Hidden far from sight, deep in the thick underbrush of the North Florida woods are the ghostly graves of more than thirty unidentified bodies, some of which are thought to be children who were beaten to death at the old Florida Industrial School for Boys at Marianna. It is suspected that many more bodies will be found in the fields and swamplands surrounding the institution. Investigations into the unmarked graves have compelled many grown men to come forward and share their stories of the abuses they endured and the atrocities they witnessed in the 1950s and 1960s at the institution.
The White House Boys: An American Tragedy is the true story of the horrors recalled by Roger Dean Kiser, one of the boys incarcerated at the facility in the late fifties for the crime of being a confused, unwanted, and wayward child. In a style reminiscent of the works of Mark Twain, Kiser recollects the horrifying verbal, sexual, and physical abuse he and other innocent young boys endured at the hands of their "caretakers." Questions remain unanswered and theories abound, but Roger and the other 'White House Boys' are determined to learn the truth and see justice served.
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"Roger Dean Kiser does a great service to children by revealing the injustices experienced by the 'White House Boys.' His story encourages strength in others to share theirs." --Dave Pelzer, author of the New York Times bestseller A Child Called "It" and recipient of the National Jefferson Award
(Dave Pelzer )
About the Author
Roger Dean Kiser is a Chicken Soup for the Soul contributor and respected author whose stories take you into the heart of a child abandoned by his family and abused by the system responsible for his care. Through his stories, he relives the sadness and cruelty of growing up as an orphan in the early 1950s. Today, he lives in Brunswick, Georgia, with his wife, Judy.
Published author and Internet writer Roger Dean Kiser's stories take you into the heart of a child abandoned by his family and abused by the system responsible for his care. Through his stories, he relives the sadness and cruelty of growing up an orphan in the early 1950's.
Today, Kiser lives in Brunswick, Georgia with his wife Judy where he continues to write and publishing most of his work on his Internet web site at: http://www.americanorphan.com.
Since its beginning, "The American Orphan Web Site" has become one of the most read child abuse web sites in the world. At last count, it had a readership of about 11.8 million since November 1999.
It is through his writing that Kiser has begun healing the pain, suffering and sadness of the orphan within him. Unknowingly at first and by the power of the Internet, Kiser's short stories have touched millions.
In the vein of Mark Twain, Roger Dean Kiser's collection of almost 900 stories has captured the drama and emotion of not only his childhood, but also his current day tales. Kiser's short stories carry with them strong images and feelings that search out and find that common thread which connects each of us to our own emotions.
Roger Dean Kiser is the author of the books "Orphan, A True Story of Abandonment, Abuse and Redemption," "American Orphan" and now his newest books titled "RUNAWAY, Life on the streets-The Lessons Learned" and "The White House Boys-An American Tragedy."
Roger will never forget how he and about 300 other children were treated as though they were less than human while living at the Children's Home Society Orphanage in Jacksonville, Florida as well as his abuse at the Florida School for Boys at Marianna during the 1950's and 1960's.
Roger's short stories have also been published in books and magazines around the world. Publications such as: Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul (2), Chicken Soup for the Friend's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul, Chicken Soup for the Teens Soul Middle School,Chicken Soup for the Teens Soul High School (USA), Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories to Soothe the Spirit (2)(USA), Heartwarmers (USA), Heartwarmers of Love (USA), A Cool Collection I and A Cool Collection II (Israel), Connections-Textbook and CD Rom (Israel), Faith & True Stories of Friendship (USA), Teen Miracles (USA), Man's Best Friend (Australia), The Next Voice You Hear (USA), Soul Disclosures (USA), Dog Buddies (Australia), Skyline Magazine IV (USA), Venice, Gulf Coast Living, Petwarmers CD Collection (USA), Kiwanis Magazine, as well as his own CD titled "The Life and Times of Roger Dean Kiser."
Roger's short story "The Bully" was made into a short film by Executive Producer Edward Asner (Mary Tyler Moore Show), and has been entered into several major film festivals in the United States.
Between Edward Asner's bustling, award winning career and a busy political agenda, the actor has still made himself available to lend his support and voice to Roger Dean Kiser.
Asner is credited as a factor in the publishing of Kiser's first book Orphan in 2001 and was the Executive Producer on the short film The Bully adapted from the Kiser short story by the same name. More recently, he recorded two of Kiser's works: "Butterflies" and "Elvis Died at the Florida Barber College" as audio stories for the CD "The Life and Times of American Orphan-Roger Dean Kiser." Asner has also been very supportive in the development of a possible feature film or television series based on Kiser's stories.
I began reading this book just before midnight on one evening and put it down at 3 o'clock the next morning after finishing the last page. It is one of the saddest most emotional reads I've ever experienced. The author is, in my belief, one of the bravest men I have ever met. (And, believe me, after finishing the book (The White House Boys: An American Tragedy) you will feel as if you truly know the author.) And you will "feel" so much because of him you will want to contact him to ask how you can help spread the word right along with him. You'll want to know how you as a human being can help in making the world a safe place for kids instead of one that harms them. Because through his story that is what he is trying to do.
The atrocities author Roger Kiser suffered at the hands of his "caretakers" in this Florida institution will make your toes curl. The depravity of the people running this home for boys will sicken you. The triumph and hope that Mr. Kiser offers as a result of his broken life will make your life's troubles pale to trivialities, and cause you to question what right you've ever had to complain.
As Mr. Kiser continues his work with the state of Florida and even the FBI, in an effort to ensure that heinous crimes like the ones committed upon him and other young boys are a thing of the past, he has put his personal life back together, setting an example for all of mankind that nothing is greater than the human spirit.
Written with the strength of a survivor and the compassion of one who knows severe physical and emotional pain, Mr. Kiser's book is a well-scripted look into a childhood of hell.
While the subject matter is difficult, the book is exceptional. It flows from fact to feeling in an effortless, plain-spoken manner and is interspersed with photos as well. The White House Boys...An American Tragedy is a must-read true story of abuse and hope.
I guess it is prejudice that inspired me to buy this book because I was sent to Marianne Florida, The Florida School for Boys my first time in 1965. I spent ten months there the first time. I went "down" to the White House once in those ten months. After leaving after ten months, I returned again two or three months later and spent fourteen months there. I went "down" to the White House three times in this period. So I can speak with authority about Mr. Tidwell, Mr. White, Mr. Hatten, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Crockett because of those men, three of them administered the punishment to me. Was it bad? Yes it was, but not as bad as what happened to the author or to any of the others.
There are many other aspects of the story that he either left out by mistake or he had forgotten. I have certain memories that were not related in his story and it was during the state of Florida's integration period in 1966. That is a story in itself. There are other aspects that should have been included, again either by mistake or forgotten.
If the one thing that should come from this book is two things. 1) Healing and 2) that those in the graves are identified and justice sought for them.
After leaving FSB my last time in 1967 I was fifteen and never returned. The impact of that experience is still with me till this day, but it did not affect like the others. My experiences at home were far worse and though the punishment I received was severe, it was nothing compared to what I and my brother endured at home.
So, purchase the book to learn and hope those who were hurt will heal and those who died by the violence inflicted in the White House should have justice.
Dear Roger, I am so sorry for what happened to you and those other poor boys. I was reading on MSN news this morining and this article caught my eye and I starting doing some research and found several things...amongst them your book and this post...and... Read more
I wish those late husbands could be here to face up to what they did to you all! I pray that their wives' testimonies will be taken into consideration as evidence and help reveal the truth about what happened.
