Lea Berman and Laura Bush prepare for the Committee for the Preservation of the White House luncheon and Christmas buffet menu tasting in the State Dining Room. October 26, 2006.

Lea Berman, social secretary in the George W. Bush administration, 2005 to 2007

“Most people are [coming to the White House] for the first time. They’re very excited. They don’t know what to expect. They’d arrive on the state floor and look around. Some of them would tear up. Some of them would be speechless….That was probably the best part of the job, seeing how happy people are to be there and how much they love their country.”