Jessica Susanto | White House Visitors Office (Washington, DC)
This past summer, I interned at the White House, working in the White House Visitors Office. Our office was responsible for planning many of the public-facing events held at the White House and managing public tours. Throughout the summer, I assisted with events including the State Arrival for the Republic of India, the Fourth of July Celebration, and the Congressional Picnic. We welcomed up to 7,000 guests for large events and 3,000+ visitors daily for White House tours. As an intern, I learned so much about the logistical planning and behind-the-scenes collaboration that goes into every single event at the White House and the attention-to-detail that ensures guests feel welcomed. It truly takes a village and would not be possible without the amazing team of staffers!
In addition to managing public tours and fielding phone calls and emails from Congressional tour coordinators, one of my main tasks was revising the official White House tour script with updated historical facts, language, and reference images for future staff. It was interesting to see how the history of the White House has changed over the years and continues to change today. Every room, furniture, and piece of art has some historical significance or interesting story behind it. Feel free to ask me for fun facts of the rooms in the White House!
My proudest accomplishment of this internship was getting officially tour-certified by the U.S. Secret Service to conduct tours for VIPs, Congressional members, and members of the public. By the end of the summer, I led six large tour groups of up to 50 guests, including some Congressional members.
One unique part of the White House Visitors Office is that this office is the most public-facing department, and we have the opportunity to interact with members of the public more than any other office. It was an important responsibility to extend hospitality to all guests. My favorite part of this internship was connecting with people who travel from all over the world to visit the White House. It served as a reminder that although the White House is surrounded by tall gates, it is truly still the “People’s House.” This internship not only provided me with professional skills, but it also instilled the importance of public service. This taste of public service has inspired me to pursue policy work, specifically surrounding educational policy and women’s advocacy. Thank you to the History Department for making this experience possible for me!
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