White House Historical Association

Jasper B. Blankenship

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"Jasper B. Blankenship," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/954.
Position
Chauffeur
Years in President's House
circa 1937 – 1945
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
White
Presidency
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Biography
Jasper Barry Blankenship was born on April 6, 1912, in Flag Pond, Tennessee. (1) He appears to have begun working at the White House around 1937–according to his obituary, he was “special activities chauffeur and body guard for President Franklin Roosevelt for eight years.” During World War II, he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Forces at the same time. (2) He continued to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces after the war, and was active in the Baptist church. (3) In 1963, he relocated to Florida. Blankenship died on October 17, 1988, and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, Tennessee. (4)
(1) “Jasper B. Blankenship,” Johnson City Press (Johnson City, Tennessee), October 20, 1988, pg. 2; Jasper B. Blankenship in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File, Ancestry.com.
(2) “Jasper B. Blankenship,” Johnson City Press (Johnson City, Tennessee), October 20, 1988, pg. 2; "Roster of White House Employees, Revised, April 1, 1944," Folder: Investigative Case Files, 1934-1945, Records of the United States Secret Service, 1933-1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York.
(3) Jasper B Blankenship in the 1950 United States Federal Census, National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 5907; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 1-247 , Ancestry.com; “Jasper B. Blankenship,” Johnson City Press (Johnson City, Tennessee), October 20, 1988, pg. 2.
(4) “Jasper B. Blankenship,” Johnson City Press (Johnson City, Tennessee), October 20, 1988, pg. 2; “Sgt Jasper Barry Blankenship,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101185095/jasper-barry-blankenship?_gl=1*1u9s89v*_gcl_au*MTYzMzc4ODIwNC4xNzcyNDc5Mjc3.
Birthplace
Flag Pond, Tennessee, USA