Alan Fitts reflects on his work in the Obama administration, in which he served in several roles including trip director for the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2012. He describes the role of the East Wing in the administration, and shares memories from many notable domestic and foreign trips, including those to England, Haiti, Spain, South Africa, Botswana, China, Japan, and Qatar. Fi tts provides details about the responsibilities of his position, and outlines the work of advance staffers both on the campaign trail and in support of the first family. Also discussed are the first family's relationship to the Secret Service, private outings, vacations, and celebrations, the role of Marian Robinson in the White House, and operational aspects of the 2009 inaugural balls
Presidents--United States; Presidents--Inauguration.--United States; Presidents--Family; Visits of state--United States; Presidential campaigns--United States; Fitts, Alan O; Obama, Barack; Obama, Michelle, 1964-; Robinson, Marian; United States. Department of State
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
87 pages
Note (Biographical)
Alan Fitts served as the trip director for the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2012. He was also part of the advance staff for Obama for America and the director of the United States Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Fitts held a variety of other positions at both the White House and the Department of State during the Obama administration, including White House liaison to the Department of State, and senior advisor to U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco
Note
Interviewed by Mary Marshall Clark on January 25, 2021 and March 2, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Alan O. Fitts, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022