Generational White House Service: The Ficklin Family Story

A Legacy of Service at the White House

• 📌 The Ficklin family has a remarkable legacy of service at the White House, with a family member present for nearly a century.
• 💡 John Ficklin, author of "An Unusual Path: Three Generations From Slavery to the White House," shares this extraordinary family history.

From Slavery to Service: James Strawther Ficklin

• ⛓️ John Ficklin's grandfather, James Strawther Ficklin, was born enslaved around 1855 in Virginia.
• 🛠️ After emancipation, he moved to Ohio, worked in mines, and eventually returned to Virginia to buy land and raise a large family.
• 🌟 He is described as a remarkable person whose journey laid the groundwork for the family's future White House careers.

The Ficklin Family's White House Careers

• 👨‍🍳 John's father, James Ficklin, began working at the White House in 1939 as a part-time pantryman, eventually becoming the Head Butler after 44 years of service.
• 🇺🇸 John himself served for 40 years on the National Security Council staff, ultimately appointed as a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs in the Obama administration.
• 🤝 The family affair extended to aunts, uncles, and cousins also working within the White House.

Anecdotes and Reflections

• 🍎 A humorous anecdote recounts President John F. Kennedy's reaction to being served whole wheat bread instead of his preferred white bread, at the insistence of his doctor.
• 🥂 John Ficklin suggests that his father's famously strong eggnog could unite people across political divides, offering a lighthearted solution to current political fractures.

The Meaning of the Family's Journey

• 🇺🇸 The Ficklin family's story is presented as a testament to African-American history and the potential of America when people work together towards common goals.
• 🙏 John believes his grandfather would be proud of his descendants' accomplishments, faith, and service to the country, highlighting the importance of faith and building community, like founding the first African-American church in their hometown.