The Obama White House is such a popular destination, said Social Secretary Desirée Rogers, that keeping the crashers out of parties is a losing battle.
At events, said Rogers, “We’ve decided to put in [an extra row or table] in the back for people who we’ve said no to, but they show up anyway.”
“We give up,” she added jokingly.
Rogers was the guest of honor at the Creative Coalition’s annual meeting in New York on Thursday night, and in an interview with actress Dana Delany, she opened up about her job and life at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
She said she and her staff have organized more than 150 events so far, although she admitted that the emphasis has not been on state dinners. “We believe that it’s more important in the economy and in the first year for more people to come in and share the space,” she said. “We’ve done our job if the house is just a backdrop, if [guests] enjoy the experience.”
So what’s next? “The sky’s the limit,” she replied, revealing that “we want to do some kind of White House film forum.” The only problem is that the presidential theater has only 42 seats. “One idea is a big screen on the lawn,” she said.
More Rogers:
-On the fact that there’s no way to prepare for the job: “You find a note on your desk saying ‘Good luck.’ Maybe a phone number. But there’s no file.”
-On her schedule: She said she has three meetings every morning back to back: one in the West Wing with the president’s staff, one with the Social office staff and one in East Wing with the first lady’s staff.
-On bringing the butlers and ushers into the 21st century: “Not until we arrived did they get BlackBerries.”
She also shared a personal secret, which should give anyone pause before they cross her. She’s a descendant of Marie Laveau, a famous voodoo priestess in New Orleans. “You have to be nice to me or I’ll put a spell on you,” she joked.
It’s a comment on the star power of the Obama administration that even in this crowd — used to rubbing elbows with actors and directors — the throng of well-wishers and favor seekers never let her move past her spot by the coat rack and restrooms until the cocktail hour had concluded.
Among those who turned out to see her: Creative Coalition Co-Presidents Tim Daly and Tony Goldwyn, fashion designer Nanette Lepore, Matthew Modine and writer/producer/pundit Lawrence O’Donnell.
