SIMI VALLEY : Curator to Share His White House Years

White House Curator Rex Scouten will share his memories and insights gained from working closely with 10 Presidents and their families in America’s most famous residence at a special lecture scheduled Dec. 7 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

In his nearly 45 years working with and around Chief Executives, Scouten has served as a Secret Service agent and as White House liaison, chief usher and curator.

He was on duty when President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a stroke in 1957, was in the Oval Office when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and was with Nancy Reagan when her husband was wounded by a would-be assassin in 1981.

Scouten’s lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the library and will feature slides detailing the evolution of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. through the century. He will also provide guests with a tour of the 60-foot White House replica on exhibit at the library near Simi Valley.

Library spokeswoman Stefanie Salata said the event will be “the ultimate insider’s tour of the White House because of the many Administrations (Scouten has) witnessed firsthand and because he’s the sitting curator.”

The lecture and refreshments are free and open to the public. To reserve seating, call 522-2977.