Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies

Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies

by J. B. West

4.4 (19,270)

4.4 stars from 19,270 reviews. One of the highest rated Biography Memoir books we track.


$2.99KU83% off peak

Last checked: Jun 17, 2026

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • David McCullough
  • Doris Kearns Goodwin
  • Christopher Hitchens

Fans of these books will like this...

  • The Splendid and the Vile
  • Team of Rivals
  • In the Shadow of the White House

Perfect for you if...

  • You're fascinated by presidential history and want the intimate perspective that textbooks never give you.
  • You love memoirs that put you inside famous moments, seeing how the first families actually lived day to day.
  • You appreciate well-researched accounts of American history from someone who was genuinely there, not speculating from the sidelines.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You're looking for juicy scandals and tabloid gossip. This is respectful memoir, not expose journalism.
  • You prefer narrative-driven fiction over factual accounts and anecdotes from real life.
  • You want a focused deep-dive on one president or era. This spans six presidencies across nearly three decades.

About this book

J. B. West served as chief usher of the White House for twenty-eight years, first as assistant and then in the top role. In this capacity, he directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and coordinated its daily life at the request of the president and his family. He oversaw state functions, planned parties, weddings, funerals, gardens, playgrounds, and extensive renovations, and supervised all activities in the presidential home with a large staff. Over nearly three decades, West witnessed national crises and triumphs while interacting daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, as well as their families, houseguests, and visiting heads of state. Jackie Kennedy described him as "one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met." This account offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on life among America's first families, featuring anecdotes from his time with Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Pat Nixon, and others. The book provides a view of White House history that typically remains private.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$8.99$17.99May '21Dec '22Mar '24Feb '26
$0.99$17.99

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 83% off peak. Price has dropped 48 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 39 days. Typically stays discounted for 6 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#47#29,230#58,413Jun '18Dec '21Aug '23Jun '26

Currently around #23K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller.

Rating & Reviews

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3.5★4.3★5.0★May '23Dec '23May '24Feb '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.4★ from 19,270 reviews

Gaining approximately 15 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.4 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

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Free$8.99$17.99May '21Dec '22Mar '24Feb '26PredictedJun '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $17.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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J. B. West

1 book on Vagrant Press

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