Backstairs at the White House

- Season 1

(1979)

In 1909, Maggie starts working at the White House as second maid, but is run ragged with her usual work and extra tasks as a beautician. Daughter Lillian has an operation for her crippled leg but is heartbroken to learn she will still need crutches. Maggie asks Mrs. Jaffray to hire grown-up Lillian, but she refuses to hire a handicapped woman.

An insecure Harding waffles about assignments, as the Attorney General tries to cover up the Teapot Dome scandal and a superstitious Florence Harding sees signs and omens everywhere. Maggie becomes First Maid when Annie resigns. President Coolidge moves into the White House with a zoo including a raccoon and quickly establishes himself as cheap, even monitoring kitchen expenses. He even obtains Mrs. Jaffray's resignation. President Hoover and the Great Depression arrive. Tired of unemployment, Lillian decides she's ready to work at the White House, but her ...

The Depression hits even the White House, with pay cuts for the staff while Mrs. Hoover continues to entertain extravagantly. Maggie collapses but is unwilling to rest. A visitor captures Lillian's interest, leading to a quickie Virginia wedding, but her new husband is unable to find a job and Lillian remains in her job. Maggie retires after 30 years of service, and Wheatley and Frasier both join the Army.

WWII brings changes to the White House, including Russians as guests. Mrs. Roosevelt brings Maggie back to supervise the visit of Mrs. Chiang Kai-Shek. After all the Roosevelt years, the staff has trouble adjusting to President & Mrs. Truman. The lack of a foundation finally makes the White House unsafe to live in and the Trumans let most of the staff go, but call Lillian back to organize temporary Presidential residence Blair House. The Eisenhowers' lack of respect for Presidential tradition irritates the staff, and Mrs. Eisenhower's demand for new items keeps ...