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The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of America’s Most Famous Residence
Critically acclaimed author Robert Klara leads readers through an unmatched tale of political ambition and technical skill: the Truman administration's controversial rebuilding of the White House.
In 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and, after discovering it was in imminent danger of collapse, insisted that the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in American history. While the Trumans camped across the street at Blair House, Congress debated whether to bulldoze the White House completely, and the Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb, starting the Cold War.
Indefatigable researcher Robert Klara reveals what has, until now, been little understood about this episode: America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House. Leaving only the mansion's facade untouched, workmen gutted everything within, replacing it with a steel frame and a complex labyrinth deep below ground that soon came to include a top-secret nuclear fallout shelter,
The story of Truman's rebuilding of the White House is a snapshot of postwar America and its first Cold War leader, undertaking a job that changed the centerpiece of the country's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable—and, until now, all but forgotten.
In 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and, after discovering it was in imminent danger of collapse, insisted that the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in American history. While the Trumans camped across the street at Blair House, Congress debated whether to bulldoze the White House completely, and the Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb, starting the Cold War.
Indefatigable researcher Robert Klara reveals what has, until now, been little understood about this episode: America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House. Leaving only the mansion's facade untouched, workmen gutted everything within, replacing it with a steel frame and a complex labyrinth deep below ground that soon came to include a top-secret nuclear fallout shelter,
The story of Truman's rebuilding of the White House is a snapshot of postwar America and its first Cold War leader, undertaking a job that changed the centerpiece of the country's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable—and, until now, all but forgotten.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2013
258 people are currently reading
1553 people want to read
About the author
Robert Klara
4 books26 followersRobert Klara is the author of FDR’s Funeral Train, The Hidden White House, and The Devil's Mercedes: The Bizarre and Disturbing Adventures of Hitler's Limousine in America. Hailed as “a major new contribution to U.S. history” by Douglas Brinkley, Klara’s first book earned a starred review from Kirkus. His articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, American Heritage, and The Guardian, among numerous other publications. Klara has also worked as a staff editor for magazines such as "Town & Country," "Architecture," and "Adweek." He lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
April 12, 2018
The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of America’s Most Famous Residence by Robert Klara was is about the 1949-53 rebuilding of the president's mansion, revealing its secrets while offering an interesting view of President Truman's character.
It was fascinating to learn that the building was literally falling apart because earlier restorations had left original beams that had been burned in the 1812 fire! Over the years, modernization to add heating, gas, electric, and plumbing cut into beams and retaining walls. The original footing was never meant to hold the expanding house. The house, after all, was built in a swamp.
President Truman and his family moved into a haunted house, footsteps and noises heard at night. Actually, it was the wood expanding and contracting with temperature changes. And when the president moved his huge desk and books into his study, a few visitors more stressed the floor beams. Truman and his daughter Margaret had their pianos sitting side by side for family musicals. It was all too much for the old house to handle.
It was time to check things out, a fifty-year check up as it were since it was last remodeled under President Teddy Roosevelt.
The structure was found to be so bad that the building had to be gutted to the sandstone outer walls! And even they were falling apart in places.
Meantime, the economy was adjusting from WWII and the Korean conflict was beginning. Getting money out of Congress was a battle, and so was every decision down to the wallpaper. The original wood trim, windows, fireplaces, and wood panels were sent into storage but proved too costly to restore; it was cheaper to make new. Sovineer relics were sold to raise money. And tons of the house were repurposed at other federal buildings--and sent to the dump.
President Truman and his family were relegated to Blair House, which proved insecure when an assassination attempt caused the death of several guards. He drove the security people mad by insisting on walking to work every day.
The president pushed to get the work done quickly, hoping to live a year in the new house. But haste made waste--and mistakes. Three years and $5.8 million later, the house was finished. The sewing room lacked electric outlets. Only four rooms were refitted with their original interiors. Everyone was finding fault.
Eleanor Roosevelt pronounced that the house looked like a Sheridan hotel! The mass-produced furniture was all that could be afforded. No wonder Jackie Kennedy pressed to restore the decor to original pieces.
There is nothing worse than a job coming with a house. You never know what you are going to get. As a clergy wife, for me it was parsonages that flooded, had cockroaches and mice, rattling drafty windows, iced over closets in winter, water that turned whites orange, and an antique pink refrigerator.
For the Trumans, there were rats, worn out carpets and furniture and drapes, and a house in danger of collapse. Plus three years in temporary housing that was inadequate in every way. I had it better.
I enjoyed learning about the people involved and the history and process of the rebuilding. It was an enjoyable read.
I received an ebook as a gift.
It was fascinating to learn that the building was literally falling apart because earlier restorations had left original beams that had been burned in the 1812 fire! Over the years, modernization to add heating, gas, electric, and plumbing cut into beams and retaining walls. The original footing was never meant to hold the expanding house. The house, after all, was built in a swamp.
President Truman and his family moved into a haunted house, footsteps and noises heard at night. Actually, it was the wood expanding and contracting with temperature changes. And when the president moved his huge desk and books into his study, a few visitors more stressed the floor beams. Truman and his daughter Margaret had their pianos sitting side by side for family musicals. It was all too much for the old house to handle.
It was time to check things out, a fifty-year check up as it were since it was last remodeled under President Teddy Roosevelt.
The structure was found to be so bad that the building had to be gutted to the sandstone outer walls! And even they were falling apart in places.
Meantime, the economy was adjusting from WWII and the Korean conflict was beginning. Getting money out of Congress was a battle, and so was every decision down to the wallpaper. The original wood trim, windows, fireplaces, and wood panels were sent into storage but proved too costly to restore; it was cheaper to make new. Sovineer relics were sold to raise money. And tons of the house were repurposed at other federal buildings--and sent to the dump.
President Truman and his family were relegated to Blair House, which proved insecure when an assassination attempt caused the death of several guards. He drove the security people mad by insisting on walking to work every day.
The president pushed to get the work done quickly, hoping to live a year in the new house. But haste made waste--and mistakes. Three years and $5.8 million later, the house was finished. The sewing room lacked electric outlets. Only four rooms were refitted with their original interiors. Everyone was finding fault.
Eleanor Roosevelt pronounced that the house looked like a Sheridan hotel! The mass-produced furniture was all that could be afforded. No wonder Jackie Kennedy pressed to restore the decor to original pieces.
There is nothing worse than a job coming with a house. You never know what you are going to get. As a clergy wife, for me it was parsonages that flooded, had cockroaches and mice, rattling drafty windows, iced over closets in winter, water that turned whites orange, and an antique pink refrigerator.
For the Trumans, there were rats, worn out carpets and furniture and drapes, and a house in danger of collapse. Plus three years in temporary housing that was inadequate in every way. I had it better.
I enjoyed learning about the people involved and the history and process of the rebuilding. It was an enjoyable read.
I received an ebook as a gift.
October 23, 2025
The “Hidden White House” by Robert Klara is a great choice for anyone interested in the Truman Administration, President and Mrs. Truman and their daughter Margaret, or the history of the White House.
When Harry S. Truman became President upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, he said to the press: “I don't know if any of you have had a bale of hay fall on you. Well, I feel like the sun, the stars, and all the planets just fell on me.” Little did he know that, rather than a celestial body, it was the walls, the floors, and the ceilings of his new home, the White House, that would threaten to come crashing down upon him, his family, and anyone who worked there.
In clear, straightforward prose, author Robert Klara tells us the story of how the White House was built, burned by the British during the War of 1812, rebuilt, and then renovated many, many times to various extents, not only to keep up with the technological developments (like indoor plumbing and electricity), but also to meet the needs and desires of its various presidential occupants. Finally, the 150-year-old house built on soil of sand and clay, overburdened by a third-floor addition and a heavy slate roof, and relying on a wood skeleton that had become so dry that it knocked, popped, and cracked in the night (leading many to wonder if the place was haunted) began to collapse. The solution? Rip out the interior—being careful to preserve as much of historic value as possible—and then, beginning with the sinking of a deeper, more stable foundation, rebuild the entire mansion from the inside out, all the while leaving the mansion’s iconic white exterior standing.
It's a captivating story filled with all sorts of conflicts and cross-currents. Should the old house be saved? How much would it cost? Who would pay? Who would do the work? Where would the Trumans live? How much say would they have in the final result? Would the contractors, subcontractors, decorators, and furnishers be able to complete the project on time and within budget? And if not, what would happen?
And it’s a story that tells us a lot about President Truman and his family during the time of his administration. Most of it is complimentary. Some of it is amusing. Some of it is enlightening.
The entire book is fascinating.
When Harry S. Truman became President upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, he said to the press: “I don't know if any of you have had a bale of hay fall on you. Well, I feel like the sun, the stars, and all the planets just fell on me.” Little did he know that, rather than a celestial body, it was the walls, the floors, and the ceilings of his new home, the White House, that would threaten to come crashing down upon him, his family, and anyone who worked there.
In clear, straightforward prose, author Robert Klara tells us the story of how the White House was built, burned by the British during the War of 1812, rebuilt, and then renovated many, many times to various extents, not only to keep up with the technological developments (like indoor plumbing and electricity), but also to meet the needs and desires of its various presidential occupants. Finally, the 150-year-old house built on soil of sand and clay, overburdened by a third-floor addition and a heavy slate roof, and relying on a wood skeleton that had become so dry that it knocked, popped, and cracked in the night (leading many to wonder if the place was haunted) began to collapse. The solution? Rip out the interior—being careful to preserve as much of historic value as possible—and then, beginning with the sinking of a deeper, more stable foundation, rebuild the entire mansion from the inside out, all the while leaving the mansion’s iconic white exterior standing.
It's a captivating story filled with all sorts of conflicts and cross-currents. Should the old house be saved? How much would it cost? Who would pay? Who would do the work? Where would the Trumans live? How much say would they have in the final result? Would the contractors, subcontractors, decorators, and furnishers be able to complete the project on time and within budget? And if not, what would happen?
And it’s a story that tells us a lot about President Truman and his family during the time of his administration. Most of it is complimentary. Some of it is amusing. Some of it is enlightening.
The entire book is fascinating.
December 11, 2013
As a news photographer who has covered the White House for fifty-three years, I’d had the honor and good fortune to walk through the White House grounds Northwest gate, (after a tight security check), and look to my left and marvel at the magnificent building that we have for our presidents. I knew a little about the Truman restoration, certainly the assassination attempt at Blair House, but I knew very little about the nuts & bolts of the massive project that took place in Harry Truman’s only full term as president.
THE HIDDEN WHITE HOUSE: HARRY TRUMAN AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS RESIDENCE, by Robert Klara is a wonderful story about the politics and problems that President Truman faced to begin and finish a task that he thought we as Americans needed done. Lots of little details and characters make this book more than just a dull book on an aspect of American history: stories about Abbe Rowe, the crippled Interior Department line gang worker who sent First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a photograph. The First Lady asked him to come to the White House as a photographer and he documented the entire restoration process with great care. The mystery of a hidden bomb shelter being built in the basement--bomb shelters were big about 1950. Many others, that make this book worth the reader’s time.
THE HIDDEN WHITE HOUSE: HARRY TRUMAN AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS RESIDENCE, by Robert Klara is a wonderful story about the politics and problems that President Truman faced to begin and finish a task that he thought we as Americans needed done. Lots of little details and characters make this book more than just a dull book on an aspect of American history: stories about Abbe Rowe, the crippled Interior Department line gang worker who sent First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt a photograph. The First Lady asked him to come to the White House as a photographer and he documented the entire restoration process with great care. The mystery of a hidden bomb shelter being built in the basement--bomb shelters were big about 1950. Many others, that make this book worth the reader’s time.
January 24, 2014
Very few people know that in 1948 President Truman found that the White House was slowly collapsing. The White House was in extremely poor shape and was not safe to live in. Walls were cracking, floors were moving and foundations were sinking. This book is about the rebuilding of the entire frame and foundations of the White House while keeping the exterior intact. The job took millions of dollars, much red tape and inside bickering between the contractors and the government commission overseeing the reconstruction. The Cold War had started, Korea was an issue and Russia had just detonated its first Atomic bomb.
Truman took a personal interest in the whole project and felt it was one of the most important things he was responsible for in his presidency. The details of this reconstruction are mind boggling and this book reads like a novel with rich details of the lives of the Truman family. If you are a history buff, you will love reading this story. I can guarantee you will learn things that you never knew before and the time spent reading it will be a pleasure.
Truman took a personal interest in the whole project and felt it was one of the most important things he was responsible for in his presidency. The details of this reconstruction are mind boggling and this book reads like a novel with rich details of the lives of the Truman family. If you are a history buff, you will love reading this story. I can guarantee you will learn things that you never knew before and the time spent reading it will be a pleasure.
May 15, 2023
A fascinating look into the restoration of the White House during the Truman administration.
When Harry Truman and his family moved into the White House in April 1945, little did they know that they would be moving out in November 1948, not because he lost the election, (he won) but because the building was literally falling apart around him and was deemed unsafe. The Truman family was hastily relocated to Blair House, across the street from the White House. Under duress, Congress authorized a thorough gut job of the building to the outer walls. Upon inspection, engineers found burned wooden beams, termite ridden floor joists, and no support structures under the first floor. The building was being held up by the outer walls and the inner brick walls, and everything was sagging. Infamously, a leg of Margaret Truman’s piano had broken through a floor, and Harry Truman almost broke through the East Room’s ceiling while bathing in a tub (during a reception that Bess Truman was hosting.)
The demolition and reconstruction were not without flaws and Harry Truman tried to micromanage the project. There is a lot of arcane minutiae in this book, but it is so well written, in an almost conversational style, that it is a pleasure to read. I have to say that at times the book literally put me to sleep with all its details, (possibly due to the late hours I was reading it) but it was still very interesting.
I have always been fascinated by the White House, and the people who have lived and worked there. Years ago there was a series about the White House on C-Span, and one episode was devoted to the history of the White House, including the Truman restoration. I’ll have to rewatch it again now.
(Just finished watching it. Riveting!)
A definite recommend for history buffs and White House aficionados.
When Harry Truman and his family moved into the White House in April 1945, little did they know that they would be moving out in November 1948, not because he lost the election, (he won) but because the building was literally falling apart around him and was deemed unsafe. The Truman family was hastily relocated to Blair House, across the street from the White House. Under duress, Congress authorized a thorough gut job of the building to the outer walls. Upon inspection, engineers found burned wooden beams, termite ridden floor joists, and no support structures under the first floor. The building was being held up by the outer walls and the inner brick walls, and everything was sagging. Infamously, a leg of Margaret Truman’s piano had broken through a floor, and Harry Truman almost broke through the East Room’s ceiling while bathing in a tub (during a reception that Bess Truman was hosting.)
The demolition and reconstruction were not without flaws and Harry Truman tried to micromanage the project. There is a lot of arcane minutiae in this book, but it is so well written, in an almost conversational style, that it is a pleasure to read. I have to say that at times the book literally put me to sleep with all its details, (possibly due to the late hours I was reading it) but it was still very interesting.
I have always been fascinated by the White House, and the people who have lived and worked there. Years ago there was a series about the White House on C-Span, and one episode was devoted to the history of the White House, including the Truman restoration. I’ll have to rewatch it again now.
(Just finished watching it. Riveting!)
A definite recommend for history buffs and White House aficionados.
February 9, 2019
I enjoyed reading about the Truman's and how serious the structural problems were at the White House and the details that went into the rebuild. Not a book for everyone, but if you are interested in architecture and history then check this one out.
"In 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and, after discovering it was in imminent danger of collapse, insisted that the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in American history. While the Trumans camped across the street at Blair House, Congress debated whether to bulldoze the White House completely, and the Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb, starting the Cold War. Indefatigable researcher Robert Klara reveals what has, until now, been little understood about this episode: America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House. Leaving only the mansion's facade untouched, workmen gutted everything within, replacing it with a steel frame and a complex labyrinth deep below ground that soon came to include a top-secret nuclear fallout shelter. The story of Truman's rebuilding of the White House is a snapshot of postwar America and its first Cold War leader, undertaking a job that changed the centerpiece of the country's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable—and, until now, all but forgotten."
"In 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and, after discovering it was in imminent danger of collapse, insisted that the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in American history. While the Trumans camped across the street at Blair House, Congress debated whether to bulldoze the White House completely, and the Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb, starting the Cold War. Indefatigable researcher Robert Klara reveals what has, until now, been little understood about this episode: America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House. Leaving only the mansion's facade untouched, workmen gutted everything within, replacing it with a steel frame and a complex labyrinth deep below ground that soon came to include a top-secret nuclear fallout shelter. The story of Truman's rebuilding of the White House is a snapshot of postwar America and its first Cold War leader, undertaking a job that changed the centerpiece of the country's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable—and, until now, all but forgotten."
May 4, 2023
Come for amusing stories about the Trumans. Stay to see how even with the very best of intentions, a huge project can still in some important ways go wrong.
It's unaccountable that the most famous story I had heard about this White House restoration - that the builders wanted to blow open a wider main entrance so that they could get a bulldozer inside, but there were stopped at the last second by Truman himself, who told them that they were not allowed the damage the exterior walls and would have to disassemble the bulldozer, reassembling it inside - is never mentioned. Even if the story is a myth, shouldn't it at least be mentioned as one? This makes me wonder what else the book omits...
[Quote found at the Truman library site: The bulldozer had to be taken apart and moved into the White House in pieces, as President Harry S. Truman would not allow a hole large enough to fit the bulldozer to be cut into the walls of the White House.]
I also still don't understand how so many of the interior beams got notch marks on them, or how the 1814 fire would explain that.
Sometimes it bogs down a bit too much in all the rebuilding detail, but usually it's an amusing and sometimes truth-exposing read.
It's unaccountable that the most famous story I had heard about this White House restoration - that the builders wanted to blow open a wider main entrance so that they could get a bulldozer inside, but there were stopped at the last second by Truman himself, who told them that they were not allowed the damage the exterior walls and would have to disassemble the bulldozer, reassembling it inside - is never mentioned. Even if the story is a myth, shouldn't it at least be mentioned as one? This makes me wonder what else the book omits...
[Quote found at the Truman library site: The bulldozer had to be taken apart and moved into the White House in pieces, as President Harry S. Truman would not allow a hole large enough to fit the bulldozer to be cut into the walls of the White House.]
I also still don't understand how so many of the interior beams got notch marks on them, or how the 1814 fire would explain that.
Sometimes it bogs down a bit too much in all the rebuilding detail, but usually it's an amusing and sometimes truth-exposing read.
January 29, 2024
Yes, Harry Truman very nearly fell through the second floor of the White House residence onto a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution - in his bathtub. What followed was an extensive renovation of the White House, with one incredible story after another. Anyone who has lived, worked or cared for an old building should read this remarkable piece of research.
July 6, 2019
Fascinating. As someone who doesn't read much nonfiction unless it reads like a story, this one kept me hooked from the beginning through the end. If we ever get back to DC, I'd love to walk through the White House with all of this knowledge and these stories in mind.
April 26, 2019
Very interesting account of the reconstruction of the White House in the late 1940's, early 1950's. The White House has been around for over 200 years, but by the mid 1940's it was literally collapsing on itself. Much needed repairs were required - and needed quickly.
So much of the original woodwork, flooring and trim were replaced by reproductions, in order to save time and money. The budget was a constant concern - which was surprising to me as the government never seems to be much concerned about spending too much. Perhaps post-WWII it was different, but the team that was assembled did an outstanding job in a difficult environment and cost structure.
This would appeal to general readers, not just non-fiction lovers, as the story is interesting and well told.
Highly recommended.
So much of the original woodwork, flooring and trim were replaced by reproductions, in order to save time and money. The budget was a constant concern - which was surprising to me as the government never seems to be much concerned about spending too much. Perhaps post-WWII it was different, but the team that was assembled did an outstanding job in a difficult environment and cost structure.
This would appeal to general readers, not just non-fiction lovers, as the story is interesting and well told.
Highly recommended.
October 26, 2020
This is a little-known story about the complete gutting and renovation of the White House that is well-told, well-researched and well-written.
If you know anything about this story, you've probably heard a little something about the Trumans' piano leg breaking through the floor, which set the whole reconstruction project in motion. But did it really happen quite that way? Robert Klara digs deeper to get the details - what events prior to this incident made it clear that a renovation was necessary? And which, exactly, of the Trumans' two pianos was it that fell through the floor, and did it fall clear through to the ground level room's ceiling? Klara doesn't just repeat apocryphal stories, he does the research to try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and how.
A story that's ultimately about a construction project could be dry. But this project came with controversy, government oversight, historical implications, spending concerns and a colorful cast of characters, not the least of whom was President Truman himself. Klara does a good job making this a human story about the people involved as much as the building itself. Sometimes we get a little more than necessary - did we really need to know about the chief architect's extramarital affair and his interest in the occult? Probably not.
Klara also puts the story in the context of the times, telling side stories about the Cold War, the Puerto Rican independence movement and electoral politics that seem to be diversions at first, but end up having important implications for the reconstruction project.
My sole quibble is that, in the end, I'm not sure how to feel about the whole thing. The initial idea of restoring all of the original features taken from the house started falling by the wayside, as the restorers started taking cheap shortcuts, creating and installing reproductions that led some to complain the historic house may have looked the same, but its soul was taken away. Was a complete gut job ultimately necessary? Was it a triumph of engineering, or a tragedy that desecrated a historic building in the name of progress? Klara never really says.
He alludes to the fact that the Eisenhowers immediately wanted to redecorate upon moving in, and Jackie Kennedy later embarked on an effort to replace the renovated house's bland, hotel-like furniture with historically-accurate pieces. Does this mean the Truman renovation fell short? That it was a failure? In the end, it seems to indicate that "restoring" the White House may be a project that will never really be complete.
If you know anything about this story, you've probably heard a little something about the Trumans' piano leg breaking through the floor, which set the whole reconstruction project in motion. But did it really happen quite that way? Robert Klara digs deeper to get the details - what events prior to this incident made it clear that a renovation was necessary? And which, exactly, of the Trumans' two pianos was it that fell through the floor, and did it fall clear through to the ground level room's ceiling? Klara doesn't just repeat apocryphal stories, he does the research to try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and how.
A story that's ultimately about a construction project could be dry. But this project came with controversy, government oversight, historical implications, spending concerns and a colorful cast of characters, not the least of whom was President Truman himself. Klara does a good job making this a human story about the people involved as much as the building itself. Sometimes we get a little more than necessary - did we really need to know about the chief architect's extramarital affair and his interest in the occult? Probably not.
Klara also puts the story in the context of the times, telling side stories about the Cold War, the Puerto Rican independence movement and electoral politics that seem to be diversions at first, but end up having important implications for the reconstruction project.
My sole quibble is that, in the end, I'm not sure how to feel about the whole thing. The initial idea of restoring all of the original features taken from the house started falling by the wayside, as the restorers started taking cheap shortcuts, creating and installing reproductions that led some to complain the historic house may have looked the same, but its soul was taken away. Was a complete gut job ultimately necessary? Was it a triumph of engineering, or a tragedy that desecrated a historic building in the name of progress? Klara never really says.
He alludes to the fact that the Eisenhowers immediately wanted to redecorate upon moving in, and Jackie Kennedy later embarked on an effort to replace the renovated house's bland, hotel-like furniture with historically-accurate pieces. Does this mean the Truman renovation fell short? That it was a failure? In the end, it seems to indicate that "restoring" the White House may be a project that will never really be complete.
November 14, 2016
A terrific book. He not only uncovers mountains of research on what was a fascinating project, but also tells the story in a lively, entertaining way. I have little background in engineering or architecture, and was impressed at how well the technical information was clearly, concisely explained. Loved this book. Should be a model for other writers of history for the general public. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2015
A wonderful bit of history that has many interesting facts about the rebuilding of the White House during the Truman era.
January 25, 2014
I loved this book. Fascinating and very well written. A great mix of history, politics, architecture, design and humor.
March 27, 2019
A complete history of the renovations of Americas most historic residence. Even the Secret Service doesn't know some of this stuff
January 4, 2019
"FDR's Funeral Train" by Robert Klara is one of my favorite history books published in recent years, so I was excited to learn he'd written "The Hidden White House," and it did not disappoint.
The once-dilapidated state of the White House and Harry Truman's renovation of the collapsing building usually merits just a few paragraphs in biographies of the 33rd president, but Klara provides a 262-page deep dive into the subject. In theory, a book about a renovation and construction project shouldn't command such fascination and attention, but Klara's writing makes it a page turner.
As the White House renovation project gets farther behind schedule and increasingly over budget, you find yourself rooting for the men in charge (construction magnate John McShain, General Glen Edgerton, and others) to succeed. Government red tape, an impatient and temperamental president, and an uncooperative Congress eventually led them to cut corners that destroyed a large number of historical and architectural relics.
If I have one criticism of the book, it's the lack of a final chapter that traces the post-renovation lives of the major characters. After reading the book, I did some of my own research. For example, White House Usher J.B. West, who was first hired in 1941 and played pivotal roles in Truman's renovation and Jackie Kennedy's restoration efforts, was forced to retire from his job during the Nixon administration when an investigation revealed that after-hours guests he brought into the White House had stolen some artifacts. The investigation also reportedly concluded that West, who was married with two children, was a closeted homosexual (a fact Klara mentions in passing), which was considered a security risk at the time and prompted his forced departure from the White House. West later wrote the book, "Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies," which is considered by historians to be among the best contemporary accounts of everyday life in the White House. Surely all of that information, along with post-renovation factoids on other key players in the book, would have helped put a neat, finishing bow on "The Hidden White House."
Even with that omission, I found Klara's book to be a fascinating read and highly recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in White House or presidential history.
The once-dilapidated state of the White House and Harry Truman's renovation of the collapsing building usually merits just a few paragraphs in biographies of the 33rd president, but Klara provides a 262-page deep dive into the subject. In theory, a book about a renovation and construction project shouldn't command such fascination and attention, but Klara's writing makes it a page turner.
As the White House renovation project gets farther behind schedule and increasingly over budget, you find yourself rooting for the men in charge (construction magnate John McShain, General Glen Edgerton, and others) to succeed. Government red tape, an impatient and temperamental president, and an uncooperative Congress eventually led them to cut corners that destroyed a large number of historical and architectural relics.
If I have one criticism of the book, it's the lack of a final chapter that traces the post-renovation lives of the major characters. After reading the book, I did some of my own research. For example, White House Usher J.B. West, who was first hired in 1941 and played pivotal roles in Truman's renovation and Jackie Kennedy's restoration efforts, was forced to retire from his job during the Nixon administration when an investigation revealed that after-hours guests he brought into the White House had stolen some artifacts. The investigation also reportedly concluded that West, who was married with two children, was a closeted homosexual (a fact Klara mentions in passing), which was considered a security risk at the time and prompted his forced departure from the White House. West later wrote the book, "Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies," which is considered by historians to be among the best contemporary accounts of everyday life in the White House. Surely all of that information, along with post-renovation factoids on other key players in the book, would have helped put a neat, finishing bow on "The Hidden White House."
Even with that omission, I found Klara's book to be a fascinating read and highly recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in White House or presidential history.
November 23, 2024
We’ve all seen pictures of the entire gutting of the White House during the Truman years, but reading the descriptions of the house’s problems is really something. Large chunks of plaster routinely fell into the rooms; pipes were discovered physically bent from the shifting weight of the house; the silk damask of the Green Room’s walls hung in tatters from water damage; the entire ceiling of the Green Room had pulled away so far from the wall that only two nails were left keeping it there; the mansion’s interior brick walls were pulling away from the outside walls, leaving gaps big enough to put an arm through there were highly combustible old wood shavings and sawdust piled high between the studs, just inches from the electrical wiring, some of which had no insulation. Rat infestations went way back – “it was not uncommon for Theodore Roosevelt to interrupt his meals to chase rats from the dining room.” Two-tons of chandeliers vibrated and swung over the heads of guests. It’s incredible the place never collapsed and buried hundreds of diplomats.
Congress was generally unbelieving and unwilling to part with money to renovate the place until a leg of Margaret Truman’s piano plunged through the parquetry and subfloor and punched a hole through the plaster ceiling below. They debated long and hard about whether to do yet another cosmetic fix, gut it, or even raze it and start over.
There had never been any accounting for the interior decorations, so previous presidents did as they wished, including punching doors through load-bearing walls and carting off historic furniture to the dump. Chester A. Arthur had filled 24 wagonloads with White House “junk,” took it to an auctioneer, and sold it off.
Due to the constant pressure to do things fast rather than right, cheaper rather than tasteful, the renovated mansion still had problems. Even without fires in the grates, down drafts made some rooms uninhabitable; the pantry sinks were too small for the dinner dishes, the cabinets were too high for anyone to reach, and the sewing room had no electrical outlets. Eleanor Roosevelt visited and sighed that the soulless place “looked to me exactly like a Sheraton Hotel!” Interesting reading.
Congress was generally unbelieving and unwilling to part with money to renovate the place until a leg of Margaret Truman’s piano plunged through the parquetry and subfloor and punched a hole through the plaster ceiling below. They debated long and hard about whether to do yet another cosmetic fix, gut it, or even raze it and start over.
There had never been any accounting for the interior decorations, so previous presidents did as they wished, including punching doors through load-bearing walls and carting off historic furniture to the dump. Chester A. Arthur had filled 24 wagonloads with White House “junk,” took it to an auctioneer, and sold it off.
Due to the constant pressure to do things fast rather than right, cheaper rather than tasteful, the renovated mansion still had problems. Even without fires in the grates, down drafts made some rooms uninhabitable; the pantry sinks were too small for the dinner dishes, the cabinets were too high for anyone to reach, and the sewing room had no electrical outlets. Eleanor Roosevelt visited and sighed that the soulless place “looked to me exactly like a Sheraton Hotel!” Interesting reading.
December 25, 2024
Detailed story of the 1949-1952 renovation of the White House in Washington, DC starring Harry Truman and a cast of hundreds with reluctant and barely adequate financing by the US Congress.
Following his unanticipated elevation to the office of the President, Truman is faced with wrapping up WW2 while battling the numerous ghosts known to wander the halls of the White House. Over time it becomes apparent that the ghostly sounds and tinkling chandeliers are the sounds of an old, old house desperately in need of repair if not replacement.
The author provides a detailed insiders look at the problems inherent in renovating an old and previously burned house occupied by hundreds of different people over almost two centuries. Led by a feisty "give em hell" Harry, the White House staff, square off against Congress, the Commission to Renovate . . ., assorted architects, engineers, builders and politicians to save the building before it literally collapses on itself.
History presented in an entertaining format.
Following his unanticipated elevation to the office of the President, Truman is faced with wrapping up WW2 while battling the numerous ghosts known to wander the halls of the White House. Over time it becomes apparent that the ghostly sounds and tinkling chandeliers are the sounds of an old, old house desperately in need of repair if not replacement.
The author provides a detailed insiders look at the problems inherent in renovating an old and previously burned house occupied by hundreds of different people over almost two centuries. Led by a feisty "give em hell" Harry, the White House staff, square off against Congress, the Commission to Renovate . . ., assorted architects, engineers, builders and politicians to save the building before it literally collapses on itself.
History presented in an entertaining format.
October 31, 2025
A good book about the complete rennovation of the white house. timely considering the big beautiful ballroom. When there is controversy or conflicting dates, the author does a good job of presenting both sides while also submitting the most probable. One of the things I apprecitiated was the importance of the accumulation of history - not the simple snapshot in time of the "most important".
"The new White House might look just like the old house, but even the finest craftsmanship could never make it be the old house....Having pledged to save the White House, the commission had actually lost it--or most of it." p 249
"[Winslow] had failed to understand that old houses safeguard the aggregations of time; they are not places in which time freezes." p250
One of the fascinating things is that there is hardly any notation of what happened to everything in the white house and in fact most of it just ended up being dumped. crazy.
"The new White House might look just like the old house, but even the finest craftsmanship could never make it be the old house....Having pledged to save the White House, the commission had actually lost it--or most of it." p 249
"[Winslow] had failed to understand that old houses safeguard the aggregations of time; they are not places in which time freezes." p250
One of the fascinating things is that there is hardly any notation of what happened to everything in the white house and in fact most of it just ended up being dumped. crazy.
September 4, 2024
Facinating!
Robert Klara deep dive into the minutiae of Americana is well displayed in this very interesting monograph of the much-needed renovation of the most powerful house in the world. Beginning with the shifting floors and beams of the largely neglected architecture of the White House, Klara details earlier "improvements" to the White House to the revelation that the whole structure was about to fall in on itself, Klara takes us through the congressional review and approval of the renovation and the troubles beguiling the project at every turn. Meanwhile, the world does not stop: the Soviets have the bomb, the conflict in Korea breaks out and assassins plague the plot. Well-written and researched, I just loved this book. Very well done!
Robert Klara deep dive into the minutiae of Americana is well displayed in this very interesting monograph of the much-needed renovation of the most powerful house in the world. Beginning with the shifting floors and beams of the largely neglected architecture of the White House, Klara details earlier "improvements" to the White House to the revelation that the whole structure was about to fall in on itself, Klara takes us through the congressional review and approval of the renovation and the troubles beguiling the project at every turn. Meanwhile, the world does not stop: the Soviets have the bomb, the conflict in Korea breaks out and assassins plague the plot. Well-written and researched, I just loved this book. Very well done!
September 15, 2024
As a government teacher and history buff, I absolutely loved this book. I have read McCullough's Truman tome, so I knew quite a bit about the 33rd President, but I knew a few details about the renovation project on the Executive Mansion. Klara provides amazing details here and is very gentle with those of us who kinda, sorta know what a balustrade or a cornice are. This is a story of both architecture and politics and the author lays an excellent foundation to support both elements of this tale. This was a quick and fascinating read for me and the details in the end notes were excellent. Other than wishing the end notes had been footnotes (and that's just a preference, not a critique), the the book as a whole it excellent.
October 2, 2022
Enjoyed this book and the detail it provided about the Truman renovation. I found the detail in the book and the footnotes most interesting. I would have preferred many more pictures. I also would have expected the Epilogue to include a brief summery of the post-construction years of the renovation’s main characters such as Winslow, Edgerton, McShain, Dougherty, Orr, Hauck and Haight. The authors writing style is fluid and makes history come alive. He did a wonderful job incorporating historical context (i.e. what was going on in Truman’s political world) but never letting those political events takeover the subject of the book. Most enjoyable.
September 28, 2024
I love reading books about Truman. He was a man who said what he meant and meant what he said, not like today's politicians who say what they think you want to hear. This story of the reconstruction of the White House is no exception to the typical Truman. Over the three-year period of the demolition and reconstruction he is a hands-on customer who must be consulted on a daily basis. After finishing it and discovering the tiny budget at the end of the project prohibited some of the decorating ideas, it seems to me that a similar book about Jackie Kennedy's redecoration of the White House would be a companion piece. She finished what Truman's budget did not allow.
September 13, 2017
I think this book had lots of great stories and a ton of detailed architectural history. The first part held my attention and the second part got me scanning halfway through. It is well researched and the author's passion comes through, not just his research. But I did tired of hearing the minutiae of detail about committee meetings and scaffolding in which western corner of which room, etc.
I read this because I was mildly curious and my husband pressed it on me. I also finished it and shared bits with the kids. It wasn't a really significant book for me, however.
I read this because I was mildly curious and my husband pressed it on me. I also finished it and shared bits with the kids. It wasn't a really significant book for me, however.
May 18, 2020
LOTS of detail. This is not a book you sit and read cover to cover; it took me several weeks, and many books in between, to finish. It does give a great history of the reconstruction of the White House in the 1950's, nothing I ever learned in school. It is heartbreaking to learn about the historical structural items lost in the reconstruction due to people in power who know nothing of construction making decisions. Like the parquet floors given to an army base and laid as a roller skating rink. Much ended in landfills.
July 14, 2023
This was a selection for my history book club, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I visited the White House so many years ago, my recollection is so hazy. After reading this book I would love to visit it again.
There were also a number of tangents - for lack of a better word - that were fascinating. One example would be the discovery of the Soviets building a hydrogen bomb. This lead to the construction of a bomb shelter in the basement of the White House which at first was kept secret from the American public.
There were also a number of tangents - for lack of a better word - that were fascinating. One example would be the discovery of the Soviets building a hydrogen bomb. This lead to the construction of a bomb shelter in the basement of the White House which at first was kept secret from the American public.
November 15, 2017
4.5 should be the real rating. As you get closer to the end of the book, the author can get opinionated but he also throws in some light bits of humor in as well throughout the book. Most of the chapters are bite-size in terms of reading. Ever since I was young, I've been fascinated by the White House and it's history. This book is the most in-depth book that I've ever read in terms of not only the Truman renovation but also about the overall construction of the house as well.
April 8, 2019
I first heard about this book when I saw a special about the White House on TV. The author was a contributor. I read all things history, so I gave it a whirl. It’s well researched and interesting especially the behind the scenes politics regarding the WH renovation. It was disturbing to me to learn that the majority of the treasures, antiques and artifacts of the WH were not put back into the WH and basically discarded as trash and/or lost to history. Overall, it was a good read.
April 3, 2021
White House Secrets
I learned a lot of history in reading this book, some humorous, some sad, and some downright irritating. However, we Americans owe a group of people a great gratitude for what they did to the best of what could be done in a world-changing time of history under nearly impossible constraints. I am not sure we could accomplish this today in our present fractious enviroment.
I learned a lot of history in reading this book, some humorous, some sad, and some downright irritating. However, we Americans owe a group of people a great gratitude for what they did to the best of what could be done in a world-changing time of history under nearly impossible constraints. I am not sure we could accomplish this today in our present fractious enviroment.
August 30, 2024
I loved this book! Who knew?! So much history, not so long ago - and impossible to imagine anyone pulling something like this off today without all hell breaking loose (or even WITH all hell breaking loose). No, every time I see the White House in the background of a news report, or in the glossy b-roll of a CBS crime procedural, I recall all these great stories and remarkable images. So glad I picked it up.
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