families, from the Roosevelts to the Kennedys and the Nixons. Alive with anecdotes ranging from the quotidian (Lyndon B. Johnson's showerheads) to the tragic (the aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination), West's audiobook is an enlightening and rich account of the American history that took place just behind the Palladian doors of the North Portico.

©1973 J. B. West (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Loved it!

Where does Upstairs at the White House rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

So far, it's Number 2. Excellent book, great narration, fascinating material. It was one of those that grab you by the collar and just yank you in before you even know it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed the author's enlightenment on the First Ladies. Very interesting.

What about Eric Martin’s performance did you like?

Seemed real, not memorized or even read, really.

Any additional comments?

It really peaked my interest, and I'll be looking for other books of a similar nature.

Better Than Expected

After reading"The Residence" by Karen Brower, I was not expecting much. That memoir was smarmy and gossipy. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It takes us from the Roosevelt"s to the Johnson"s and shows a different side to the first ladies than I had supposed from the image of them portrayed in the press. Bess Truman was not a stuffy "held at arms length"lady but a fun ,kind, very down to earth person. Mamie was also not as strange as I had supposed She was kind and generous if rather quirky. ,Jackie was not remote and Lady Bird not the submissive first Lady I had imagined.. The book did not change my opinion of Lyndon Johnson however , who I still regard as a "CREEP"
The narration was perfect and I certainly admired the author JB West and his deep loyalty
to all the first ladies he served. Well worth the time!

those famous ladies

A rare look into the lives of some of the grand ladies of the white house. JB West, though his job was a very complex and demanding one, was honored to know some of the first ladies up close and personal. He shares some candid moments and the narrator is a joy to listen to. Highly recommend.

Engaging story if you can stand the narration

I found this book very engaging. JB West tells of his relationship with the First Ladies with great tact and sensitivity. It is a recounting free from criticism and with a refreshing positivity.
The narration is not the best; stilted with long pauses. I didn’t think I was going to be able to continue listening after I had slogged through the first ten minutes, but speeding it up to 1.25x helped.

the reading is a bit stilted

the reading is a bit stilted but you get used to it after a while. the story is wonderful, I appreciate that the writing is factual and not full if opinion.