The President's House: 1800 to the Present The Secrets and History of the World's Most Famous Home

by Margaret Truman

As Margaret Truman knows from firsthand experience, living in the White House can be exhilarating and maddening, alarming and exhausting–but it is certainly never dull. Part private residence, part goldfish bowl, and part national shrine, the White House is both the most important address in America and the most intensely scrutinized. In this splendid blend of the personal and historic, Margaret Truman offers an unforgettable tour of “the president’s house” across the span of two centuries.

Opened (though not finished) in 1800 and originally dubbed a “palace,” the White House has been fascinating from day one. In Thomas Jefferson’s day, it was a reeking construction site where congressmen complained of the hazards of open rubbish pits. Andrew Jackson’s supporters, descending twenty thousand strong from the backwoods of Kentucky and Tennessee, nearly destroyed the place during his first inaugural. Teddy Roosevelt expanded it, Jackie Kennedy and Pat Nixon redecorated it. Through all the vicissitudes of its history, the White House has transformed the characters, and often the fates, of its powerful occupants.

In The President’s House, Margaret Truman takes us behind the scenes, into the deepest recesses and onto the airiest balconies, as she reveals what it feels like to live in the White House. Here are hilarious stories of Teddy Roosevelt’s rambunctious children tossing spitballs at presidential portraits–as well as a heartbreaking account of the tragedy that befell President Coolidge’s young son, Calvin, Jr. Here, too, is the real story of the Lincoln Bedroom and the thrilling narrative of how first lady Dolley Madison rescued a priceless portrait of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of Independence before British soldiers torched the White House in 1814.

Today the 132-room White House operates as an exotic combination of first-class hotel and fortress, with 1,600 dedicated workers, an annual budget over $1 billion, and a kitchen that can handle anything from an intimate dinner for four to a reception for 2,400. But ghosts of the past still walk its august corridors–including a phantom whose visit President Harry S Truman described to his daughter in eerie detail.

From the basement swarming with reporters to the Situation Room crammed with sophisticated technology to the Oval Office where the president receives the world’s leaders, the White House is a beehive of relentless activity, deal-making, intrigue, gossip, and of course history in the making. In this evocative and insightful book, Margaret Truman combines high-stakes drama with the unique perspective of an insider. The ultimate guided tour of the nation’s most famous dwelling, The President’s House is truly a national treasure.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Presidents, Politics, American History, Biography, Historical

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Mary Margaret Truman Daniel was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman. While her father was president during the years 1945 to 1953, Margaret regularly accompanied him on campaign trips, such as the 1948 countrywide whistle-stop campaign lasting several weeks. She also appeared at important White House and political events during those years, being a favorite with the media.
After graduating from George Washington University in 1946, she embarked on a career as a coloratura soprano, beginning with a concert appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. She appeared in concerts with orchestras throughout the United States and in recitals throughout the U.S. through 1956. She made recordings for RCA Victor, and made television appearances on programs like What's My Line? and The Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1957, one year after her marriage, Truman abandoned her singing career to pursue a career as a journalist and radio personality, when she became the co-host of the program Weekday with Mike Wallace. She also wrote articles as an independent journalist, for a variety of publications in the 1960s and 1970s. She later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries, and a number of works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman.
She was married to journalist Clifton Daniel, managing editor of The New York Times. The couple had four sons, and were prominent New York socialites who often hosted events for the New York elite.

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is very little historical value to this book. To me this was pure "fluff" history. Too much of Margaret Truman and not enough facts. Because she lived in the White House Margaret Truman must think that makes her a credible source and therefore she did not need to cite one source, make any notes or even include a bibliography. There were direct quotes but no clue as to where they came from. Truman would also occasionally mention a book that someone else has written, even quote from it but not give the title of the book. All of this really irked me and the book lost pretty much all credibility as far as I'm concerned because of it.
I could have done with out many of Truman's personal observations and feelings as well as her little side comments like this one, "You might be surprised by this, I know I was." I guess this added a conversational tone to the book but I did not care for it. I also think that a good history of the White House should give us a little less of a partisan view than the one Truman gave us.
Overall, I was not too impressed with this book but there were just enough interesting stories and little bits of trivia to make it worth the time I put into it.

[Readitnweep · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read but not as interesting, in terms of finding out White House tidbits I didn't already know, as J.B. West's memoir was.

Much of what Ms. Truman writes has been published before, so if you're a history buff, don't look for much in the way of new ground. Nor was there a lot on her experiences as a president's daughter living in the White House. Mostly, she talks about how normal her life was. Perhaps this was because she was already a young adult when her father was elected. Still I'd hoped for more.

There is information on all other presidents and their families and bits of history on the White House itself, though there again, I'd hoped for more detailed information about the total renovation of the White House during the Truman years. This was barely touched on.

There are some photographs - lovely colorful ones. And there is some background on her parents, but not without the expected bent, given the relationship.

If you're a history geek like me, you'll probably find it a fun read at the least but not very informative.

[Elizabeth]

Interesting but so detailed. Slow reading. Back to it later.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and enlightenig.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I actually bought it (used) because I thought my sister would enjoy it. She likes books about American history. I decided to read it first and I'm glad I did. It's full of fun anecdotes and more somber stories about all the families who lived in the White House from 1800 to 2008. It ended with the George W. Bush administration. There are a few photos inside also and a list of the presidents, their wives, and their years in residence. A very good use of the dollar I spent to buy it. I wish now that I could see inside the White House, but I think that will not be possible. Our world today is too dangerous to allow too many people to visit there.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realize that her father was the president and that Truman herself was a life-long Democrat (both big and small d, according to her), but this book couldn't be much more partisan if it tried. She has a hard time hiding her contempt for a lot of various historical characters (why does she hate the Tafts so much?) and is hopelessly in love with other ones.

Years ago, I read her book about the first ladies and this book seems to echo the sentiments expressed there, that certain presidents were basically puppets controlled by their wives or their chiefs of staffs and other presidents were married to insane harpies who did nothing but try and undermine their husbands' terms. However, as before, all of her anecdotes come from the ether, because this book contains no bibliography. Naturally, her own parents seem to receive the best treatment of all the first families covered in the book.

There's very little about the architecture and arrangement of the White House, and sadly no diagrams or maps (at least not in the e-book version). It's mainly a wide assortment of anecdotes about the people (and animals) who lived and worked in the White House.

[Lisa Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Truman gave us a true gift in writing this book. From historical information about the White House to interesting tales about the people who work in it. From amazing anecdotes about the Presidents, the First Ladies, the First Children and their playmates, and even their grandchildren, this book is fascinating from beginning to end. I highly recommend this historically informative and wonderfully entertaining book!

Sandra Burr did an excellent job narrating Truman’s work. I thoroughly enjoyed her rendition and I have located other books she has read because I appreciated her reading of this book.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but the style of writing was really unappealing. I felt MS. Truman's style was overly formal and high-brow. I felt like I was reading something written by a socialite a the turn of the century. Anecdotes were not very substantive and often betrayed the sheltered life the author has appeared to have lived. Hard to pinpoint but the whole book felt... aristocratic, if that makes any sense.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the first 2 disks and that was enough. I can't imagine 10. If you really want to learn about The White House, get the PBS miniseries they did last year about it. It's similar information but much better with the visuals. This book felt too much like a publisher convinced Truman to gather as many anecdotes and historical facts as she could to make a book, but he was really only interested because her name would help it sell.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give 3 stars for content, but the anecdotes are choppy and there is no consistent timeline. So it can be a bit confusing. Ms. Truman obviously has her favorite residents of the White House (like her father), and those who are not favored(like the Clintons) may be insulted in a most personal manner, which I find boorish and unnecessary. Instead of just presenting facts and stories, she injects personal prejudices.

[trini gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Margaret Truman’s mystery books, I have read almost all of her capital murder series. However, even though I found plenty of interesting information about the different residents, presidents and their families, employees and visitors, as well as the architectural transformation of the house through almost 200 years, it was slow reading. But what I was sadly surprised it was the way the author depicted Mrs Eleanor Rooselvelt. Mrs. R, according to many of her biographies have depicted her as FDR’ legs and eyes through all the trips she took around the world on his behalf due to her husband’s disability. When the author writes about the effort of Presidents and First Ladies on racial equality during pre and post WWII she failed to mention Mrs Rosevelt’s effort to have Marian Anderson sing in Washington DC and when the Daughters of the American Revolution refused Ms Anderson to sing in their hall, Mrs Lincoln resigned her membership and arranged for the talented singer, who was already famous in Europe, to sing at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. I wish Mrs M Truman would have spent more time about Mrs Rooselvelt’s accomplishments.

[John Monaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed Ms. Truman's book on the White House and the First Families. The history told from a different perspective, a member of the small group of people who lived there.

I have read some of her other work, the mystery stories based in and around the Nation's Capital and admit I like the way she structures her stories. This book doesn't fit in the style she seems to be more comfortable with. There is no plot to build to, there are no protagonists/antagonists to pit against each other; it seems to be quite a bit harder for her to "thread" the stories together

In this book she brings the various events together with the participants and let's us see the First Family, warts and all.

What I really enjoyed are the anecdotes that demonstrate the frustrations that the various Presidents faced in dealing with every day issues (the staff, the press and being in the spotlight every moment of the day. Particularly the press and the contrasting styles of different Presidents in how they dealt with them.

[Christy Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently started reading this and realized I'd read it years ago; likely when it first came out, which is what I'm marking it as though I can't recall precisely. I had loved Margaret Truman's murder mysteries and think I read this after I'd read that series of books. This is a very interesting history, fairly apolitical book given the subject matter. It is written as short vignette pieces on a variety of topics from state dinners and dining chairs and menus to secret service history to first families and weddings in the white house. I enjoyed the behind the scenes glimpse of staff and space and objects by one who has lived there and had to deal with the challenges as well as pleasure of such. An entertaining and well researched piece of light history.

[Roland F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read very informative from a unique point of view since the author has in fact lived in the Whitehouse making the book very credible and adding a personal touch. Overall this book is a great if your looking for facts, trivia, and etc about the Whitehouse I can assure you that you won't be able to find a book that will tell you more in such a unique way.

[Al Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easily readable light history and tales of a wide variety of things about the White House, from its history, building and rebuilding, to takes of housekeepers, pets, Secret Service and so on. Written by a woman who lived in the White House as a young adult, she brings a unique point of view to the subject.

[Lkb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, almost chatty read. It wasn't meant to be a full-on course on the White House, mainly interesting anecdotes. The main failing is that the book could have used a clear diagram or two of the White House so that those of us who have not been able to tour it can visualize it. She does walk us through a tour at the very end but it was not ideal.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very entertaining way to learn about the presidents and some history of the White House. The version I read was for young adults so I don't know if other versions contain more info. But....it was nice to read about positives coming from the White House instead of all of today's negatives.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting though it got a bit tedious at times; too much on the pets, for instance.
The editor could have done a bit better job - Clinton would not have been impeached by the Senate. The Senate can convict after the House impeaches.

[Connie Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be interesting. She told the history of the White House and stories of people who lived there. She definitely had a slant toward Democrats which was a little annoying, but otherwise it was well researched and informative.

[Silverman Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories about the White House. All presidents and their families are included. But the author's perspective on President Truman--her father--is biased and makes the reader take a double take when reading.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and easy read about various aspects of the White House and it's inhabitants.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting! Enjoyable read.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a pleasant informative read. Lots if information about the White House and it’s inhabitants. Some information about the obscure presidents and their families.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplistic, bounced all over the place.

There were a few tidbits I found interesting

Quick read

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

BW

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is subtitled "A Daughter Shares the History & Secrets of the World's Most Famous Home," it should have been subtitled "Stuff Left Over From Writing My Other Books." Occasionally, I found some interesting tid-bits but the format seemed scattered and had little to do with the White House and more to do with its inhabitants.
All-in-all: Disappointing

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd mix of history, memoir, and political commentary

A unique, though jumbled, look at America's most famous house (claiming it is the world's most famous house is a little much for me, unless she's not counting castles, palaces, etc, as "houses").

Each chapter deals with a different aspect or topic of the White House (womanpower, pets, children, etc), but the timeline within each chapter is largely non-existent. She may start the chapter by talking about JFK, then jump back to Jefferson, then forward to Garfield, and then to Clinton. Unless you are already familiar with all the president's names and general time period then it will be very easy to loose your sense of direction. As it was, I have this general knowledge and sometimes I still had to think about it to put people in their correct context.

Margaret covers both familiar history such as Dolley Madison saving White House valuable during the War of 1812, and the less familiar, such as details about the weddings to take place there. In fact, most of the history she covers falls under "less familiar history"...and most of that falls into the 1900s and after. Apparently there just isn't much to document a lot of the aspects of the house she covers early in American history, and it seems a lot of her more recent stories come straight from the horses mouth. At least, that's the impression she gives.

She obviously did research for the book, and even makes comments about doing research, but there isn't a bibliography or a place for further sources. I think a lot of her stories come from the people who lived or worked in the White House (some of whom are credited in the text) but a lot of facts are just put out there with no reference.

It's understandable that Margaret would share stories about her father (Harry S. Truman) from her own perspective, even calling him "dad" in the text, but this was sometimes distracting. Yes, it served to remind the reader that she was an "authority" having lived in the White House for 7-and-a-half (or 7-and-three-quarters, depending on the story) years, but it broke the narrative flow.

For its history and memoir natures, this book was definitely not solely focused on facts and memories. Margaret liberally sprinkles in her political commentary. She makes no question that she is a Democrat, but sometimes she goes a little far in characterizing her opposition ("just like a Republican!", except obviously you can't make blanket statements like that). I'm an Independent so being unfair to her political opponents rubbed me the wrong way. The good news, though, is that she had no issue noting when someone in her party was out of line (Hillary's attempt at Health Care Reform while first lady is one such example).

The subtitle of the book should have been specific, instead of saying "1800s to Present" it should say "1800s to name-the-year" or "John Adams to Bill Clinton" W. Bush was in office at at the time of her writing this book, and while he gets a couple comments, she notes that during the administration is not the time to get the "insider" stories, you have to wait till his staff starts talking when he's no longer in office.

Overall, the book contains some interesting tidbits, but it's time-hopping nature along with the commentary don't make this a particularly memorable read. It is very easy to put down and forget to pick back up.

[Elijah Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book “President House” is an informal book that talk about secrets places and things you didn't know about the president's house. It rate this book and ⅘ because it had my interest up but didn't help me or make myself a better person. Did you know that the president house has an tunnel underground that escorts the president during times of emergency. Margaret truman wrote this book. She is also the daughter of President S Truman. She knows the firsthand experience,living in the White House can be exhilarating and maddening but it is certainly never dull. Truman reveals the splendid history of this famous dwelling through the lives of its many residents,including Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt,Calvin Coolidge and etc. The best moment of the book was when President Obama was playing basketball on his first day of office. As you read this you will also understand that the president are real people and they are humans. Some presidents make mistake but they learn about them.”Change” President Obama slogan was to change and challenge the world. It explains in detail how he did that. If you want to know about the white house and things about the president I recommend this book to you. This easy and quick book review that won't take that long.

[Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should have been called “Gossiping with Margaret Truman” or perhaps, “The White House: TMZ Edition.”

The word ‘history’ is used loosely in its title.

I can’t argue there are interesting little tidbits here and there, but most of what she talked about, I was familiar with. There wasn’t much new information presented. She spent far too long on the history of the press in D.C.- it barely pertained to the WH. The landscaping section droned on and on.

There was absolutely ZERO order to this book. In a single chapter she would jump back and forth between the decades without any reason.

There was also a lot of detail applied when speaking of Harry Truman. It’s a shame the other presidents didn’t the same treatment as her father. There were many presidents not even mentioned.

Additionally, she never once mentioned (with the exception of when Truman was in office) the state of the WH and its need of repairs. Not.One.Single.Word. Which was supremely disappointing.

[Megan Torrance · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like random American trivia, than this book is a must! Very interesting presentation of White House history. This book includes tidbits of everythig from the actual building and its few times it was almost demolished to the White House weddings and which presidential family members actually got married there. Interesting to note - Thomas Jefferson was adamantly against women doing anything than entertaining in the White House. (Maybe we would be better off as a country if we took some of that advice. Also, the development of the secret service is included in this book. The author can write from a unique perspective because she actually lived in the White House. She tells a story of having some friends over for a dinner party. A couple decided to go exploring. In another room was a great big chandelier. The girl asked the guy to lift her up to it so she could see it. When she was close enough, she held on to the metal and he left her hanging there for a while until someone else noticed she was missing. This is just one of the many anecdotes in this book.