{{Short description|Personal assistants to the President of the US}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} [[File:Reggie Love and Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman in Cadillac One.jpg|thumb|Reggie Love, left, Barack Obama's body man from 2009 to 2011, is seen here in a presidential motorcade outside Strasbourg for the 2009 NATO summit]] thumb|President Biden's personal aide Jacob Spreyer prepares the podium for a presidential speech.
A personal assistant<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olito |first=Frank |title=7 unusual jobs people have in the White House—and what they pay |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/unusual-jobs-people-have-in-the-white-house |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> who accompanies the president of the United States virtually everywhere is generally referred to as a '''body man''' or '''body woman''', but in some cases may be referred to as a '''personal aide'''. These '''personal aides to the president''' are often responsible for arranging and providing: lodging; transportation; interactions with media, public, and family; meals; personal briefings and briefing papers; logistical instructions; speech cards; snacks; cell phones; and any other necessary assistance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mic.com/articles/109912/a-conversation-with-the-body-man-who-spent-five-years-at-president-obama-s-side |title=A Conversation with the 'Body Man' Who Spent Six Years at President Obama's Side |website=mic.com |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2015-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217124043/http://mic.com/articles/109912/a-conversation-with-the-body-man-who-spent-five-years-at-president-obama-s-side|url-status=live}}</ref> Such personal aides exist for many politicians aside from presidents, but the most famous have included personal aides to the president, as described below.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/us/part-butler-and-part-buddy-aide-keeps-kerry-running.html|title=Part Butler and Part Buddy, Aide Keeps Kerry Running|first=Jodi|last=Wilgoren|work=The New York Times |date=April 28, 2004|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308082808/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/us/part-butler-and-part-buddy-aide-keeps-kerry-running.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History==
Upon taking office in 1969, Richard Nixon expanded and professionalized the White House Office staff.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delivery |url=https://www.sfu.ca/~moens/WhiteHouse.htm |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.sfu.ca}}</ref> A new position was created: personal aide to the president. Previously this role had largely been filled by a White House valet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidential Valets |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/presidential-valets |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=WHHA (en-US) |language=en}}</ref> This role remained, but unlike the valet, the personal aide to the president travels wherever the president goes whereas the valet always remains stationed at the White House.
==List==
===President Richard Nixon=== * Stephen Bull<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/finding-aids/stephen-b-bull-white-house-special-files-staff-member-and-office-files | title=Stephen B. Bull (White House Special Files: Staff Member and Office Files) | Richard Nixon Museum and Library }}</ref>
===President Gerald Ford===
* Terrence O’Donnell<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/guides/findingaid/odonnelltfiles.asp|title=Terrence O'Donnell Files|website=www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213124055/https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/guides/findingaid/odonnelltfiles.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> * Gregory Willard<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://geraldrfordfoundation.org/centennial/oralhistory/greg-willard/|title=Greg Willard|date=May 30, 2013|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213123956/https://geraldrfordfoundation.org/centennial/oralhistory/greg-willard/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===President Jimmy Carter=== * Timothy Kraft<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/assets/documents/findingaids/Kraft_Tim_SAP.pdf | title=Records of Tim Kraft, Special Assistant to the President: A Guide to Its Records at the Jimmy Carter Library | access-date=2019-02-13 | archive-date=2018-03-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325043717/https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/assets/documents/findingaids/Kraft_Tim_SAP.pdf | url-status=live}}</ref> * Phil Wise<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cartercenter.org/about/experts/phil_wise.html|title=Phil Wise|website=www.cartercenter.org|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213123839/https://www.cartercenter.org/about/experts/phil_wise.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===President Ronald Reagan=== * David Fischer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universe.byu.edu/2013/09/03/1charter-class-grad-worked-for-president-reagan/|title=Charter class grad worked for President Reagan|first=Joshua|last=Lee|date=September 3, 2013|website=The Daily Universe|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050556/https://universe.byu.edu/2013/09/03/1charter-class-grad-worked-for-president-reagan/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Jim Kuhn<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://broaddusassociates.com/about-us/our-people/item/16-james-f-kuhn|title=James F. Kuhn|website=broaddusassociates.com|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213124032/https://broaddusassociates.com/about-us/our-people/item/16-james-f-kuhn|url-status=live}}</ref>
===President George H. W. Bush=== * Timothy McBride<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-oral-histories/timothy-j-mcbride-oral-history-personal-aide-president|title=Timothy J. McBride Oral History, Personal Aide to the President; Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development; Assistant to the President for Management|date=October 27, 2016|website=Miller Center|access-date=February 22, 2019|archive-date=February 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223074543/https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-oral-histories/timothy-j-mcbride-oral-history-personal-aide-president|url-status=live}}</ref> * Michal Dannenhauer<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.41on41.com/41-storytellers|title=41 Storytellers|website=41 on 41|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213123915/http://www.41on41.com/41-storytellers/|url-status=live}}</ref> * David Bates<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/friends-former-aides-remember-what-made-george-h-w-bush-the-kind-of-person-i-want-as-president|title=Friends, former aides remember what made George H.W. Bush 'the kind of person I want as president'|date=December 3, 2018|website=PBS NewsHour|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213115437/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/friends-former-aides-remember-what-made-george-h-w-bush-the-kind-of-person-i-want-as-president|url-status=live}}</ref> * Tom Frechette<ref name="auto1"/>
===President Bill Clinton=== * Douglas Band<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teneo.com/person/doug-band/|title=Doug Band|website=Teneo|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213123913/https://www.teneo.com/person/doug-band/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Kris Engskov<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/starbucks-executive-kris-engskov-joins-aegis-living-as-president-as-the-company-opens-a-new-chapter-on-premium-care-quality-and-growth-300772678.html|title=Starbucks Executive Kris Engskov Joins Aegis Living As President As The Company Opens A New Chapter On Premium Care Quality And Growth|website=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213123932/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/starbucks-executive-kris-engskov-joins-aegis-living-as-president-as-the-company-opens-a-new-chapter-on-premium-care-quality-and-growth-300772678.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===President George W. Bush=== *Logan Walters *Blake Gottesman<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.berkshirepartners.com/bio_gottesman|title=Blake Gottesman|website=www.berkshirepartners.com|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2014-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006025717/http://www.berkshirepartners.com/bio_gottesman|url-status=live}}</ref> * Jared Weinstein<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=12 June 2006 |title=Who Knows Bush’s Mind Best? |url=https://time.com/archive/6677472/who-knows-bushs-mind-best/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 January 2026 |website=Time}}</ref> * Freddy Ford<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2017/11/17/george-w-bushs-longtime-chief-staff-step|title=George W. Bush's longtime chief of staff to step down|date=November 17, 2017|website=Dallas News|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213124109/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2017/11/17/george-w-bushs-longtime-chief-staff-step|url-status=live}}</ref> * Sam Sutton<ref name="Childers">{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/presidential-valets|title=Presidential Valets Confidantes of the Wardrobe|author=Sam Childers}}</ref> * Fidel Medina<ref name="Childers"/>
===President Barack Obama=== * Reggie Love<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/wp/2015/01/29/reggie-love-on-life-as-obamas-chief-of-stuff/|title=Reggie Love on life as Obama's "chief of stuff"|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002930/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/wp/2015/01/29/reggie-love-on-life-as-obamas-chief-of-stuff/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Marvin Nicholson<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/fashion/weddings/obama-groomsman-wedding-marvin-nicholson.html|title=Late-Term Role for Obama: Groomsman in Chief|first=LeAnn|last=Wilcox|work=The New York Times |date=January 13, 2017|via=NYTimes.com|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213183504/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/fashion/weddings/obama-groomsman-wedding-marvin-nicholson.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===President Donald Trump=== * John McEntee (2017–2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/13/politics/john-mcentee-white-house-security-clearance/index.html|title=Longtime Trump aide fired over financial crime investigation|author=Kaitlan Collins, Jeremy Diamond and Jeff Zeleny|website=CNN|date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=2019-02-13|archive-date=2019-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218130327/https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/13/politics/john-mcentee-white-house-security-clearance/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * Jordan Karem (2018–2019)<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-karem-idUSKCN1NV1ZJ|title=Trump's 'body guy' plans to leave White House soon: officials|newspaper=Reuters |date=November 26, 2018|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-date=February 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214061329/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-karem-idUSKCN1NV1ZJ|url-status=live}}</ref> * Nick Luna (2019–2021)<ref name="auto"/> * Christopher Ambrosini (2025–present)<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Annual-Report-to-Congress-on-White-House-Staff.pdf | title=Annual report to congress on white house office personnel | website=www.whitehouse.gov}}</ref>
===President Joe Biden=== * Stephen Goepfert (2021–2022)<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-team-announces-new-staff-picks-highlighting-effort-to-build-an-administration-that-looks-like-america |title= Biden team announces new staff picks, highlighting effort to 'build an administration that looks like America' |work= PBS |date= December 30, 2020 |accessdate= December 30, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/July-1-2022-Report-Final.pdf|title=The Whitehouse}}</ref> * Jacob Spreyer (2022–2025)<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/politics/stephen-goepfert-joe-biden-white-house/index.html |title= Biden's 'bodyman' and close confidant to depart the White House |work= CNN |date= August 23, 2022 |first= Phil |last= Mattingly |accessdate= August 24, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/July-1-2023-Report-Final-Version.pdf|title=The Whitehouse}}</ref>
==In popular culture==
This role has been portrayed in fiction:
* Dulé Hill as Charlie Young, in ''The West Wing'' * Tony Hale as Gary Walsh, in ''Veep''
==See also== * Aide-de-camp, a military assistant to a senior official * White House social aide * White House Military Office * Road manager, performing similar duties for an entertainer or celebrity
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Presidency of the United States