Anne H. Lincoln

Anne Hadden Lincoln was born on March 28, 1924 in New York City.¹ She graduated from the all-girls Brearley School in New York, and then from Vassar College in 1945, where future first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and future White House Social Secretary Letitia Baldridge also attended. After college, Lincoln taught briefly at Brearly and worked as a secretary for several fashion magazines and in the New York office of actor Robert Montgomery.²

In January 1961, early in John F. Kennedy’s presidency, Lincoln was hired to work as assistant to Social Secretary Letitia Baldridge, her former Vassar classmate. Lincoln worked in the East Wing with Baldridge to plan and execute official events hosted by the White House. For example, in July 1961, Lincoln helped plan a State Dinner hosted at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic plantation, for the President of Pakistan Mohammad Ayub Khan. Lincoln also worked closely with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and helped her manage her wardrobe, and accompanied her on shopping trips.³

In the fall of 1962, Mrs. Kennedy reorganized the White House staff and shifted Lincoln to the position of head housekeeper, moving the previous housekeeper, Mable E. Walker Ciarrochi, into a different role within the newly-established Office of the Curator. As head housekeeper, Lincoln managed the staff of maids and housemen that kept the Residence clean, purchased food and supplies for the Residence Staff and first family, and maintained the associated financial records and accounts. Mrs. Kennedy also tasked Lincoln with planning the meals for official events at the White House in collaboration with Executive Chef Rene Verdon.⁴

When Lyndon B. Johnson became president in November 1963, Lincoln remained on staff in the same role. A newspaper article from 1964 described Lincoln’s varied responsibilities as follows: “In the space of an hour she may swap rapid French with Chef Rene Verdon, take a call from [the first lady], order supplies for a gala party, sprint to the flower room to check centerpieces, direct window washers, huddle with Social Secretary Bess Abell, or peek into the glittering East Room to make sure all goes smoothly on a festive occasion.”⁵ Lincoln often worked long hours, six days a week, to fulfill all job responsibilities.⁶ “It’s an absolute madhouse,” Lincoln stated regarding the White House, “but such a beautifully organized madhouse . . . It gets frantic sometimes, but the staff is so wonderful that everything turns out just fine.”⁷ Despite the frantic pace and multitude of responsibilities, Lincoln stated that she enjoyed the work, telling a reporter: “My job is an extension of all the things that fascinate me – shopping, food, planning menus, interior decorating. These are things I love personally. Doing them at the White House is a privilege.”⁸

Lincoln resigned her position in 1965. Chief Usher James B. West speculated that Lincoln’s decision to resign was due in part to tension between her and the Johnsons. “The White House employee whose loyalties remain with the previous administration rarely survive long,” West stated in his memoir, before adding: “Anne, I believe, truly wanted to remain as housekeeper of the White House. There was always an undercurrent, a feeling that her ties with the Kennedys were too deep.” Lincoln was replaced as head housekeeper by Mary Kaltman.⁹

After leaving the White House, Lincoln returned to New York.¹⁰ In 1967, she published a book, The Kennedy White House Parties, describing some of the events she planned for the Kennedys. Lincoln passed away in March 1992 and was buried at June Cemetery in North Salem, New York.¹¹