How to Be President

by Stephen P. Williams

Congratulations! You've won the election and taken your oath. You wake up on your first day in the White House—now what do you do? Where's the bathroom? How do you get breakfast? What time is your first meeting? When can you use Air Force One? Can you order a pizza from the Oval Office? What line do you use for personal phone calls? This fully illustrated, how-to, hands-on handbook explains the nuts and bolts of being the President of the United States. Discover how to read a teleprompter, greet foreign dignitaries, and light the White House Christmas tree. Learn where to sit at Cabinet meetings and whether you need to bring your own ball to the White House bowling alley. Your job benefits, vacation schedule, and all the other perks and duties are clearly explained in this indispensable manual. It's a tough job, and somebody's got to do it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Humor, Reference, How To, American History

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Thinking of running for president? This fast, fun, and factual book has everything you need to know from day 1 about life in the White House. Who would do your laundry, what to do if the teleprompter fails, who has to pay for various events, and so much more!

-Lindsey D.-

[Julian Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read on the practices & customs of the White House. While the material is obviously from elsewhere (e.g. floor plans, history and so on) the choice of presentation format makes it really amusing. Maybe Trump should have this book...

[Brian Ewuzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book, it gives lots of little-known details and diagrams about living in the White House.

[Lize · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick read simply crammed with details about everyday life in the White House, everything from who does the President's laundry (White House laundry staff), to known secret passages, presidential pets (John Quincy Adams had an alligator), and ghosts in the West Wing (there's a spirit of a black cat in the basement that is most often seen just before major disasters, such as assassinations or stock market crashes--the thing must be visible 24/7 lately). There's even a diagram of how many vehicles are in a Presidential motorcade, and a section on Presdidential vacation time taken: George W. Bush, 98 days a year; Clinton, 19 days a year; George HW Bush, 135 days a year; Reagan, 41 days a year; Carter, 19 days a year.

Fascinating stuff, most of it. I picked up my copy at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, which seems most appropriate.

[Jaylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read How to Be President: What to Do and Where to Go Once You're in Office by Stephen Williams. I think it was a really good book. It has lots of good information about the job of President and what it is like, and what it is like to work with and for the POTUS. You also learn about history and the nation's capital. I really liked how the author added humor in some places and just statistics and numbers in other places. I think that this book is really good and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read non-fiction or anything about how the President's life works.
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[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read this, I really did think I'd go to Harvard and be elected the first woman president of the U.S. Of course, I've grown up since then, but I still enjoy rereading this. From ordering breakfast in the White House to the architecture of the White House, this tells you everything you could ever need to know about being the president. Well, except for the actual political part. And along the way, there is actually some history tidbits thrown in. Enjoyable no matter how many times you read it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts of this book are hiliarious.......does the president have to make his own bed in the morning? That's the level of detail we're talking about here. Stuff you'll never find anywhere else. Not at all dry.....I read this book in about 20 minutes. Found it on a point-of-sale rack at a Hallmark store and well worth $9.95.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this one during my recent trip to the Clinton Presidential Library back in May, but did not get around to it until June.

See my note on the book at [http://itinerantlibrarian.blogspot.co...]

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous and interesting look at how the White House and president really operate. Quick read, though. I finished it on a three-hour flight and wanted more!

[Greg Berghorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So now I know the answer to the age old question...does he really pay for his own dry cleaning? I'm not telling; you'll have to read the book.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A VERY quick read about the day-to-day business of being president. It's interesting and uncomplicated with some good basic information.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, I now know what to do and all about my future office!

[Sierra Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, I learned a lot about the white house and all the cool stuff the president gets.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick little read about the White House and what the President does all day. Should be especially interesting for kids, but adults will like it as well.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was fun and easy to read and gave the reader a great deal of information.