What’s the White House Social Secretary?

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The White House Social Secretary is responsible for coordinating all events and entertainment at the White House, working closely with other officials. They handle every detail, from invitations to security, and must be gracious and welcoming to guests. The role has varied throughout history, and the Social Secretary usually comes from a background in entertainment and public relations. Desiree Rogers was the first African-American woman appointed to the position in 2008. The compensation is good, reflecting the demanding and complex nature of the job.

The White House Social Secretary is a White House official who is responsible for coordinating all entertainment and events, from peace conferences at the White House to a private tea party for the First Lady of the United States. While the title of “Social Secretary” may not seem all that important, the White House Social Secretary is actually an extremely powerful person in the White House and the job is complex, demanding and sometimes quite exciting.

This White House official heads the White House Social Office, a small empire located in the East Wing of the White House. Usually, the White House Social Secretary works closely with the White House Chief Usher and the US Chief of Protocol to coordinate events and ensure that all guests are well taken care of. The Social Secretary also works with the White House Office of Graphics and Calligraphy, which provides handwritten invitations to White House events.

When an event is planned at the White House, the White House Social Secretary takes care of every detail, handling things like flowers, food, music, invitations, seating arrangements, security, entertainment during the event, and so on. He usually keeps a long list of guests along with their needs and preferences, along with their history in the White House. Handling both personal and political events at the White House places the White House Social Secretary in a position to know large numbers of people and to welcome them all with grace, courtesy, and warmth.

Hospitality at the White House has varied throughout American history. Some presidents have kept a very open White House, with numerous social events and parties that members of the general public could attend. Others have preferred a quieter presidency, reserving the White House for high-profile official state conferences and events and limiting access for security reasons. In both cases, the White House Social Secretary deals with a wide variety of situations, people and events.

White House secretaries usually come from a background in entertainment and public relations. In 2008, Desiree Rogers made history by being the first African-American woman appointed to the position, expressing a desire to make the White House under the Obama administration more open to the public with events throughout the year. Compensation for the White House Social Secretary tends to be very good, reflecting the fact that the Social Secretary is constantly on duty and often challenged with complex tasks, such as throwing a party for 4,000 people over four days.




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