Pamela Ahearn, 52; first, only protocol chief for House of Representatives

Pamela Gardner Ahearn, 52, who served nine years as chief of protocol at the U.S. House of Representatives after earlier experience with the State Department’s office of protocol and as Elizabeth Taylor’s executive assistant, died March 26 of a heart attack at her home in Alexandria, Va.

After holding high-level protocol positions in the Reagan administration and with the U.S. Information Agency, Ahearn was named chief of protocol by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) in 1995.

She was the first and, so far, the only person to hold the position.

Democratic members lampooned the appointment, with Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank calling Ahearn’s $62,000 salary “a total waste of money.”

Over time, Ahearn won respect on both sides of the aisle as she arranged dinners, ceremonies, international trips and Capitol visits by international leaders.

Before her job at the House, Ahearn was assistant chief of protocol for ceremonials with the State Department’s office of protocol.

“It takes a lot of sensitivity to other cultures and great attention to detail,” said Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt, who was chief of protocol in the Reagan administration and Ahearn’s boss at the State Department.

George Shultz, the former secretary of State, “said if protocol goes well, people don’t notice. But if something goes wrong, you’re on the front page of every newspaper,” Roosevelt said.

Ahearn was born in Nashville and graduated with honors and a degree in American studies from the University of Alabama. She joined the senatorial campaign of John W. Warner (R-Va.) and moved to Washington after he was elected in 1978.

Two years later, she became executive assistant to Warner’s wife at the time, actress Elizabeth Taylor.