Real Life at the White House

by Claire Whitcomb, John Whitcomb

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the White House with this richly illustrated new book on America's, if not the world's, most famous residence. Abigail Adams dried her wash in the unfinished East Room. Benjamin Harrison left the lights burning all night because he feared being shocked by the newly installed electric switches. LBJ waged an obsessive battle with the water pressure in the shower, demanding shower heads on all sides. His successor, Richard Nixon, promptly had them removed. The White House has not always been the ideal home, and as each president moved in, he transformed the house in small and large ways to fit his family's needs.

Real Life at the White House celebrates two centuries of domestic life in this historic abode. In forty-two chapters - one for each administration - this stylish sourcebook takes us on an intimate tour of the daily life of each president and his family, bringing into view everything from china patterns to built-in closets (a luxury added during the Truman renovation), from plumbing to telephones (Coolidge refused to use the phone for business) from architectural structure to state dinners and family meals.

Filled with hundreds of anecdotes, photographs, and presidential quotes from Washington(who never lived there but oversaw the first plans) to Clinton, this thoroughly engaging book captures the texture of presidential life while documenting the very human history of a house.

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

532 pages, Hardcover

First published August 29, 2000

Reviews

[Abbie O'Hara · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all LBJ was the funniest president to read about.

Hoover had pet crocodiles that he kept at the White House
JFK and Lyndon J swam naked
Lyndon J had his Secretary of State cutting his toenails for him - he also got hella angry about root beer. LBJ also forced his press secretaries to go into bathrooms with him while he took a shit and berated them when they refused to make eye contact while he was talking. LBJ also spent $125k on a shower that he demanded had to “blast him up the rear”
Nancy Kennedy spend $121k on her wardrobe in 1962 alone
JFK ate his tomato soup with whipped cream on top
Gerald Ford’s daughter Amy Ford was arrested for protesting her own father (for being a racist imperialist)
Calvin Coolidge’s son died of a tennis blood blister
Nixon once spilled soup on himself and then told his staff to never serve him soup again because “real men don’t eat soup”

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating alternative look at the US presidency, through the lens of the White House and the families who lived there, full of lots of interesting bits and pieces about presidential gardens, swimming pools and wallpaper.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book looks at how the families of the various Presidents lived and entertained in the White House. Who knew, for instance, that for close to 100 years Presidents were expected to pay their secretaries (and any other help they needed)out of their own salaries? Beginning with John and Abigail Adams, first families struggled with vermin, poor sewage, too little money, too little security, importunate office seekers and no privacy. Many early Presidents were widowers who needed female relatives to come and serve as hostess for political and diplomatic functions. Others had hordes of children and even grandchildren living with them. Some of the most obscure Presidents by twenty-first century standards have the most intriguing stories. Franklin Pierce and Andrew Johnson come immediately to mind. And as with many other trivia categories, Grover & Francis Cleveland top the list,

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

With history as a backdrop, this book takes you through all our presidents and how they lived in the White House. Interesting insight into who these men were and what their lives were like during their terms of office. It also gives an understanding of the families, and how varied they have been. Well worth reading.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably interesting... addictive; fascinating. If only I'd had this book in grade school. When read in company, worth countless outbursts of "Oh my gosh! You won't believe this! When so-and-so was president, ..."

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did an excellent job of steering clear of political history and focused solely on the history of the White House and the people who lived there.

Fascinating, overall.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was *excellent*. If you're a fan of presidential anecdotes and history, you'll greatly enjoy this comprehensive look at the White House.

[Ayelet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goes through each President and their history in the White House. A little slow at times and needs more pictures but has some very interesting stories.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, well-written book about our presidents, their families and all of their idiosyncracies (and they had a lot of them!).

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the presidents and their families. Loved to learn what they were like when they were not in front of the press or on TV.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting POV on the history of the Presidency...