A lever and mounting plate combination attachable to the exposed vertical surface of a door that includes a latch assembly with a spindle extending horizontally outward from the vertical surface, the lever and mounting plate combination including a main plate mountable onto the door's exposed surface and having a window-like opening extending completely through the plate, a lever having a base part which is coupleable to the spindle and pivotable therewith and has an exposed outer part, and a lever plate fixed to the base part of the lever and pivotable with though lever and with the spindle when it is coupled to the lever, the lever plate closely underlies and contacts said inner surface of the main plate while at all times covering the window, the lever being engagable by a user to rotate the lever plate and simultaneously rotate the spindle to open the door.