From slavery to the White House, the Ficklin family served presidents for nearly 8 decades - AP News

The Ficklin family served multiple U.S. presidents for nearly eight decades, beginning during slavery and continuing through the White House staff. The family's service spanned from the antebellum period through the mid-20th century, representing one of the longest documented cases of a single family's service to the American presidency. Their story illustrates the complex history of African American service in the highest levels of government, from enslaved labor to paid White House positions. The family's legacy provides insight into how some African American families maintained connections to presidential administrations across generational and social changes. Their documented service offers historians a rare multi-generational perspective on White House operations and race relations in American politics.