James B. West

James Bernard “J. B.” West was born on July 27, 1912, in Afton, Iowa.¹ West began at the White House in 1941 after he was transferred from a role in the Veterans Administration because he knew how to “type and take shorthand and…mind my own business.”² West worked as an assistant to Chief Usher Howell Crim from 1941 to 1957, where his primary duties were to handle the president’s travel arrangements, review the mail sent to the chief usher’s office, and assist in White House operations.³ In 1957, West was promoted to chief usher and held that position until he left the White House in 1969.⁴ 

As chief usher, West managed all White House operations, overseeing a large staff, budgeting, and furnishing the Residence. He also accompanied guests to formal appointments with the president and first lady.⁵ In his memoir, J.B. West recalls the most “colorful” guest he hosted during his tenure: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Arriving in secret shortly before Christmas 1941, Churchill quickly made an impression on the White House staff. He tested every available mattress to find the one he liked best, and his butlers reportedly wore a path in the carpet delivering brandy to his suite. Churchill also had a distinctive dress code, donning an unusual jumpsuit or, as West put it, “Mr. Churchill wore no clothes at all most of the time during the day.”⁶ 

West developed a close bond with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy during his time in the White House. One particularly poignant moment came after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination when she reportedly asked him, “Mr. West, will you be my friend for life?”⁷ 

After leaving the White House, West published a 1973 memoir of his experiences titled Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies.⁸ West died on July 18, 1983, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.⁹