Interview with Patricia Perkins Andringa, September 20, 2019

Interview Summary

Patricia Andringa, a former White House intern under Bess Abell, begins the interview by describing her personal background. Andringa remembers arriving in Washington, D.C. for the first time to begin her internship. Andringa shares her initial impressions of Bess Abell. Andringa discusses an important professor she had while attending Mount Holyoke College named Victoria Schuck, who was important in political science academic circles. Andringa discusses her recollections of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Andringa discusses the typical work duties she had as a White House intern. Andringa details her friendship with the Johnson family, including Lynda Bird Johnson Robb. Andringa recalls her first job in the federal government as a research assistant in the U.S. Postmaster General's Office. Andringa then discusses her husband and marriage. Andringa details the interactions she witnessed between Bess Abell and Lady Bird Johson. Additionally, Andringa describes Bess' personality. Andringa talks of the logistics behind her White House internship, including where she lived and how she commuted to work. The work of White House military social aides is explored. Andringa considers how Bess Abell managed stress at work and the demands of a young family at the same time. White House social events that Andringa attended are detailed. Andringa evaluates the possible origins of Bess Abell's nickname 'the iron butterfly.' Andriga describes Bess' fashion style. Andringa assesses what kind of an impact Professor Victoria Schuck had on her life. Andringa discusses her life after the White House internship, including volunteering to do extra work at the White House for Bess Abell and her overall level of contact with Bess. Andringa also evaluates the impact of her White House internship on her life. Andringa offers an explanation as to why she was not very involved in politics after her marriage. Andringa chronicles how she wrote her undergraduate thesis on presidential assistants in the White House. Tyler Abell briefly clarifies a discrepancy on the timeline of a trip that Lady Bird Johnson offered Andringa an opportunity to attend. Andringa explains how her undergraduate thesis was evaluated. Andringa offers her opinion on how successful Bess Abell would be as a social secretary in the 2010s. The interview is concluded with Andringa's final thoughts on memory.

Interview Keyword

Bess Abell White House Internships John F. Kennedy Assassinations Lady Bird Johnson Lynda Bird Johnson Robb Husbands Victoria Schuck Social aides Nicknames Style Politics Thesis

Interview LC Subject

New Haven (Conn.) Mount Holyoke College Politicians Johnson family Federal government Postmasters general Marriage Personality Military Political science Stress Professor Undergraduate Education Social secretaries

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.