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From slavery to the White House, the Ficklin family served presidents for nearly 8 decades
Descendants of an enslaved man served 13 presidents in roles from butlers to national security staff over nearly 80 years in the White House, including 40 years on the NSC.
- The Ficklin family served U.S. presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama, remaining a presence in the White House residence for nearly eight decades, starting with James Strother Ficklin, grandfather, born a slave around 1854.
- After the Civil War, Strother moved for work, remarried, and bought 37 acres in Amissville, Virginia, signaling early family property ownership.
- At the residence, Woodson Ficklin spent decades serving and became head butler under Dwight Eisenhower, overseeing six full-time butlers and receiving recognition from the Reagan administration and President Jimmy Carter.
- He honored his father's legacy by wearing his tuxedo jacket to a state dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, after requesting permission from Susan Rice, national security adviser.
- Wrory Ficklin joined the National Security Council , starting as an evening clerk in college and later training staff, while Woodson Ficklin moved to Washington, D.C. at 15 and died at 65.
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Ficklin family served presidents for nearly 8 decades
·Cherokee County, United States
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Associated Press News+31 Reposted by 31 other sources
From slavery to the White House, the Ficklin family served presidents for nearly 8 decades
Presidents come and go from the White House every four year or eight years. But descendants of John Strother Ficklin, a Virginia man who was born enslaved, were a constant presence among presidents for nearly eight decades.
·United States
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Total News Sources33
Leaning Left11Leaning Right2Center19Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Center
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
59% Center
L 35%
C 59%
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