She lived in the White House for the duration of her father's presidency where she worked as an assistant to her mother, first lady Caroline Harrison.

She became the acting first lady after her mother's death in October 1892 and remained in the role for the final months of her father's presidency.

[2]: 21  When her father was elected to the United States Senate, she joined him in Washington, D.C., though she found herself unhappy with the city.

Her involvement in the campaign was reduced by her responsibilities as a mother,[4]: 53  for she gave birth to her daughter, Mary Lodge McKee, on July 4, 1888.

[2]: 27 When her father was elected president of the United States, McKee and her family accompanied him to Washington, D.C., and took residence in the White House.

[2]: 45  Working with her brother's wife, she organized dancing events for the White House, which had been absent for the previous few administrations.

[8] Historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony described McKee's son as the most famous member of the president's family.

Social events were scheduled to resume on January 31, 1893, but they were further delayed so a funeral could be held after the death of secretary of state James G. Blaine.

As the president had lost reelection in 1892, McKee's tenure as acting White House hostess lasted only four months before the return of popular first lady Frances Cleveland.

[10]: 277  She was upset when her father remarried in 1896, as he had chosen his wife's young niece, Mary Dimmick, as his bride.

[9]: 336 [12] Historian Charles W. Calhoun suggests that McKee was also upset because she had grown accustomed to spending her time with her father, which was interrupted by the relationship between Harrison and Dimmick.