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Medical Fiascoes
White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-Ups
Here are the shocking, yet true, stories of presidential medical cover-ups from the 19th to the 21st century—the latest thrilling title in award-winning author Gail Jarrow’s Medical Fiascoes series for readers ages 10 and up.
Did you know President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke that his wife and doctors concealed for months? Or that Mrs. Wilson took total charge of his presidential duties? Neither did the American public. Did you know President John F. Kennedy suffered from Addison’s disease and was heavily medicated for years? Neither did most people. Too often when a president is sick or dying, he and the people around him have hidden his condition from the public, wanting to project an image of strength and power.
In this fascinating and provocative new installment in her acclaimed Medical Fiascoes series, author Gail Jarrow explores presidential cover-ups from the 19th to the 21st century—from James Garfield to Joe Biden. White House Secrets provides the historical context to help young readers understand issues of media literacy and presidential candor that are more relevant than ever in the 21st century.
Did you know President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke that his wife and doctors concealed for months? Or that Mrs. Wilson took total charge of his presidential duties? Neither did the American public. Did you know President John F. Kennedy suffered from Addison’s disease and was heavily medicated for years? Neither did most people. Too often when a president is sick or dying, he and the people around him have hidden his condition from the public, wanting to project an image of strength and power.
In this fascinating and provocative new installment in her acclaimed Medical Fiascoes series, author Gail Jarrow explores presidential cover-ups from the 19th to the 21st century—from James Garfield to Joe Biden. White House Secrets provides the historical context to help young readers understand issues of media literacy and presidential candor that are more relevant than ever in the 21st century.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2025
14 people are currently reading
2332 people want to read
About the author
Gail Jarrow
33 books87 followersGail Jarrow is the award-winning author of nonfiction books and novels for readers 8-18. Latest book: WHITE HOUSE SECRETS: MEDICAL LIES AND COVER-UPS. Visit GailJarrow.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 16, 2026
I couldn’t put this down and I think my students will love it too. I was especially fascinated by the chapter on Kennedy and the way that his doctor lied about his medical conditions. I had no idea he struggled to walk and had so many surgeries.
October 30, 2025
Fascinating and gross. If I can convince students to read it, they might actually like it!
October 6, 2025
Richie’s Picks: WHITE HOUSE SECRETS: MEDICAL LIES AND COVER-UPS by Gail Jarrow, Astra/Calkins Creek, September 2025, 288p., ISBN: 978-1-6626-8103-5
“Google is facing serious accusations about its alleged AI response to information on President Donald Trump's mental health. Google appears to have blocked certain artificial intelligence search results for queries about President Donald Trump’s mental acuity. But Google does provide an AI summary about former President Joe Biden, who was criticized for his mental acuity during the 2024 presidential run.”
– Economic Times (1 October 2025)
“You’ve said that what is most alarming is how far Trump has declined in the last four years. In a petition signed by 3,000 medical professionals warning that Trump’s probable diagnosis is dementia, you said that sometimes forgetting a word is normal aging, whereas inventing words or using non-words is not. Could you elaborate?”
“He is losing his capacity for coherent speech. We’ve collected dozens and dozens of Trump’s phonemic paraphrasias, in which you use sounds in place of an actual word (a hallmark of brain damage and dementia). What happens is that someone is trying to say a word and then they get the first part out but they have to end it or create one because they can’t remember the rest. Trump will say something like ‘mishiz’ for missiles, or “Chrishus” for Christmas, because he can’t complete the word. Then we also see a lot of semantic paraphrasias, in which he uses a word incorrectly, as in “the oranges of the situation” because it rhymes with “the origins of the situation.” This is not within normal limits; his basic ability to use language is breaking down.
So there is that verbal deterioration. And then there is the physical deterioration. He used to be quite graceful, and now he uses a wide-based gait typical of frontotemporal dementia, sometimes he swings his right leg in a semi-circle. He also has trouble getting up the ramp; he has trouble doing physical things.
The other way we see deterioration is in his behavior. Actually, this is where people say, ‘Well, how can you tell? He’s a bad person; he breaks every rule of law and decency, what is new?’ But he is much more impulsive and erratic now. He blurts things out; he makes impulsive decisions that he has to then reverse, like his many reversals on tariffs.”
– Psychologist Dr. John Gartner “The Press Has Sanewashed Trump’s Dementia and Mental Illness” (1 April 2025)
“THE TRUTH COMES OUT
On the same day that the New York Times announced [Franklin D.] Roosevelt’s death, it ran an article, ‘Roosevelt Health Long Under Doubt.’ With the president dead, journalists no longer felt that they had to stay quiet about his health. The Times article alleged that official statements for two years ‘appeared to be in conflict with visible evidence of his physical condition.’ The White House had deliberately lied to the public.
A year later, Dr. McIntire wrote a book defending himself. He asserted that he had never been deceptive in his press statements. The extensive medical exams during the last two years of the president’s life, he said, proved that Roosevelt was in ‘excellent condition for a man of his age.’ According to McIntire, the only thing wrong with Roosevelt was moderate arteriosclerosis, which wasn’t unusual for a sixty-three-year-old in a stressful job. The doctor claimed that neither Roosevelt’s blood pressure nor his arteriosclerosis was serious enough to predict his fatal stroke.
McIntire wasn’t being honest. The truth didn’t emerge until 1970 when Dr. Bruenn published his medical notes, with the blessing of Roosevelt’s children. He recounted his examinations and tests of the president starting in March 1944 until Roosevelt’s death in April 1945. For the first time, the public learned about Roosevelt’s enlarged heart and excessively high blood pressure. Despite what McIntire repeatedly told reporters, the president had not been ‘in splendid shape.’”
Author Gail Jarrow, who has garnered numerous awards for her engaging nonfiction books for young people, has written an oh-so-timely exposé for tweens and teens about nine former presidents whose serious, often life-threatening health problems were covered up by their respective administrations, along with their physicians and families, too often with the full cooperation of the press.
James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Joe Biden are the presidential subjects of this fascinating, well-researched, and well-documented examination of the whoppers that past administrations have told the public concerning the fitness of presidents to serve as chief executive.
This jaw-dropping compilation of White House BS that has been shoveled out over the past nearly 200 years–in order to cover up the truth about the faltering minds and bodies of presidents in serious decline–will shock you. It certainly provides an important perspective regarding how one might evaluate Google’s cover-up of Trump’s mental health, as well as the chasm that certainly seems to exist between what we see and hear with our own eyes and ears, and what the president and his administration claim is Trump’s excellent physical health and mental acuity.
The author concludes with a list of terrific questions for young readers to reflect upon. They include:
Is it the president’s right to privacy more important than the public’s right to know medical details?
Should there be an upper age limit for the presidency just as there is a minimum age of thirty-five?
Should a president be required to have an annual physical with the results disclosed?
If a president takes medications, should they be made public?
Given that presidents have the ability to precipitate a nuclear war–and end the civilized world as we know it–it might be in our best interests to insist upon more information–free of spin–about whether the president is fit as a fiddle or heading for a crash landing.
My vote is for adding this killer read to middle- and high school collections.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Google is facing serious accusations about its alleged AI response to information on President Donald Trump's mental health. Google appears to have blocked certain artificial intelligence search results for queries about President Donald Trump’s mental acuity. But Google does provide an AI summary about former President Joe Biden, who was criticized for his mental acuity during the 2024 presidential run.”
– Economic Times (1 October 2025)
“You’ve said that what is most alarming is how far Trump has declined in the last four years. In a petition signed by 3,000 medical professionals warning that Trump’s probable diagnosis is dementia, you said that sometimes forgetting a word is normal aging, whereas inventing words or using non-words is not. Could you elaborate?”
“He is losing his capacity for coherent speech. We’ve collected dozens and dozens of Trump’s phonemic paraphrasias, in which you use sounds in place of an actual word (a hallmark of brain damage and dementia). What happens is that someone is trying to say a word and then they get the first part out but they have to end it or create one because they can’t remember the rest. Trump will say something like ‘mishiz’ for missiles, or “Chrishus” for Christmas, because he can’t complete the word. Then we also see a lot of semantic paraphrasias, in which he uses a word incorrectly, as in “the oranges of the situation” because it rhymes with “the origins of the situation.” This is not within normal limits; his basic ability to use language is breaking down.
So there is that verbal deterioration. And then there is the physical deterioration. He used to be quite graceful, and now he uses a wide-based gait typical of frontotemporal dementia, sometimes he swings his right leg in a semi-circle. He also has trouble getting up the ramp; he has trouble doing physical things.
The other way we see deterioration is in his behavior. Actually, this is where people say, ‘Well, how can you tell? He’s a bad person; he breaks every rule of law and decency, what is new?’ But he is much more impulsive and erratic now. He blurts things out; he makes impulsive decisions that he has to then reverse, like his many reversals on tariffs.”
– Psychologist Dr. John Gartner “The Press Has Sanewashed Trump’s Dementia and Mental Illness” (1 April 2025)
“THE TRUTH COMES OUT
On the same day that the New York Times announced [Franklin D.] Roosevelt’s death, it ran an article, ‘Roosevelt Health Long Under Doubt.’ With the president dead, journalists no longer felt that they had to stay quiet about his health. The Times article alleged that official statements for two years ‘appeared to be in conflict with visible evidence of his physical condition.’ The White House had deliberately lied to the public.
A year later, Dr. McIntire wrote a book defending himself. He asserted that he had never been deceptive in his press statements. The extensive medical exams during the last two years of the president’s life, he said, proved that Roosevelt was in ‘excellent condition for a man of his age.’ According to McIntire, the only thing wrong with Roosevelt was moderate arteriosclerosis, which wasn’t unusual for a sixty-three-year-old in a stressful job. The doctor claimed that neither Roosevelt’s blood pressure nor his arteriosclerosis was serious enough to predict his fatal stroke.
McIntire wasn’t being honest. The truth didn’t emerge until 1970 when Dr. Bruenn published his medical notes, with the blessing of Roosevelt’s children. He recounted his examinations and tests of the president starting in March 1944 until Roosevelt’s death in April 1945. For the first time, the public learned about Roosevelt’s enlarged heart and excessively high blood pressure. Despite what McIntire repeatedly told reporters, the president had not been ‘in splendid shape.’”
Author Gail Jarrow, who has garnered numerous awards for her engaging nonfiction books for young people, has written an oh-so-timely exposé for tweens and teens about nine former presidents whose serious, often life-threatening health problems were covered up by their respective administrations, along with their physicians and families, too often with the full cooperation of the press.
James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Joe Biden are the presidential subjects of this fascinating, well-researched, and well-documented examination of the whoppers that past administrations have told the public concerning the fitness of presidents to serve as chief executive.
This jaw-dropping compilation of White House BS that has been shoveled out over the past nearly 200 years–in order to cover up the truth about the faltering minds and bodies of presidents in serious decline–will shock you. It certainly provides an important perspective regarding how one might evaluate Google’s cover-up of Trump’s mental health, as well as the chasm that certainly seems to exist between what we see and hear with our own eyes and ears, and what the president and his administration claim is Trump’s excellent physical health and mental acuity.
The author concludes with a list of terrific questions for young readers to reflect upon. They include:
Is it the president’s right to privacy more important than the public’s right to know medical details?
Should there be an upper age limit for the presidency just as there is a minimum age of thirty-five?
Should a president be required to have an annual physical with the results disclosed?
If a president takes medications, should they be made public?
Given that presidents have the ability to precipitate a nuclear war–and end the civilized world as we know it–it might be in our best interests to insist upon more information–free of spin–about whether the president is fit as a fiddle or heading for a crash landing.
My vote is for adding this killer read to middle- and high school collections.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
October 7, 2025
I lost track of how many times I interrupted my husband to tell him some juicy facts related to our president’s medical mysteries/histories. This was infinitely more engaging than anticipated and I appreciated the presentation of presidents in chronological order. Primary, secondary, and multiple suggested additional resources are listed at the end of the book.
May 20, 2025
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Who knew that the presidents in the late 1800s and early 1900s were SO sickly!? Lucky for them, it was a lot harder to get information and to disseminate it! Even into the 20th century, reporters were more circumspect about what they let the public know. Who knows? Maybe the White House is still covering up the medical history of presidents.
It wasn’t 20th president James A. Garfield’s fault that he was stabbed at a train station by someone who wasn’t thrilled he was president, and it’s too bad that he suffered for such a long time. He was succeeded by Chester Arthut, who had Bright’s Disease, a kidney disorder that laid him low, but which was covered up. Right after them, Grover Cleveland battled a particularly nasty form of oral cancer that required extensive surgery and altered his whole facial structure, to the extent that there was some coverage in the papers. He managed to survive for 24 years, which is amazing, considering the primitive nature of treatment at the time.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, had a stroke, but his wife and advisors covered it up. His successor, Warren Harding, had a personal physician in the White House because his wife Florence was poorly, but he himself had the flu and significant heart problems. We all know 32nd president Franklin Roosevelt’s struggles with polio; I know he wasn’t particularly nice to his wife, but you have to admire his work ethic, and how hard he strove to not be seen as weak at a critical time in history. He also had high blood pressure from his constant smoking.
In what I consider to be modern times (closer to my own lifetime!) we only have John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan whose health was compromised significantly, although there is a short discussion about President Biden’s challenges at the end of his term. Kennedy’s colitis and spine problems were significant, and did make the news occasionally, but he had such an air of health about him that I’m not sure people took them as seriously as they did. The press covered up a LOT for him, although knowing the extent of his medical problems, it’s bit surprising that he was able to participate in as many extracurricular activities as he did. Conversely, Ronald Reagan was seen to be absolutely ancient at 70, even though he was fairly active. He was the target of an assassination attempt from which he rebounded fairly quickly, but he also had problems with polyps and his prostate. Whether or not he had cognitive decline during the presidency is hard to determine, but he did finally succumb to Alzheimer’s at the age of 93, fifteen years after he left office.
Each chapter starts with a picture of the president and a short overview. The chapters are all detailed, but move fairly quickly. In addition to the effects of the health problems on the presidents, Jarrow does a good job of addressing the effects of the president’s ill health on the wider government and society. The addition of primary source political cartoons is excellent, and there’s a good timeline at the end of the book.
There are always a few middle school students who are obsessed with the US presidents, so this is a good choice for them, along with Spradlin’s Close Calls and Bausum’s Our Country’s Presidents.
Who knew that the presidents in the late 1800s and early 1900s were SO sickly!? Lucky for them, it was a lot harder to get information and to disseminate it! Even into the 20th century, reporters were more circumspect about what they let the public know. Who knows? Maybe the White House is still covering up the medical history of presidents.
It wasn’t 20th president James A. Garfield’s fault that he was stabbed at a train station by someone who wasn’t thrilled he was president, and it’s too bad that he suffered for such a long time. He was succeeded by Chester Arthut, who had Bright’s Disease, a kidney disorder that laid him low, but which was covered up. Right after them, Grover Cleveland battled a particularly nasty form of oral cancer that required extensive surgery and altered his whole facial structure, to the extent that there was some coverage in the papers. He managed to survive for 24 years, which is amazing, considering the primitive nature of treatment at the time.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, had a stroke, but his wife and advisors covered it up. His successor, Warren Harding, had a personal physician in the White House because his wife Florence was poorly, but he himself had the flu and significant heart problems. We all know 32nd president Franklin Roosevelt’s struggles with polio; I know he wasn’t particularly nice to his wife, but you have to admire his work ethic, and how hard he strove to not be seen as weak at a critical time in history. He also had high blood pressure from his constant smoking.
In what I consider to be modern times (closer to my own lifetime!) we only have John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan whose health was compromised significantly, although there is a short discussion about President Biden’s challenges at the end of his term. Kennedy’s colitis and spine problems were significant, and did make the news occasionally, but he had such an air of health about him that I’m not sure people took them as seriously as they did. The press covered up a LOT for him, although knowing the extent of his medical problems, it’s bit surprising that he was able to participate in as many extracurricular activities as he did. Conversely, Ronald Reagan was seen to be absolutely ancient at 70, even though he was fairly active. He was the target of an assassination attempt from which he rebounded fairly quickly, but he also had problems with polyps and his prostate. Whether or not he had cognitive decline during the presidency is hard to determine, but he did finally succumb to Alzheimer’s at the age of 93, fifteen years after he left office.
Each chapter starts with a picture of the president and a short overview. The chapters are all detailed, but move fairly quickly. In addition to the effects of the health problems on the presidents, Jarrow does a good job of addressing the effects of the president’s ill health on the wider government and society. The addition of primary source political cartoons is excellent, and there’s a good timeline at the end of the book.
There are always a few middle school students who are obsessed with the US presidents, so this is a good choice for them, along with Spradlin’s Close Calls and Bausum’s Our Country’s Presidents.
June 7, 2025
Really, how does Jarrow continue to bring the most fascinating details about history (and science) together for a youth audience but that everyone else can eat up deliciously like a meal? I'm biased I know as I've adored every book she's written, but this again, goes to show her research, curiosity, and writing, but primarily her research.
I watched a short webinar with her and her editor the other day that sped up my wanting to read the rest in one sitting. And the fact that one of the presidents featured is Biden after the spectacular blowup on national television with the debate made her hold on to the manuscript to be able to write a chapter after his presidential coverup. Yowzers. But it's absolutely on par with the other chapters of presidents who covered up or the people around them (and they themselves) who covered up illnesses or issues.
This is spectacularly laid out and organized with photos and stories to drive the point home that there were lies and cover-ups amid the speculation for many reasons. Jarrow also includes the questions, clauses, and amendments that eventually made their way into policy and practice regarding the capacity of a president to serve and who after that.
Jarrow is a masterclass in teen nonfiction. I am happy to have read an early version of it and sad that I won't be able to talk to too many people until it's released but that also means I'll have multiple copies on order!
"After meeting up with Dr. Bryant in Manhattan, the men boarded a small boat at the pier on the East River, and it took them to the anchored Oneida. The other doctors had already arrived separately to avoid alerting the press, carrying their surgical equipment in their baggage. That evening, Cleveland relaxed on the Oneida, smoking a cigar and casually talking to the men who would be cutting into his head the next day. Despite making careful plans and gathering skilled doctors, Bryant worried about something going wrong. The operation was risky even when it wasn't done on a moving boat.... Uneasily, Dr. Bryant commented to the Oneida's captain, "If you hit a rock, hit it good and hard, so that we'll all go to the bottom!"
"With the surgeons gathered around him, Reagan looked up and said to one, "I hope you're a Republican." Although he was a Democrat, the doctor replied, "Today, Mr. President, we're all Republican."
I watched a short webinar with her and her editor the other day that sped up my wanting to read the rest in one sitting. And the fact that one of the presidents featured is Biden after the spectacular blowup on national television with the debate made her hold on to the manuscript to be able to write a chapter after his presidential coverup. Yowzers. But it's absolutely on par with the other chapters of presidents who covered up or the people around them (and they themselves) who covered up illnesses or issues.
This is spectacularly laid out and organized with photos and stories to drive the point home that there were lies and cover-ups amid the speculation for many reasons. Jarrow also includes the questions, clauses, and amendments that eventually made their way into policy and practice regarding the capacity of a president to serve and who after that.
Jarrow is a masterclass in teen nonfiction. I am happy to have read an early version of it and sad that I won't be able to talk to too many people until it's released but that also means I'll have multiple copies on order!
"After meeting up with Dr. Bryant in Manhattan, the men boarded a small boat at the pier on the East River, and it took them to the anchored Oneida. The other doctors had already arrived separately to avoid alerting the press, carrying their surgical equipment in their baggage. That evening, Cleveland relaxed on the Oneida, smoking a cigar and casually talking to the men who would be cutting into his head the next day. Despite making careful plans and gathering skilled doctors, Bryant worried about something going wrong. The operation was risky even when it wasn't done on a moving boat.... Uneasily, Dr. Bryant commented to the Oneida's captain, "If you hit a rock, hit it good and hard, so that we'll all go to the bottom!"
"With the surgeons gathered around him, Reagan looked up and said to one, "I hope you're a Republican." Although he was a Democrat, the doctor replied, "Today, Mr. President, we're all Republican."
August 10, 2025
A president's health can affect their ability to serve, because their decisions could put countless lives in danger. In this middle-grade book, the focus is on the medical lies and cover-ups that White House physicians, staff, and spouses hide from the public to protect the President. In this book, nine Presidents are identified. They are James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, FDR, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and Joe Biden. This book raises several questions that are still relevant today.
1. Should the President's privacy supersede that of the public's right to know?
2. Should Presidents take cognitive tests? (Trump boasts about this, and Biden denied needing one.)
3. Should there be age limits for running for office?
4. What health conditions should be disqualifying?
5. Should there be an annual physical requirement like the ones they have for our military?
6. Should the physician not be a personal doctor but one who is non-partisan/independent?
7. Should we have access to the medical records, such as what medication they are taking?
Throughout the book, these questions are raised.
Using historical research and personal quotes, he goes behind the scenes to what was hidden from the public during each of the featured presidencies. A lot of the ailments would have been cured with modern medicine, others, such as gunshot wounds to the head, would still be fatal. Presented in an easy-to-understand format, this is an excellent addition to a school library. Pictures are scattered throughout, and the chapters are concise, which will keep younger readers' attention.
I received this book through Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
1. Should the President's privacy supersede that of the public's right to know?
2. Should Presidents take cognitive tests? (Trump boasts about this, and Biden denied needing one.)
3. Should there be age limits for running for office?
4. What health conditions should be disqualifying?
5. Should there be an annual physical requirement like the ones they have for our military?
6. Should the physician not be a personal doctor but one who is non-partisan/independent?
7. Should we have access to the medical records, such as what medication they are taking?
Throughout the book, these questions are raised.
Using historical research and personal quotes, he goes behind the scenes to what was hidden from the public during each of the featured presidencies. A lot of the ailments would have been cured with modern medicine, others, such as gunshot wounds to the head, would still be fatal. Presented in an easy-to-understand format, this is an excellent addition to a school library. Pictures are scattered throughout, and the chapters are concise, which will keep younger readers' attention.
I received this book through Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2025
White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover Ups is a fascinating book that details the presidential medical cover ups through the years. From Grover Cleveland's cancer surgery aboard a boat to Ronald Reagan's assassination attempt, Gail Jarrow informs readers on times the White House was not forthcoming on the status of the president's health.
I felt like Jarrow did a great job at deciding which presidents to feature in this book. A few i was aware of previously, such as James Garfield's death due to a lack of cleanliness of his doctors after being shot. But others it was my first time hearing about.
I do think overall the author did remain mostly unbiased in their writing. Though I do feel like they were a little more harsh on Joe Biden, than what was warranted. But, to br fair, that thought process could be due to my own bias. I felt like it was a missed opportunity to reflect that while yes, he did have cognitive decline, Donald Trump did as well.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I felt like Jarrow did a great job at deciding which presidents to feature in this book. A few i was aware of previously, such as James Garfield's death due to a lack of cleanliness of his doctors after being shot. But others it was my first time hearing about.
I do think overall the author did remain mostly unbiased in their writing. Though I do feel like they were a little more harsh on Joe Biden, than what was warranted. But, to br fair, that thought process could be due to my own bias. I felt like it was a missed opportunity to reflect that while yes, he did have cognitive decline, Donald Trump did as well.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2025
As always, a fascinating dive into the health of a number of past presidents, with proof and notes that they were not as healthy as they tried to show the American people. Some are really well documented and I've heard a lot about them, like FDR, and others were a surprise because who really thinks that much about Chester Arthur's presidency?
It is a slow start (Garfield again, when she has written a whole book about hime) and a weird finish, as there is a chapter about Biden which is appropriate but will never have as much info as the historical ones--I wish she was clearer about that. They actually held the book in order to include this. It would be helpful to state that we don't have the full picture of Biden's health and just like the historical presidents, it might take awhile to get all of the information.
I did like the questions at the end that help us consider what we need to know about our leader's health.
It is a slow start (Garfield again, when she has written a whole book about hime) and a weird finish, as there is a chapter about Biden which is appropriate but will never have as much info as the historical ones--I wish she was clearer about that. They actually held the book in order to include this. It would be helpful to state that we don't have the full picture of Biden's health and just like the historical presidents, it might take awhile to get all of the information.
I did like the questions at the end that help us consider what we need to know about our leader's health.
July 20, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Really interesting read about a handful of our presidents and the efforts taken to shield the public from their health concerns. Gail Jarrow does a great job of balancing heavy content in a way that is accessible to students (and adults!). She handles the accounts as unbiased as possible, backs her accounts with both primary and secondary sources, and acknowledges why she doesn’t include other presidents when there’s not enough sufficient evidence to do more than speculate. I’ve found that Jarrow’s books are well-researched, interesting and entertaining, and seek to be balanced and fair. I do wish she’d included a bit of info about Alexander Graham Bell’s attempts to save President Garfield- students would be familiar with Bell and would likely find that tidbit interesting (at least I thought it was!). Well done, and I’m looking forward to her next work!
January 16, 2026
Did you know President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke that his wife and doctors concealed for months? Or that Mrs. Wilson took total charge of his presidential duties? Neither did the American public. Did you know President John F. Kennedy suffered from Addison’s disease and was heavily medicated for years? Neither did most people. Too often when a president is sick or dying, he and the people around him have hidden his condition from the public, wanting to project an image of strength and power. Author Gail Jarrow explores presidential cover-ups from the 19th to the 21st century--from James Garfield to Joe Biden. White House Secrets provides the historical context to help young readers understand issues of media literacy and presidential candor that are more relevant than ever in the 21st century."--
January 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This is an excellent nonfiction for middle school. It chronicles true stories of U.S. presidents who had medical ailments that they hid from the public while in office. I really enjoyed this, and it’s a quick listen (5 hours). I raised my eyebrows a LOT, thinking about how some of these situations parallel our current world, and I think it’s definitely a good one for anyone to read. #mglit #yalit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian
January 6, 2026
It would be interesting to see what Jarrow would have included on the current POTUS if this was published slightly later.
White House Secrets provides readers with lots of information about a handful of American Presidents and encourages people to think about what level of transparency should the office of POTUS be required to submit to in regards to their mental and physical health.
White House Secrets provides readers with lots of information about a handful of American Presidents and encourages people to think about what level of transparency should the office of POTUS be required to submit to in regards to their mental and physical health.
February 5, 2026
This is a weighty account of our WHITE HOUSE secrets from the past, but is organized and written in the accessible,m compelling way that the author handles nonfiction material for young readers. That approach, and the deep research that brings forward many untold stories (thus, SECRETS) make this as appealing for adult readers as it is for youth.
January 26, 2026
This is very interesting, but will appeal more to HS students that are interested in presidents and nonfiction. I don’t think I’ll purchase for my MS now unless someone specifically asks for it due to budget constraints.
February 2, 2026
This is how I like to learn. True stories connected together by a theme. Well researched with an extensive bibliography for those who want to dive further into certain presidents. I learned quite a bit. I think students would enjoy reading this history book.
November 8, 2025
More “shocking” American History.”
December 10, 2025
I understand that this was chronological, but starting with Garfield -- the grossest and the weirdest -- means that the rest are bound to be at least a little disappointing.
December 22, 2025
Good MS NF book about an interesting aspect of presidential history.
January 1, 2026
Chock full of fascinating facts.
February 1, 2026
My only complaint is the shiny paper it's printed on!
July 16, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss and Calkins Creek for the eARC.
Jarrow takes readers on a detailed look at past presidents' medical histories. She explains the cover-ups, ailments, surgeries, and medical mistakes of 9 presidents from James Garfield to Joe Biden. Her work calls brings to the forefront questions about the medical histories and fitness of presidents.
Although not as detailed as other books in the Medical Fiascoes series, Jarrow's coverage is much wider.
Jarrow takes readers on a detailed look at past presidents' medical histories. She explains the cover-ups, ailments, surgeries, and medical mistakes of 9 presidents from James Garfield to Joe Biden. Her work calls brings to the forefront questions about the medical histories and fitness of presidents.
Although not as detailed as other books in the Medical Fiascoes series, Jarrow's coverage is much wider.
July 2, 2025
Thank you to Calkins Creek, and imprint of Astra Publishing House, and Netgalley for the digital arc.
Medical fiascoes series
In the newest volume in Jarrow's “Medical Fiascoes” series, the author delves into the medical histories of nine presidents who developed, or had preexisting medical conditions, while serving as president, and the lengths taken by their staffs to shield the president from scrutiny. Excellent back matter, and the chapters are arranged in a logical format---illustrations, photos, medical history, primary resources, and how the condition was concealed. Consequences of the illnesses were either they survived the presidency or died while president. For an older reader, I felt there were few new insights, but it is a excellent choice for middle schoolers interested in presidential and medical history.
Back matter includes source notes, bibliography, index, glossary, and timeline.
#WhiteHouseSecrets
Medical fiascoes series
In the newest volume in Jarrow's “Medical Fiascoes” series, the author delves into the medical histories of nine presidents who developed, or had preexisting medical conditions, while serving as president, and the lengths taken by their staffs to shield the president from scrutiny. Excellent back matter, and the chapters are arranged in a logical format---illustrations, photos, medical history, primary resources, and how the condition was concealed. Consequences of the illnesses were either they survived the presidency or died while president. For an older reader, I felt there were few new insights, but it is a excellent choice for middle schoolers interested in presidential and medical history.
Back matter includes source notes, bibliography, index, glossary, and timeline.
#WhiteHouseSecrets
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