Parks could find no fault in the sets when she visited them in 1978. Richard Y. Haman (Art Director) and Anne D. McCulley (Set Decorator) received Emmy nominations for their creations for the miniseries. When shooting was concluded, an effort was made to find homes for the White House sets, but Ed Friendly was turned down by the studios and universities he approached. Other than $40,000 worth of doors taken by UCLA, the sets were bulldozed and sent to landfills, much to the disgust of Friendly. Casting Casting commenced early 1978 with first casting announcements of Leslie Uggams as Lillian Rogers Parks, Olivia Cole as her mother Maggie Rogers, Louis Gossett Jr. as White House staff member Mercer, Cloris Leachman as the White House head housekeeper, Julie Harris as Mrs. Helen Taft, Robert Vaughn as President Woodrow Wilson, Celeste Holm as Mrs. Florence Harding, and William Conrad as President William Howard Taft. Victor Buono later replaced William Conrad in that role. The first episode featured Paul Winfield as Emmett Rogers Sr.. Gregory Itzin appeared in his first (uncredited) television role as a White House tour guide. Principal Cast Rogers/Parks Family Olivia Cole as Maggie Rogers Leslie Uggams as Lillian Rogers Parks Paul Winfield as Emmett Rogers Sr. Kevin Hooks as Emmett Rogers Jr. Harrison Page as Wheatley Parks Presidents and First Ladies Victor Buono as William Howard Taft Julie Harris as Helen (Nellie) Taft Robert Vaughn as Woodrow Wilson Kim Hunter as Ellen Axson Wilson Claire Bloom as Edith Bolling Galt Wilson George Kennedy as Warren G. Harding Celeste Holm as Florence Harding Ed Flanders as Calvin Coolidge Lee Grant as Grace Coolidge Larry Gates as Herbert Hoover Jan Sterling as Lou Hoover John Anderson as Franklin D. Roosevelt Eileen Heckart as Eleanor Roosevelt Harry Morgan as Harry S. Truman Estelle Parsons as Bess Truman Andrew Duggan as Dwight D. Eisenhower Barbara Barrie as Mamie Eisenhower White House Staff Louis Gossett Jr. as Houseman Levi Mercer Robert Hooks as Doorman John Mays Leslie Nielsen as Chief Usher Ike Hoover Hari Rhodes as Butler Coates Bill Overton as Doorman Jackson David Downing as Butler Dixon Helena Carroll as First Maid Annie Gilhooley Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Elizabeth Jaffray James A. Watson Jr. as Houseman Fraser Diane Shalet as Housekeeper Long Louise Latham as Housekeeper Nesbitt Richard Roat as Chief Usher Howell Crim Marged Wakeley as Housekeeper Walker Plot summary Part 1: