Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Names and faces
■ The White House has fired its chief usher, Angella Reid, the first woman and second black to hold the position.
When the White House residence staff arrived at work Friday morning, they were told that Reid was no longer employed, according to someone with knowledge of the dismissal. Reached by phone, Reid declined to comment, saying only, “I think it’s best if the White House explains.” White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Friday that Reid had been let go and that the parting was amicable and that she “left on very good terms.” Staff turnover is not uncommon when a new administration comes to power, Huckabee Sanders said, adding that Reid’s departure was “simply nothing more than that.” The job is one that typically involves a long tenure — there have been just nine since the beginning of the 20th century. Despite the unusual title, the chief usher oversees all activities in the White House residence and works as the building’s general manager, handling everything from the 90-plus person staff of butlers, maids, chefs, florists and electricians to fiscal, administrative and personal duties. The chief usher also works closely with the first family, including providing guidance on the furnishings, art and decor. Reid, who previously worked for the Ritz-Carlton hotel group, joined the White House in 2011 under President Barack Obama. She replaced the first black chief usher, Adm. Stephen Rochon, when he left to take a job at the Department of Homeland Security. “Knowing Angella, I doubt seriously that she would have done something herself to cause this,” Rochon said. “She worked for years in top management in hotels. She knows about hospitality. She is definitely professional, but you’re not going to please everybody.”
■ Ryan Seacrest may have some competition as host of New York’s most famous crystal ball drop — from Josh Duhamel.
The star of the new Transformers: The Last Night kicked off Cinco de Mayo with a special ball drop in Times Square on Thursday. The same Waterford crystal ball that drops every New Year’s Eve was adapted with a special lime theme. Duhamel has two big films coming out this year. There’s the Transformers movie set for a June release. And later this year, he brings the popular video game Call of Duty to the big screen. Since his wife, Fergie, already co-hosts New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
with Seacrest, does that mean Duhamel is trying his own thing with the Cinco de Mayo lime drop? “Oh, yeah, you’re right. I never thought about that. She’s got New Year’s Eve, now I’ve got Cinco de Mayo. That’s a good point.” Then he immediately thought of moving up. “I’ll be like the new Ryan Seacrest of Cinco de Mayo.” He looked into a camera: “Watch out, Ryan.”