Gary Walters has spent more time inside America’s most famous residence than almost anyone outside of a first family.

As the longest-serving White House chief usher, Walters worked nearly 40 years under presidents from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush. He’s now chronicling his experiences in a new book, "White House Memories: 1970-2007."

Dennis Cook/AP

“The chief usher is responsible for three main duties,” Walters told Scripps News. “The first being to operate the home of the president and his family and to see their privacy in their home, which encompasses the second and third floors of the executive residence. The second responsibility is to be the site of official events of the presidency on the grounds and in the house — state dinners, receptions, press conferences, so forth.

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