The early months of an administration are "always a time of building trust, and every president comes in, especially if you are changing parties, with an air of distrust, and the residence staff goes out of its way to say 'We are not there as Republicans or Democrats. We are there are neutrals to serve the office of the presidency,' " said James W.F. "Skip" Allen, who was a White House usher from 1979 to 2004. "It is something that is inbred in every member of the residence staff. No matter what they see, no matter what they hear, they never talk about it."