Customer Reviews

Entertaining at the White House with Nancy Reagan

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Peter Schifando and J. Jonathan Joseph have captured the style and elegance of the Reagan White House in a gorgeous book, Entertaining at the White House with Nancy Reagan. The two interior designers had access to Mrs. Reagan's White House scrapbooks to collect the details of those years in "the President's House." They were also fortunate enough to have Mrs. Reagan's cooperation, and that of former members of the Reagan White House staff.

The book puts White House entertaining in historical context, beginning with the earliest dinners and receptions, under President John Adams. The First Ladies began to put a stamp on entertaining under Dolley Madison, and the changes and influences are shown up until the Reagan years.

The pictures in this book illustrate the fact that the dinners, parties, and entertaining are as much a part of American history as anything else in the government. During the Reagan years, they hosted 55 state dinners, and numerous private events. However, it's the pictures, menus, and invitations to those state dinners that show how important they were to international relations.

As in some other recent books, my biggest complaint with Entertaining at the White House with Nancy Reagan is the use of white print on tan pages at times. This is not always easy to read, and publishers should consider their readers when publishing books. Black print on white pages, or the white print on black pages, is still the most effective print for a reader.

Except for this small complaint, the is an intriguing look behind the scenes at the White House. The attention to detail is wonderful in the book that captures the history, etiquette and protocol of White House entertaining. No matter what your political beliefs, the Reagans were experts at elegant entertaining. Schifando and Joseph used their access skillfully to portray the style of Entertaining at the White House with Nancy Reagan.

In close collaboration with Mrs. Reagan, these two authors have compiled a fascinating look at the traditions and protocol involved in social entertaining at the White House. This work is full of beautiful photographs and very interesting stories.

The book is divided into chapters on history, etiquette and protocol, descriptions of the many patterns of china, and reviews of numerous private and public events, from family times to state dinners hosted by many of the Presidents.

Although the pictures alone make this a real collectible item of White House lore, it is greatly enhanced by the commentary and anecdotes supplied by Nancy Reagan, which make it an even more full and thorough review.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the White House or Presidential life.

Though I was never a Reagan fan, I must admit this book was fascinating. I enjoy reading history books, especially on the White House, and this one presented a totally different story. Also, many, many pictures I had never seen before. This book was well worth the money.....one that you can look at over and over and see something different everytime. Excellent job.

If you are a Reagan fan, this book is a must have. It's a lovely book. Well designed, and well executed.

This lovely volume has readable text, but its greatness lies in its vast array of photographs into one of the most elegant periods in the history of the White House. Most enjoyable.

Lovely review of selected occasions, state, formal but not quite state level, and personal but black tie celebrations for the Reagans and their guests. Includes the table settings, logic for selecting guests, the beautiful clothes Nancy wore. Just about everything I could have hoped for. I would buy this book again if I didn't now own it!