“What does the “White House Calligrapher” do?”
I would imagine they do the fancy writing on invitations, awards, and those things with your name on them that show where you’re supposed to sit at a table. I could see how that would keep three people busy. If you’re going to do it, and protocol pretty much requires it, then it’s a position of some responsibility. The salaries sound like they’re in the GS-12 to -13 range with DC locality pay.
I can understand how protocol requires elegant entries on awards, placards and menus, but protocol doesn't insist that all calligraphy be performed by hand, and therefore, it seems like these jobs could be performed for far less, and probably by two people at the most.
If we can’t afford to keep criminals in jail then we certainly cannot afford $300,000+ for fancy placecards for state dinners. In fact, we probably can’t afford the state dinners and we certainly cannot afford to be paying for all of the royals vacations. Meanwhile, the TSA is spending $500 million on new uniforms. INSANE!