WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is not the first president to want more entertaining space in the White House, the executive mansion’s longest-serving top aide said, offering some support for the reasons Trump cited in the ballroom construction project.
Gary Walters served as chief usher at the White House for more than two decades, hosting Presidents Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, a role akin to that of the residence’s general manager.
“All the presidents I’ve had the opportunity to serve have talked about the possibility of expanding entertainment areas,” Walters told The Associated Press about his recently published memoir.
Trump has talked about building a White House ballroom for years, even before he entered politics. In July, the White House announced it would build a 90,000-square-foot space on the east side of the building to accommodate 650 guests at a cost estimated at the time of $200 million. Trump said the cost would be paid for by private donations, including his own.
The Republican president later made the proposed ballroom capable of seating 999 people, and in October demolished two floors of the East Wing of the White House and built the ballroom there. In December, he updated the price tag to $400 million, double his original estimate.
Images of the East Wing being demolished have shocked historians, preservationists and others, but Walters said there is a long history of projects on campus, from the demolition of the conservatory, greenhouses and stables to build the West Wing in 1902, to the addition of a third-story residence, to the addition of the East Wing during World War II to provide workspace for the first lady, her staff and other White House offices.
“So there’s been construction going on around the White House,” Walters said.
Other presidents complain about lack of entertainment space
When Walters took office, the capacity of the White House’s largest public room was one of the first topics he discussed with the incoming president, the first lady and their social secretary, he said. Every president he has served has spoken of the limits on how many people the White House can accommodate.
Walters said that when a state banquet is held, the State Dining Room can accommodate about 130 people: 13 round tables, each of which can accommodate 10 people. The East Room has room for about 300 chairs – less if space is needed for television cameras.
Trump often complained that both rooms were too small. He also complained about the use of large tents at southern venues, the main solution for large events such as lavish state dinners for foreign leaders. Walters said there was something wrong with the tent.
“When it rained, the water would run down the hillside and the grass would be soggy, no matter how hard we tried,” Walters said. “We dug culverts outside the tents to try to get water.” He said the tents damaged the grass and required more work to reseed it.
Walters admitted to being a little uncomfortable seeing the east wing demolished and said he has fond personal memories of the space. “I met my wife at the White House, and she works in the East Wing, so it’s been a joy for me,” Walters, 79, said.
His wife, Barbara, was a receptionist at the Visitor’s Office during the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. The couple recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.
Fracture changes usher’s career trajectory
Walters became the longest-serving White House chief usher in history because of the misfortune of a broken ankle.
In early 1970, at age 23, he was honorably discharged and looking for a job that would allow him to finish college at night. The Executive Protective Service, the predecessor to the U.S. Secret Service, was hiring and accepting him.
But shortly before graduation, Walters sprained his ankle while playing football. Unable to take off his uniform, wear a cast, and limp on crutches to patrol, he was assigned to temporary assignment at the White House Police Control and Appointments Center. He stayed for five years.
“This injury also changed my career,” Walters wrote in his memoir, “White House Memories: 1970-2007: Reminiscences of the Longest-Serving Chief Usher.” He “gained an in-depth understanding of the ways and security systems of the White House, which will ultimately serve me well in my future role in the usher’s office.”
A few months after being promoted to sergeant in 1975, he learned of a vacancy in the usher’s office. In early 1976 he applied and joined as an assistant.
Ten years later, Reagan promoted him to chief usher and gave Walters the residence’s top job, overseeing maintenance, construction and renovation projects, food service, and administrative, financial and personnel functions. He manages a staff of about 90 housekeepers, housekeepers, cooks, gardeners, electricians, engineers, plumbers and others.
Walters retired in 2007 after 37 years at the White House, including a record 21 years as chief usher. He served under seven presidents, including Richard Nixon and George W. Bush.
During that time, Walters witnessed every aspect of presidential history: the only president to resign, an appointed vice president to become the only unelected president, a president to be impeached and remain in office, a father and son to become president, and the Supreme Court to decide the most hotly contested presidential election in American history.
He is often asked what he enjoys most about his job, “I would say without hesitation that it is getting to know and interact directly with the President, the First Lady, and other members of their families. It has been my privilege to know them firsthand,” Walters wrote.
