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Christopher B. Emery
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WHITE HOUSE USHER: Stories from the Inside Kindle Edition

by Christopher B. Emery (Author), Barbara Bush (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 825 ratings
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From January 1986 until March 1994, Chris Emery was part of one of the most unique services in the U.S. government—an usher in the White House.

For more than 200 years, a small office has operated on the State Floor of the White House Executive Residence. Known as the Usher's Office, whose mission is to accommodate the personal needs of the first family, and to make the White House feel like a home. The Usher's Office is the managing office of the Executive Residence and its staff of 90-plus. The staff consists of butlers, carpenters, grounds personnel, electricians, painters, plumbers, florists, maids, housemen, cooks, chefs, storekeepers, curators, calligraphers, doormen, and administrative support.

Ushers work closely with the first family, senior staff, Social Office, Press Office, Secret Service Agency, and military leaders to carry out White House functions: luncheons, dinners, teas, receptions, meetings, conferences, and more.

Chris Emery was only the 18th White House Usher since 1891, and had the honor and privilege to serve presidential families for three years during the Reagan administration, four years for President H. W. Bush, and 14 months under President Clinton. His vignettes recreate intimate White House happenings from an insider’s viewpoint.

Chris Emery was the only White House Usher to be terminated in the 20th century. Turn the pages to find out which first lady fired him...

“With his book, White House Usher: Stories from the Inside, former usher Chris Emery gives his readers a peek inside what happens upstairs at the White House. Chris’ anecdotes tell a rich story of how America’s house really is the First Families’ home. I loved my trip down memory lane.”

- Former First Lady Barbara Bush (October 2017)
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  1. Print length
    266 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    October 27, 2017
  5. File size
    2162 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"With his book, White House Usher: Stories from the Inside, former usher Chris Emery gives his readers a peek inside what happens upstairs at the White House. Chris' anecdotes tell a rich story of how America's house really is the First Families' home. I loved my trip down memory lane."
- Former First Lady Barbara Bush (October 2017)
"Your book was exquisitely written and was a pure joy to read. Best read I've had in several years."
- MSgt (Ret), USAF
"The first-hand stories chronicled in this book are not only illuminating and entertaining, they are an important witness to history."
- Reader from Fulton, MD
"Emery gives an honest and accurate account of life and the workings of the White House and brings warmth and humour that will bring reassurance to the reader that, despite being the pinnacle of power, the White House is also very much a family home."
- Reader from Great Britain.
"Author Christopher Emery has a sharp and respectful eye for the history he was privileged to see."
- Reader from Washington DC.

From the Author

Visit WhiteHouseUsher.com for more about the White House Ushers Office.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B076YK6DVX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Booklocker.com, Inc. (October 27, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2162 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 266 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 825 ratings

About the author

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Christopher B. Emery

Christopher B. Emery

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Christopher B. Emery is an author who has published multiple books. He has worked in the field of information technology for over forty years, twenty-nine of which he spent serving the federal government. During his tenure, he worked for eight years in the White House and served the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill for six years. Chris frequently travels across the country to deliver talks about his experience working in the White House and his mystery novels.

. . .

From January 1986 until March 1994, Chris Emery held one of the most unique jobs in the U.S. government—a White House Usher. The Usher’s Office oversees and manages The White House Executive Residence, its staff, and the surrounding 18 acres of grounds.

The ushers are responsible for taking care of the First Family’s most reserved area—their living quarters within The White House. Because their privacy is paramount, little is known about the ushers who work there or the duties with which they are entrusted. Chris was honored to have met seven presidents and work directly for three of them—Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

During his twenty-nine years in the federal government, Chris Emery maintained a Top-Secret clearance as a CIO, Chief Architect, & Director in various capacities with the White House, United States Congress, and the Department of Homeland Security. In a senior management role with the Department of Justice, he served as the CIO for the National Security Division, the liaison between the Attorney General and the Intelligence Community.

Chris has authored three books and is currently working on numbers 4 & 5!

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
825 global ratings
Incredible Perspective
5 Stars
Incredible Perspective
This book really makes you feel like you’re inside the White House. The day-to-day activities are so interesting, there are many things that happen every minute, and many people who are involved in every activity of the day. I found myself thinking about the book, even when I wasn’t reading it. There were parts that made me laugh out loud, and parts that made me feel the raw emotion and struggles of the three presidents who Chris worked for. Definitely a great read!
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Top reviews from the United States

Jo Ann
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024
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I enjoyed the book. Mr. Emery is a master at story telling. Always remember when one door closes you held your head up high with dignity. The next door opens with greater opportunity. Thank you for your truth and honesty it was refreshing.
One person found this helpful
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Kathleen
4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written and enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
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I liked the stories, learning about how the White House functions, and the changes within its walls.
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Billinalaska
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2023
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This is a fun book to read, if you like presidential history and would like a bit of behind-the-scenes pieces of history, as told by someone close to the First Family. While Mr. Emery left his employ as White House usher under a cloud of suspicion, I do believe that he was misjudged in that regard. Whatever the case, this is very interesting history, told in short segments ... so it's a good reader for places where you don't sit for long. (Get the idea?)
One person found this helpful
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Holly Jolly
3.0 out of 5 stars Book was disappointing
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2019
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I enjoy reading stories about the White House but this book was very disappointing.
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Deidra L. Saffery
5.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting and highly entertaining book about life in the White House
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Chris Emery has written a superb book about his life while a White House usher for 8 years. Full of unique stories and anecdotes about the presidents he served, many celebrities and world leaders, and many of his experiences as an usher, his book is both entertaining and fascinating while being totally non political and never negative. It is a unique view of daily operations in the White House from scheduling everything from meetings to state dinners to walks with the presidents around the grounds and personal glimpses into their lives. Chris has written with humor and empathy, making each person very understandably human with the White House itself becoming revered and loved. I feel tremendous appreciation for this incredible glimpse into a place and staff to very highly respect and always remember.
4 people found this helpful
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C. Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative White House Narrative
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020
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Very different style from the other two books that I have recently read about the Residence Staff by Kate Anderson Brown.
Essentially a chronological narrative of his time as Head Usher, there is a lot of emphasis on interchanges between Chris and the PRESUS and families he served, as well as WH guests. At times it seems somewhat self-serving (Atta-boys).
But, overall, a good read to complement the other, broader historical narratives.
5 people found this helpful
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Jane McKnight
5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2023
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I heard about the book while listing to Joe Pags, immediately ordered the book. The author has a wonderful flow in his work. Couldn’t wait to get the next book Mr. Emery wrote. I actually emailed him and he was so kind in response. I also received an autographed page to insert in my book and a cool bookmark!
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great understanding of how the White House works behind the scenes
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2023
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Outstanding book! Chris provide amazing insight on the people that work behind the scenes to ensure that all White House functions go off without an issues. He also provides wonderful stories of the First Family's that he served under. He also provides a better understanding of the role of a WH Usher. Great read!
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Casper
2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm so glad I only wasted £4 on this in a kindle version. I was inspired to purchase it having just read The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower (which I highly recommend incidentally ). It is quite obvious that it is self-published as I do not believe any professional publishing house would have produced this. Whole chapters that amount to a description of the arrangement for holding umbrellas over Mr & Mrs Gorbachev. Mr Emery gratuitously patting himself on the back for jobs well done. A "hilarious" episode in a lift with President Reagan regarding Jim/Gym. The thermostat and panic alarm stories? Was their any point to those at all? Whilst I appreciate Mr Emery was never intending to impart so called "gossip" and rightly so, I have no idea why he bothered to write this. Oh yes I do........$$$$$$$$$'s
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