Share this record
John Ficklin Worked for Nine Presidents
Identifier: 2022.2.1
Description:
Rappahannock News interview with John Woodson Ficklin, Rappahannock native, who served under nine presidents. Mr. Ficklin was the son of Strother and Vallie Davenport Ficklin of Amissville. He began his career at the White House working as a dishwasher when F. D. R. was president. His job was to wash the fine china and silverware. During WWII he left to serve as a medic in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to the White House while Harry Truman was president. When he retired, Reagan was in office and Mr. Ficklin had risen to the position of maitre d'hotel. He passed away a year after the article was published.
Rappahannock News interview with John Woodson Ficklin, Rappahannock native, who served under nine presidents. Mr. Ficklin was the son of Strother and Vallie Davenport Ficklin of Amissville. He began his career at the White House working as a dishwasher when F. D. R. was president. His job was to wash the fine china and silverware. During WWII he left to serve as a medic in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to the White House while Harry Truman was president. When he retired, Reagan was in office and Mr. Ficklin had risen to the position of maitre d'hotel. He passed away a year after the article was published.