Anne M. Martini

Anne Martini (nee Anne Maione) was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 8, 1916.¹ She worked as a beautician and hairdresser in Washington, D.C., and in 1949, she married barber Steve Martini.² In the early years of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, he hired Steve Martini to work as a barber at the White House, and Anne also began working there.³ While her husband cut the hair of presidents, cabinet members, and first family members, Anne worked as a manicurist and make-up artist at the White House, preparing presidents for interviews and television appearances as needed.⁴ It is unclear how long she provided these services, but her husband worked at the White House from about 1953 until 1970.⁵ 

The Martinis were particularly close to the Johnsons. On one occasion, they invited the Martinis to stay with them at their Texas ranch; on another, President Johnson took the Martinis with him on a visit to Central America. They also attended  First Daughter Luci Johnson’s 1966 wedding held at the White House. When Anne’s mother experienced a heart attack, President Johnson sent her a personal get-well-soon message.⁶

After leaving the White House, Steve and Anne moved to Florida and styled hair at the Boca Raton Hotel and Resort; there, Anne cut the hair of presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton when they visited the hotel.⁷ Anne Martini died on February 2, 2006, and was buried at Boca Raton Municipal Cemetery and Mausoleum in Florida.⁸