Please note that the following is a digitized version of a selected article from White House History Quarterly, Issue 63, originally released in print form in 2021. Single print copies of the full issue can be purchased online at Shop.WhiteHouseHistory.org No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All photographs contained in this journal unless otherwise noted are copyrighted by the White House Historical Association and may not be reproduced without permission. Requests for reprint permissions should be directed to rights@whha.org. Contact books@whha.org for more information. © 2021 White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions.
A Time to Work, to Play, and to Dance AT THE WHITE HOUSE The College Experience That Changed My Life
BOTH IMAGES THIS SPREAD: COLLECTION OF THE AUTHOR
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the response was: “Wow, great idea, come in for an interview!” Within the week, I was working in the Old Executive Office Building (OEOB) in the President’s Scheduling Office, reporting to the legendary Fran Voorde, who was one of President Jimmy Carter’s schedulers. Phil Wise, her partner as a scheduler, was based in the Oval Office. Before working for Voorde, my only work experience was a summer job with a female talent agent in Hollywood. At the time I was too young and naïve to fully understand the magnitude of what I witnessed and learned from Voorde, but it has stayed with me all my life. Devoted, discreet, empathetic, without even a nuance of superiority, she spoke in simple language and with an authentic tone that allowed no drama. Her no-nonsense attitude and grace under pressure remain vivid to me to this day. Fran Voorde gave me protocol lessons. She taught me how to conduct myself on the telephone and how to convey understanding and patience without being drawn into the caller’s pain and anger. Most of the callers were Vietnam veterans. I was provided with scripts that included sheets of government contact information to give to them and other callers. In addition to answering the phone, I also
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opening spread Lisa Krohn’s 1979 season White House softball team jersey and White House badge serve to bring back her memories of her months of service during the Carter presidency, more than forty years ago.
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i t wa s e a r ly m a r c h 1 9 7 9 . I was 20 years old and sitting outside the Oval Office at the desk of President Jimmy Carter’s private secretary, Nell Yates. I was alone, except for the Secret Service. How did I make it here? This is my story. I was in my junior year at Mount Vernon College and running for president of student body. I knew I needed an edge of panache to win. One day, jogging past the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, I thought, “Perfect! I’ll maneuver an internship!” Since I was six years old I have felt comfortable contacting anyone, so although I had no connections in the White House or with anyone who could help, and although I had no academic background in politics or government and no experience to offer, I put coins into a nearby pay phone and dialed 4561414. The White House operator answered, I asked for the Oval Office, was transferred a few times, and then someone answered in the Presidential Scheduling Office. I asked, “Do you have either an internship available or a nonpaying job?” To the reply “We do not have any job openings, or internships here,” I replied, “I can work for you day and night, no salary, and no college credit. I can just show up and carry out any task for you. No one needs to be responsible for teaching or shepherding me in any way except to ensure I understand the task at hand.” This time
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While working for Presidential Scheduler Fran Voorde (opposite left), Lisa Krohn had many opportunities to witness history. She saw demonstrations against the shah of Iran (above left), and the signing of the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty on the North Lawn.
answered handwritten letters to President Carter from people in all walks of life. The letters were written on every type of paper imaginable, and content ranged from heart-wrenching personal stories to viewpoints on current topics, such as the signing of the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) negotiations, and the Iran hostage situation. I sometimes gave private tours of the Oval Office and informal tours of the West Wing. The guests were domestic and from a diverse sector with no specific political or financial alliances. I occasionally covered for President Carter’s secretary, Nell Yates, and, sitting there, experienced the privilege and gravity of where I was that have been with me ever since. I also scheduled the tennis courts for Vice President Walter Mondale and National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski! I was treated as an equal, from the moment I entered the Scheduling Office. Most of the employees were from the campaign world and shared their stories. None took themselves too seriously, but they took their responsibilities seriously and worked with the utmost respect, pride, and professionalism. Yet every day at 4:00 p.m. they played country music for a few minutes and danced and just let loose. At first, I was horrified, but I quickly
embraced the practice and looked forward to the healthy routine of letting go. We were all the better for it. I remember walking through the crowds of anti-shah protesters in front of the White House on my way into the Old Executive Building each day. But my most memorable moment was being at the signing of the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. I was seated in the second row. The photographer gave me photographs of President Carter, Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and President Anwar Sadat. I also had a photograph of the three world leaders at the desk, autographed by the president. The photo of the helicopter has a picture of me in the pink dress! I accepted an invitation to join the White House Softball Team. Again I was treated as an equal, as though I had a “real” job and in the Carter administration. I played catcher, and after each game we all went out together. My teammates were equally as wonderful to me as my colleagues in the office. It was my extraordinary good fortune to serve briefly in the White House. I worked for neither pay nor credit, but what I learned there I have cultivated literally every day. I lost that election for student body president at Mount Vernon, but I ran again in my senior year, and won!
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