What was it really like inside the Clinton White House? According to a former senior military aide who was once entrusted with carrying the nuclear launch codes, the environment was far from polished professionalism—and one person, in particular, left a lasting impression.
Buzz Patterson, a retired Air Force officer who worked directly under President Bill Clinton in the late ’90s, is now going public with explosive claims about his time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
And his focus isn’t just on the former president—but largely on Hillary Clinton.
The Mood at the White House Was All About “Whether Hillary Was Home or Not”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Patterson shared what he called the unfiltered truth about day-to-day life under the Clintons.
He described living at the White House and being “constantly near” both Bill and Hillary.
But what really stood out, he said, was how dramatically the atmosphere could change depending on whether the First Lady was in the building. “When Hillary was gone, it was a frat party.
When she was home, it was Schindler’s List,” Patterson wrote—using a comparison that raised eyebrows across the internet.
Patterson Didn’t Hold Back on His View of Hillary’s Personality
According to Patterson, Hillary Clinton was feared among staffers more than her husband ever was.
He claimed that military and professional White House personnel often referred to her using harsh nicknames, with one particularly biting label—“Nazi schoolmarm”—surfacing among those trying to dodge her wrath.
“She was evil, vindictive, profane,” he posted bluntly. “She set the tone for the administration.”
He added that aides were regularly seen ducking into rooms or hallways to avoid crossing paths with her.
“Professional adults, working in the most important building in the world, were literally hiding,” he said.
Warning from Day One: “Don’t Cross Hillary”
When Patterson first arrived at the White House in 1996, he says he was warned right away: getting on Bill Clinton’s bad side might be tolerable, but upsetting Hillary could have serious consequences.
He claimed that while he occasionally got under Bill’s skin—like the time he refused to let him visit a restaurant because it hadn’t been cleared by the Secret Service—he never dared to anger Hillary.
“I knew the ramifications,” he said.
“Avoid Me at All Costs”—How Hillary Reportedly Wanted Staff to Behave
One of the more chilling claims Patterson made involved Hillary allegedly telling senior staff not to come into contact with her unless absolutely necessary.
“She instructed the staff, including me, that she didn’t want to be forced to encounter us,” Patterson wrote.
The result? A culture of fear where people would literally scramble to avoid her gaze.
“We acted like misbehaving children whenever she came around,” he said.
Military Staff Felt Underappreciated During Clinton Years
As someone with over two decades in the Air Force, including missions to war zones like Rwanda and Somalia, Patterson said he was especially struck by what he perceived as a lack of respect for military service in the Clinton White House.
He recalled one situation where Hillary allegedly tried to ban military uniforms inside the White House altogether.
“She was trying to shape the image that the military wasn’t a major focus for the administration,” he wrote.
Patterson, who had to carry the “nuclear football” at all times, pushed back, saying it was essential for national security that he be easily identifiable.
Secret Service Had to Step In Over Uniform Dispute
Ultimately, Patterson said, the Secret Service sided with him, and the uniform policy remained.
But the fact that it even became a debate left a strong impression on him about the administration’s priorities.
“This wasn’t just a symbolic issue,” he argued. “If there were ever a national emergency, the Secret Service needed to be able to find me instantly. Seconds matter in that situation.”
Patterson Labels the Clintons “Corrupt Beyond Words”
Patterson’s post concluded with a scathing judgment on both Bill and Hillary Clinton, accusing them of being “corrupt beyond words.”
The post has since garnered millions of views, stirring conversation—and controversy—online.
Though his story offers only one perspective, it has sparked renewed interest in what life was really like behind the scenes of one of the most politically influential power couples in modern American history.