Angella Reid discusses her service as director of the executive residence and chief usher from 2011 to 2017 during the presidency of Barack Obama. Reid recounts her upbringing in Jamaica and career in hospitality management, and remembers the serendipitous circumstances by which she learned of the possibility of working in the White House, and interviewed for the position. She describes Barack and Michelle Obama's vision for the residence, outlines the responsibilities and activities of the White House usher's office, and reflects on the work required to ensure that the White House acts as a comfortable residence for the first family, a public monument open to the public, and an event space for West Wing functions and events. Reid provides details about the coordination between the range of government departments and agencies involved in the management of the White House, major events held in the residence, the planning of state visits, and relations between the White House's West Wing and residence. Also discussed are the planting of the White House Kitchen Garden, the design and manufacture of the Obama presidential china, the first family's relationships with residence staff, changes to the residence made by the Obama family, and planning for the 2017 presidential transition, when the Obama family left the White House
Presidents--United States; Hospitality industry--Management; Visits of state--United States; Reid, Angella; Obama, Barack; United States. Executive Office of the President; White House (Washington, D.C.); White House Gardens (Washington, D.C.)
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
66 pages
Note (Biographical)
Angella Reid served in the Obama administration as director of the executive residence and chief usher from 2011 to 2017. Her appointment by President Obama 2011 made her the ninth chief usher in the history of the White House and the first woman to s erve in the role. Before her government service, Reid studied hospitality management at the Gesellschaft School in Munich, Germany and joined the White House with more than twenty-five years of hotel management experience including upper management positions at the Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance New York Hotel in New York City
Note
Interviewed by Terrell D. Frazier on May 27 and June 1, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Angella M. Reid, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023