Irwin "Ike" H. Hoover

Irwin Hood "Ike" Hoover (October 24, 1871 – September 14, 1933) served as the White House Chief Usher from 1904 to 1933, his death. He served in the White House for 42 years and as Usher for 29 years, and both records remain unbroken as of 2025.

Career Irwin "Ike" Hoover was born in Washington, D.C., He became an employee of the Edison Electric Company, and was sent to the White House on May 6, 1891, to install the first electric lights and an electric bell system in the executive mansion. At the time, no private building in the city had electricity, and the only government-owned building which did was the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. President Benjamin Harrison and his family considered electricity dangerous, and no one in the Harrison family would even turn a light switch for fear of electrocution. On May 15, when Hoover finished the installation, he was asked by President Harrison to leave Edison Electric and join the White House staff as an electrician. (Hoover and Roosevelt were already well-acquainted with each other, as Roosevelt had served on the United States Civil Service Commission during the Harrison administration and had been Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley.)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered the use of the White House for Hoover's funeral, but the Hoover family declined the offer. Hoover's funeral was held at the Glenwood Cemetery Mortuary Chapel at Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Colonel Julien E. Yates, chief of all United States Army chaplains, officiated. President Roosevelt, members of his Cabinet, and Roosevelt's personal secretary Louis Howe served as honorary pallbearers. The entire White House staff attended the funeral.

Hoover was buried at Glenwood Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Hattie Mary Hoover, and his son and daughter.

Screen portrayals Roy Roberts portrayed Ike Hoover in Wilson (1944)

Colin Hamilton portrayed Ike Hoover in Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977)

Leslie Nielsen portrayed Ike Hoover in Backstairs at the White House (1979)