This is Gina. I am sure one of the other contributors will be getting to this issue. This is likely one of the biggest issues to hit the East Wing in the year we’ve been covering them. I make no judgments PUBLICLY, although I’ve had some HYSTERICAL email exchanges.. I remain conflicted about Desiree Rogers although some of the members of our beloved comments section expressed their displeasure with the public profile of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Social Secretary. I think the current gunning for Desiree is overkill and since I have a horrible affliction of wanting to fight for the underdog, I kinda feel sorry for her.
But it doesn’t take a crystal ball to know She’s DONE! Rightly or wrongly no matter what the First Lady does from here on out, people are going to be asking about Desiree Rogers. She won’t resign anytime soon, but she’s as good as gone. Not because she did anything wrong (she may have), but because the only tolerable distractions in a White House are good distractions and this ain’t one of those kinds of distractions.
Robin Givhan gave her analysis of the current situation and I think some “very important historical context” via too many anonymous sources to count… aka GOSSIP:
“In recent years, social secretaries had always quashed their own public profiles, demurred from seeking the limelight, in service to their position and in deference to the first lady. Indeed, the names of the most recent social secretaries — Cathy Fenton, Lea Berman and Amy Zantzinger probably ring no bells outside of Washington circles. Those who have more prominent profiles such as Ann Stock, who worked in the Clinton administration and now at the Kennedy Center, and Letitia Baldridge of the Kennedy years, waited until their post-White House years to step into the spotlight.
” Some other folks are quite NAKED with their desire to see Desiree GONE! Look at this terse exchange between American Urban Radio’s April Ryan and Robert Gibbs. April wants Desiree GONE!
I’ve always felt that SOME of the initial criticism was due to her appearance and the projection of confidence some have interpreted as arrogance. Y’all could be right, I don’t know the woman. I ignored the snark about her at some other blogs and hoped that she was carrying out the First Lady’s wishes and doing so well. I assumed that the First Lady didn’t want to bear the entire glare of the spotlight and was happy to have Desiree around to absorb some of the bright lights. Of course I’m just making a whole lot of assumptions, kinda like Robin Givhan, but then again, she’s got a Pulitzer, I don’t.
I shan’t join in the public criticism now. I will say this, I’m torn. On one hand, I feel people are attempting to put her “in her place.” I bristle at the ideal that this confident Black woman is being beat down because she doesn’t bow down.
ON THE OTHER HAND, as someone who organizes a conference, I can’t FATHOM sitting down to eat on the job. Last year it was grub and go. I ate last AND we ran out of salad and had to order more on the spot. There are a million tiny details and you want to make sure everyone is comfortable and taken care of. I can’t imagine kicking it during my conference lunch let alone during a State Dinner. I’m trying to remember if I ever saw my Grandmother grab a plate to sit down and eat before EVERYBODY else got served. At church, we were raised saying “visitors first” when we would have a visiting church and serve cake and diabetes-inducing tea or fraupe. So on one hand, irrespective of the security breach, I’m having a side eye moment. She might be better suited for a deputy chief of staff for special events or something like that. Event planning isn’t glamorous, in fact I only get to enjoy things AFTER they are over, through photos and video. If you do your job well, no one really notices you.
But yes, this needs to be handled. Yes, Desiree clearly has made enemies in the White House and the press corp. DC Gossips, email me an let me know of the back story with April Ryan, Robin Givhan, and Desiree Rogers, because they are gunning for her and its clearly personal.
In addition, it is NEVER a good idea to try to throw the Secret Service under the bus. No, she should not have issued any statements following the breach, it looked like she was trying to cover her rear. Yes, she’s not going to make it through the entire first term. Yes, she should have been made ambassador of a tiny island nation instead of Social Secretary. YES, somewhere Jackie Norris has to be laughing.
Okay was that diplomatic enough? Alrighty then, Y’all have a great weekend.
33 Comments, Comment or Ping
pepper
Bottom line if you are supposed to be “working” you should not be on the front line unless you are Michelle Obama. I hope she is fired, but I don’t think she will because they are friends and she is also friends with Valarie Jarrett. Looking at her resume you can tell she is not qualified for the job. Why is someone who was over the lottery social secretary? She only became social secretary for the perks. Why is she at fashion week? Why is she posing for pictures? She would not have been there if she was not social secretary. I do believe the secret service is at fault, but it is not their responsibility to check the guest list at the party. She should have been on her job especially since it is their first state dinner.
Also about Robin Givhan I think she is just a hater and was waiting for a mess up to pound on. She went to Princeton 1982-1986 while Michelle went 1981-1985. There are very few black people at Princeton, they HAD to know each other. I wonder what’s her deal?
Dec 3rd, 2009
Nancy Smith
Desiree Rogers should step up -resign and go back home to Chicago
where she can be the Queen Bee-there is only room for one in the WH
and that is our First Lady Michelle Obama-time to throw the parvenues
overboard-Ms Rogers comes off looking as crass and craven as the
Salahis in refusing to testify before Congress-whey is the WH covering
for this woman? only feeds the criticism from those who are looking
for reasons to attack the President-enough already with those who
serve themselves when they were brought on board to serve the
Obama presidency
Dec 3rd, 2009
red
I often believe that you should not hire your friends to work for you, period. Some friends will not respect you as their boss, and will try to show you up. Rogers always seems to be in every picture with the First Lady, and should be behind the scenes making certain that everything is done. She is in magazines, giving interview for News Papers and all. I think she will stay, but I hope she has learned her lesson going forward.
Dec 3rd, 2009
Town
I don’t think Rogers should be fired, but she should be told to sit her ass down in the background. The bottom line is the SECRET SERVICE were the ones who let the Salahis break the security shield. If Michaele Salahi was not blond but instead darker skinned and dark haired, IMO they wouldn’t have been allowed past the first SS post.
Only if it’s found that the Secret Service did try to contact Rogers during the dinner and she blew them off should she be fired.
Everyone’s trying to throw Desiree Rogers under the bus to cover up the fact that the Secret Service fell down on the job and a pack of 5th grade safety patrols could probably protect the president better. I’m not trying to be funny with this, the Secret Service fell down on the job with the Bush shoe thrower, too.
I’m not worried about people attacking Obama because they’re going to do that regardless. If Malia walks out the WH with an Afro they will attack Obama over that. If there’s a picture of Michelle with a Snuggie on they will attack Obama over that. If Mother Robinson fires up a hot comb in the White House Kitchen they will attack Obama over that. If he uses 2 ply toilet paper instead of 1 ply they will attack him over that. So he’s going to get attacked regardless.
I don’t think it’s any accident that 98% of all the staffers certain people want to get rid of are black, either.
I don’t know anything about this April Ryan but Robin Givhan has been hating on Michelle Obama since day 1. Now that I’ve learned Givhan and Mrs. Obama went to Princeton at the same time and likely knew each other, I’m convinced this ish here is PERSONAL.
Dec 3rd, 2009
MKG
I don’t think that Desiree is Michelle Obama’s friend and she probably has never been. This lapse at the state dinner was it for me. I’ve had a suspicion the woman may not have had the First lady’s best interests in mind.
First clue, the Gordon Brown visit. When the British prime minister and his family visited the president, Brown presented the president with a pen holder made of timber from the sister ship of the HMS Resolute. The wood of the HMS Resolute was used to build the desk currently in use in the Oval Office. Mrs. Brown picked out outfits and books by British authors for Malia and Sasha. The Browns were presented with DVDs and model helicopters. Initially, I thought that Michelle had dropped the ball. Then I realized that gifts of this nature were selected by the social secretary. Ms. Rogers is urbane, refined and elegant. If a foreign dignitary visited her home, she would not have given him DVDs and trinkets from a hotel gift shop. The episode was a bad reflection on Mrs. Obama.
That was following by constant coverage in fashion magazines. It’s as if no one told Rogers she was supposed to let Michelle shine.
Finally, I have to say that it seems that Ms. Rogers was most concerned about attending the dinner instead of working the dinner. Her lapse in the attention to details created a security crisis that could have had tragic consequences.
Dec 3rd, 2009
iman
All my life, I’ve never heard anyone even mention, let alone critique the job of the White House social secretary. I guess that’s a testament to how quickly she has raised the profile of that office. Perhaps she’s an attention seeker to some degree, but clearly people are interested in her as well. She’s young, attractive, stylish and obliviously interesting since people keep talking about her. I’m sure plenty of other WH social secretaries made all types of blunders and I’m sure Ms. Rogers will not be the last. However, I do believe the blame for this blunder falls squarely at the feet of the secret service. I’m sorry, but if the president’s security detail is so porous than an oversight by the WH social secretary can put him in danger we’re all in trouble! And to my knowledge, the oversight was on their behalf anyway. It’s their job to protect him—nothing anyone does or doesn’t do should undermine that.
From what I’ve read, all of her events have been deemed successful, including the State Dinner until this “party crasher story” hit the airwaves. It was apparently written up well in the society pages and the attendees were impressed–especially given the size of the event. Considering all the social events the Obama’s have had in this first year alone, it seems like she’s been doing a good job. That’s me looking from the outside of course.
While some of the media attack may be legitimate, I do think a lot of it is petty and personal. When I’ve heard some people (not in this forum), tell her to “go back to Chicago” the tone really makes it sound like Michelle just plucked her off of some street corner in Chicago and gave her the hook up, because she was her “giiiirl”. Like Michelle just went through her rolodex the night of the election and told all of her girlfriends they’re coming to D.C.! I saw an interview with Valerie Jarrett where she was asked about this incident and the first thing the reporter mentioned was that she, Valerie and Michelle are good friends–as if this would be the first white house that hired personal friends!! The only difference is that some people can’t believe that an impressive black woman like Michelle might have equally impressive girlfriends. Whether she’s good at her job or not, it’s not like this woman doesn’t have ANY credentials. Also, she was put in charge of ordering centerpieces, not FEMA! Who ever knew the WH social secretary was that important!?
Finally, the WH social security is someone who most people consider to be an authority on etiquette, class and all things society. There are plenty of people who have a hard time associating those qualities with a black woman. As you pointed out, some people are put off by her confidence. I believe this incident has given certain people a pass to “put her in her place”.
Dec 3rd, 2009
Dee
As far as I’m aware, Ms. Rogers has performed admirably in her role, to date, and from what I’ve been able to make out the events that she has taken charge of have been bonafide successes.
Therefore, I hope the lady stays and see absolutely no reason for her to do otherwise.
Perhaps, she does over enjoysthe limelight. Maybe, she can see a way to capitalise in the future on her White House connections. Maybe, she does need to be a little more “backward in coming forwards” at time. People will agree and disagree, and we could have a good old back and forth over that and more.
However, again, I hope the lady stays and see absolutely no reason for her to go.
When the events around Jackie Norris’s departure came to light earlier this year, it seemed as if to some this saw the beginnings of an East Wing implosion.
It never happened – I hope that Ms. Norris is thriving, happy and extremely well – life went on as usual, and until this episode there was no cause for the likes of Ms. Givhan and Ms. Ryan to start with the frenzied commentary.
I’m sure knuckles will be rapped and words will be said in an assortment of ears over the security failings at the State Dinner. That is no more than is to be expected….
I look forward to Ms. Rogers continuing in her role.
Dec 3rd, 2009
pepper
@Town, Iman, Dee,
I like probably more than anyone else love seeing black women in positions of power. But with “friends” like Desiree, who needs enemies?
It is the secret services job to protect the president ( metal detectors, etc.) but not check guest lists. Since she made the guess list she should know who the guests are in and out. Also a reporter who was on the Chris Matthews show said that she informed one of Michelle’s staff members that she did not know who the Salahi’s were, but the staff did nothing. They where warned but she just kept partying.
Like MKG said this is not the first misstep she has made. This could have caused harm to Michelle’s husband.
Also the whole confident thing is bull. Michelle is confident but she is not arrogant like Desiree and seeks to have the limelight all to herself.
Like I said before she is overqualified for the job and only wanted it to be seen.
Dec 3rd, 2009
pepper
An another thing what’s Robin’s deal? Does anybody know. The black population at Princeton is TOO small for them to not have know each other. Is she just jealous or did something happen years (decades) ago? I don’t understand what this type of hateration in every single article is about. She just waits for something to happen to pounce on it.
Dec 3rd, 2009
admin
@pepper that’s why i put it out there, Who konws the back story about Robin, April and now, Michelle Martin because NPR just did a hit piece on Desiree as well.
The problem is that Desiree should have been made an ambassador, not social secretary. She could have been made ambassador to Aruba or something on account that she raised a quarter million dollars for the campaign.
Dec 3rd, 2009
C.
I’ve always had my reservations about Ms. Rogers.
Way too much self-promotion and posturing from the get go.
One always got the sense she had achip on her shoulder about the traditional expectations of this position;
I think that if she thought it was beneath her as defined for decades, she should really have just simply passed on it-
No Social secretary has been this agressively and annoyingly visible and self-serving.
Dec 4th, 2009
Vivian
Gee Wiz People,
You’re sounding like all the haters and reports. Make your decisions based on the “facts”. In knowing this we must all wait on a full scale investigation which will give us the facts if done properly.
Vivian
Cedar Hill, TX
Dec 4th, 2009
Abby
April Ryan is an embarrassment to female journalists. When most are concerned about health care and Afghanistan, Mrs. Ryan is worried about who is the “belle of the ball.” IDIOCY personified! If the first lady doesn’t have a problem with Ms. Rogers’ work performance why does Mrs. Ryan or anyone else??? Envy, jealousy, and hatred, bottom line.
Dec 4th, 2009
dmb
Ms Rogers should step down if she was at the door w the SS or acted when informed that the Salahis were in the house, we all would not be having this conversation. My concern & is that the president safety was placed at risk.. would would Ms. Rogers do then.? I’m not a hater i appreciate successful black women but there’s a time & place for everything & we all havea job to do.. that night was social secretary & be behind the scenes not walking thur the reception line being announced, so we can see what you have on (as if to outshine the first lady) & hold court w your own table..
Now the SS is thrown under the bus taking all the blame she should carry some of the weight at least issue a statement.. to me Ms. Rogers it all about her.
Dec 4th, 2009
Mary
I cannot believe that Desiree is allowing the secret service to take the fall on this. As the social secretary it is appalling that none of her staff was effective or doing thier jobs at this event. I respect the secret service as they risk their own lives in order to keep the president safe. It is disgusting that a White House Staff member would allow this to happen. She should either be fired or resign.
Dec 4th, 2009
Town
@ Mary: yeah, the Secret Service was so on the ball they didn’t even know their security had been breached until it became a FACEBOOK status alert.
I guess it was also Desiree Rogers’ fault the Salahis snuck into the bus boy entrance at the CBC dinner back in September where Obama was in attendance.
And it was also Desiree Rogers’ fault the Secret Service stood there like “D’Oh!” as the Iraqi threw shoes at Bush. Bush had quicker reflexes than the Secret Service.
But why stop with Desiree Rogers? MICHELLE OBAMA is the one who hired her! Michelle Obama put President Obama’s life at risk! She should immediately step down as First Lady and go back to Florida Evans’ apartment where she belongs!
Dec 4th, 2009
A.Carter
This is what black women do hate on each other.Look at the bull April Ryan and look at Desiree . Don’t hate Desiree because she’s beautiful ,smart and has style.Some people have good taste and style naturally without a stylist and some don’t .If she was ugly and wore a size 18 her name would never come up. Keep Shining Desire.
Dec 4th, 2009
molly
I’m in total agreement with ABBEY, who said “April Ryan is an embarrassment to female journalists. When most are concerned about health care and Afghanistan, Mrs. Ryan is worried about who is the “belle of the ball.” IDIOCY personified! If the first lady doesn’t have a problem with Ms. Rogers’ work performance why does Mrs. Ryan or anyone else??? Envy, jealousy, and hatred, bottom line.”
April Ryan is the one who should be fired.
Dec 4th, 2009
DD
I’ll just say this, I was an event planner, personal assistant for many years for several prestigious, high profile offices and I rarely sat down.
It is glorified servant position regardless of the who’s who list and the titles you work for. It is not uncommon for those in these assistant positions to take on their bosses title and get “full” of themselves — loosing sight of their role. I truly believe Ms. Rogers has made this fatal error. A fatal error because she has brought uncomplimentary attention, regardless of intent, to the office she was hired to serve. event planners expect some “hiccups” when taking a post-mortem analysis feedback from their events — what went wrong, what went right. I would say that feedback of the nature that Ms. Rogers is receiving most event planners of high profile positions would not recover from.
Dec 4th, 2009
Dee
Vivian, thanks for bringing a welcome note of calm and reason to this discussion.
To reiterate, as far as I can make out, over the year that the Social Secretary has held her job she has fulfilled her duties and responsibilities. She’s shown herself to be adept, capable and competent.
Not surprisingly, then, for most of the year, we’ve – mercifully – not heard too much from the likes of Ms. Ryan and Ms. Givhan. As soon as there’s a whiff of negativity, however, here they come, fast and furious, ready to stick their oar in!
I’m not asking for unqualified support and praise of anyone, and at the same time it would make for a refreshing change to see some constructive, kindly-meant criticism. Instead, we get the all-too-familiar attempted chopping down of a woman by other women. Sadly, it was ever so….!.
Anyone would think that Ms. Rogers hitchhiked to the White House, and begged the First Lady to give her a desperately needed break. Like she’s coming to the table with two bare, empty hands, and not a shred of experience, skill, or expertise in sight.
(And why do I have the feeling that if I tried to find a mishap/misstep free Social Secretary of prior years, it might just prove to be a bit of a tall order….?)
I have faith in the First Lady’s judgement. She has known Ms. Rogers, long enough to be aware of her personality traits – good and bad – and the valuable attributes she has that make her suited to the post. If Ms. Rogers as Social Secretary is good enough for her, then so be it.
General thought – if every person, regardless of their professional credentials, who’d been labelled at some point in their life attention-seeking/not a true friend/arrogant/posturing/only in it for themselves/overqualified was done out of a job, we’d have unemployment queues stretching several times around the globe……
Thanks again, Vivian for the note of calm and reason….
Dec 4th, 2009
rikyrah
this is just hateration. Givhan has been hating from day one, but now she’s not pretending, and I don’t know what’s up with Ryan, but she’s shown her ass on this one.
Bev Smith had on Ron Kessler, who has been screaming about how he sees lapses in this President’s security. Mr. Kessler broke it down…it wasn’t just one joker failing to do his/her job; it was a systematic failure by the Secret Service…LAYERS OF Secret Service protection was breached.
Dec 4th, 2009
Jo
I have followed Desiree Rogers’ career for years. She is a socialite and held some high powered jobs and I knew that although this was a White House job it was beneath the image that she presents. She is the show, the mover and shaker, and her light is not to be intended to be dimmed by anyone even the first Lady. But that is the problem, Desiree works there, she works in a capacity where she needs to dress down and look Professional when she is on the job. The short skirt is inappropriate and the couture clothing in not appropriate for her when she is suppose to be working. She must learn to forget the friendship…and do her job.
Dec 4th, 2009
EE
Good Morning All,
I am curious as to why Ms Givhan and Ms Ryan are somewhat being the object of some criticism. They are merely doing thier jobs ,I find Ms Ryan
competent and been proud of her since Clinton adnin, she is perfecyly in her rights to ask questions, Ms Givhan is an interesting columist making her way in a very competitive newspaper world, both forthright, curious no attacks on Ms Maureen Dowd NYT take on the situation, (these ladies
have to keep on thier game coming out of thier city.
Ms Rogers, I think initially her profile stood out, I was curious but as our wonderful first lady began to shine and I feel proved she is the main focus in this White House(high approval ratings) a class
act she is in no way over shadowed, and I am certain there has been a conversation on the way forward, so lets look to corrections and perhaps a wee bit of lowering the profile I think the Secretary has learned a lesson,
Dec 5th, 2009
lavaughan
A good public servant, no matter how essential he feels he is, always should be willing to take responsibility for actions that do not reflect well on his boss. Harry Truman always had a saying “The Buck Stops Here” and Ms. Desiree Rogers could take a lesson from that. The racial slant that people are putting on this i.e. she’s being persecuted because she’s a “strong black woman” (whatever that means), or that if the party crashers had been of a darker color they wouldnt have made it in in the first place, are both ridiculous and offensive.
Dec 5th, 2009
admin
BOO EE! What’s the fun in a conversation on the way forward? Its far more interesting to speculate on why Givhan and Ryan are being so agressive. There is a back story we’re not hearing. I want to know what that backstory is because I bet its a doozy. Yes, I’m nosy like that.
I think Desiree is DONE. She won’t leave this month or next month, but she’s as good as gone. I don’t think its the Salahis, its the animous that the press corp appears to have for her. Where did it come from?
Dec 5th, 2009
Kelly
Desiree Rogers isn’t suited for the job. This is a behind the scenes, low key, detail oriented job. Clearly, Rogers wants to be center stage. Michelle Obama should have figured that out when she hired her. I read an interview with Rogers from earlier this year, and she was talking about “branding,” which just sounded like corporate BS. Too many private sector rejects in our government.
CEOs have the mentality that something always needs to be cut–and Rogers, like a typical CEO, cut the position of the woman who used to work the gate checking the list. That decision caused a breach in security.
They need to let Rogers go and replace her with somebody who has worked in the department already, and who knows all of the protocol.
I blame the Obamas for not seeing that this was a bad match when they hired her. I know she’s their friend, but they should have put her in a position that matched her skills and personality.
Dec 5th, 2009
Town
The White House/Desiree Rogers has already put on 170+ events this year. 99% of them have been deemed successful. This isn’t about Desiree Rogers’ “incompetence” or not being qualified or being too qualified or hobnobbing with the guests. This is about the Secret Service falling down on the job. If “Salahi” isn’t on the list, you DETAIN them and call up Rogers or whoever and find out if they are on the list. If not, you turn them away. If they come back (as the Salahis did) after being turned away you escort them to their seat in the nearest jail cell to find out what their deal is. They didn’t do that; they saw a blond white woman in a sari and let her through. The Secret Service is 99.99% to blame for this situation, not Desiree Rogers.
Dec 6th, 2009
Dee
TEAM DESIREE!
Dec 6th, 2009
Kelly
Somebody who knew the list should have been stationed with the Secret Service, which is the way it was done in in the past. Why change a system that isn’t broken? I would like to know why she thought she could change a system thyat has always worked well. To me, that’s arrogance. The Secret Service has taken responsibility for their mistakes. Why hasn’t Rogers?
Dec 6th, 2009
Dee
Well, since last chipping in with my tuppence worth on the 4th, I’m pleased to see that the weekend has come and gone, and Ms. Rogers is still in post.
Who’s to say that she hasn’t taken responsibility for any mistakes she may have made?
Many will have learned much from what has taken place, and if the learning -in-theory is taken on board as thorough, efficient, and effective practice that can’t be a bad thing, at all.
Dec 7th, 2009
Angelle
I think that the 1st Lady is such a humble, gracious, & confident person that she is not bothered one bit by sharing some of the limelight w/social secretary, Desiree Rogers. I doubt very seriously that she would ever even see it that way, because they go way back. They, being, President & Mrs. Obama, Rogers, (her Ex), & V. Jarrett have all run in the same circles in Chicago for many years prior to entering the WH & have long-lasting friendships. It’s been reported that the 1st Lady & Rogers are often seen goofing around like old “girlfirends” in the East Wing. They have a lot of respect & admiration for each other & are using their incredible talents as women leaders to inspire a whole generation of young girls. Rogers may have made a costly & embarrassing mistake, but you can bet sure that this was a humbling experience that she will not soon repeat. I really admire Rogers. She’s an attractive & accomplished woman with great charisma & style & would never do anything intentionally to hurt the Obamas or jeapordize her own integrity. So what that she’s a Fashionista! I’m sure the 1st Lady would not want her to change the person that she is just because people may perceive her as stealing the limelight or not living up to their expectation of what they think a Social Secretary should be like.
Dec 9th, 2009
leznoire1973
I blame the secret service and not Desirée, period.
Dec 9th, 2009
Jenny Browne
If Ms Rogers is any kind of professional, she should take responsibility and resign. She is definitely a jumped up drama queen. And yes I’m a black woman and love to see people like me in responsible positions but Ms Rogers is very unprofessional and has left her bosses distracted by her antics. First, Do No Harm. FLOTUS should get rid if her – post haste!
Dec 9th, 2009