J. B. West

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West around 1959, from the Eisenhower Staff Book

James Bernard West, known as J. B. (1912—1983) was Chief Usher of the White House for 12 years, from 1957 to 1969. His best-selling book, Upstairs at the White House (My Life with the First Ladies) (with Mary Lynn Kotz), documents his time in the executive mansion, starting in 1941 under Chief Usher Howell G. Crim. The book serves as the main source of numerous White House anecdotes, such as President Johnson's demands for a multi-head high-pressure shower that required much rework to make powerful enough to satisfy him.

West was born in Afton, Iowa, the son of William and Sarah McVay West. He graduated from Creston High School in 1930 and moved to Washington in 1939. He married Zella Snyder and fathered two daughters, Kathy (Mary Kathryn) and Sally.

West went to work in the White House as assistant to the chief usher in 1941. Prior to that, he worked in the Veterans Administration. He was promoted to chief usher when Crim retired in 1957. With a staff of over 100, West managed many state dinners and other White House events, including those surrounding the mourning of John F. Kennedy and the wedding of Lynda Bird Johnson. West retired from the White House in 1969. He died at the age of 70.