Julianna Smoot, Social Secretary, Out: Is It Time For A Man?

So we're a little late to the party (at least we didn't crash it!), but White House Social Secretary Julianna Smoot is leaving her post after only ten months on the job to work on the president's re-election campaign. And with the news comes an interesting suggestion from the New York Times: maybe a man should take the reins.

And why not? Letitia Baldrige, social secretary to Jackie Kennedy, agrees, remembering that in 1961, "there was a man named J. B. West who was really the manager of the White House. He did everything that a social secretary should do; he set a style." However West, who was dubbed chief usher never wanted to be called Social Secretary because it sounded "too frippery."

So who are some possible male contenders for the job? According to the Times:

• Ebs Burnough or Joe Reinstein -- Smoot's top deputies
• Steve Clemons -- D.C. "social butterfly" and director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation
• Carlos Elizondo -- Vice President Biden's social secretary
• Chris Wayne -- former deputy director of White House advance for President Clinton
• Sam Kass -- Chicago chef
• George Stevens Jr. -- director and producer

What do you think?

Quick Poll

Is it time for a male Social Secretary?

YES! It's 2011.

NO! I don't like anyone on the list.

Unsure.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[offred]

09:43 AM on 02/05/2011

I nominate Kurt from Glee or Cameron from Modern Family. White House parties would be fun AND stylish.

[jpeters100]

11:46 PM on 02/02/2011

Tim Gunn.

[americanfreedoMYTH]

11:23 AM on 02/02/2011

i dont really care

[ottonomy]

10:55 AM on 02/02/2011

What the heck? Why is there no byline on this story? Who is responsible for this stupid (sexist?) question? What does a woman leaving a job to do another job have to do with whether that job should be done by a man?

Also, Yawn. There could have been a dozen interesting stories about the White House social media strategy, and you chose this one. Not newsworthy.

[atl50]

10:50 AM on 02/02/2011

But can these guys make coffee?

[Dimplezzz2002]

10:24 AM on 02/02/2011

I couldn't possibly care any less!

[Supercruize]

09:18 AM on 02/02/2011

Barry needs to get someone who will get the job done. We need to get a good social strategy in place while the GOP is still asleep.

[Pundit Commentator]

08:06 AM on 02/02/2011

The headline makes it sound like she's leaving the job for a man. Sigh...oh, HuffPo

[caune]

08:05 AM on 02/02/2011

I think she needs to hire Tom and Lorenzo from the Project Rungay blog. She can get two for the price of one ;)

[PaleMail]

06:32 AM on 02/02/2011

Very misleading headline. Who's writing this stuff, Beck?

[Arrech]

06:16 AM on 02/02/2011

Tim Gunn

[isaidit]

04:29 AM on 02/02/2011

I could not find the "Yawn" option in the poll. I know pointless polling is a real feature of a democratic society, but until there is always a "Yawn" option, the poll is not really democratic. Please sort this out once and for all. Thanks.

[Dimplezzz2002]

10:26 AM on 02/02/2011

OMG! My sentiments exactly. F&F!

[greetings101]

03:40 AM on 02/02/2011

yes please put a man in that position. let him show the ladies how its done:)

[lightist]

03:27 AM on 02/02/2011

Curious how they shuffle about in the house of big daddy-0. So many strategies to consider. So little time to "grow up".

[jlab]

03:22 AM on 02/02/2011

She left because it was getting a little hard to work two jobs. She now concentrates on her leading role in "Parks and Recreation".

[greetings101]

03:41 AM on 02/02/2011

i thought the article saids she is going to work on the president re-election campaign. that is a fulltime job, isn't it?