Real Life at the White House: 200 Years of Daily Life at America's Most Famous Residence (Hardcover)

by John Whitcomb (Author) "THE MOST FAMOUS BUILDING that George Washington never slept in is the White House..." (more)
Key Phrases: upstairs oval room, oval drawing room, lunette window, Secret Service, New York, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the White House, the Whitcombs provide an irresistible chronological overview of daily life in the presidential residence. Divided into 42 chapters representing each succeeding administration, this survey is brimming with fun facts, tantalizing tidbits, and memorable anecdotes detailing two centuries of domestic bliss and strife in the White House. From George Washington, who chose the sight and initiated work on the presidential mansion, to Bill Clinton, whose well-documented White House escapades titillated and scandalized the nation, each individual president has contributed to the mystique of the most readily recognized home in the U.S. Together with scores of drawings, portraits, and photographs, the breezy text chronicles the significant physical, social, and emotional changes wrought by each First Family as they sought to personalize daily life in the White House. A broadly appealing slice of Americana. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Fascinating.It's a rich source of information about 40 of our presidents with dozens of photographs that give new meaning to in-house. -- Tampa Tribune
A genuine page-turner.Both wise and witty, Real Life at the White House is perhaps the most delightful 'house' tour you'll ever take. -- Victoria Magazine
Anecdotes are very much the point of Real Life at the White House, which relates each successive family's experience there. -- New York Daily News
...a lively account of private lives being lived in a public place.The Whitcombs have brought history and architecture together in a very human story of an enduring monument to American democracy. -- CNN.com
.. .a lively history of the families who made their homes here and the ways in which each put a personal stamp - for good or for bad - on the building. -- San Antonio Express News
Real Life at the White House is more than just a probe of presidential families; it provides in-depth White House history and examines the role of the First Lady as it changed over the decades. An intriguing presentation. -- The Bookwatch
Well-written ... should be read not only to discern the personal impact of each administration on a famous residence but also to observe the evolving nature of the presidency itself and its relation to the citizenry. Recommended for public and academic libraries. -- Library Journal
Real Life at the White House is a wonderful history of both the personal and official sides of America's presidential families. Claire Whitcomb and John Whitcomb provide an updated, 'user friendly' introduction to the occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue--their highs as well as their lows. This is a fascinating, concise history of the day-to-day living within America's premier residence. -- James A. Abbott, Curator of Decorative Arts, The Baltimore Museum of Art
A wall-to-wall chronicle of the First House for the bicentennial of the First Occupant. -- William Seale, author, The President's House: A History
A completely new and fascinating White House history filled with personalized stories of the lives of presidential families. I've read most White House histories but this one, in my opinion, is the best. I couldn't put it down. -- Clement E. Conger, White House Curator, 1970-1986
Dense with facts, the work, however, is anecdotal and entertaining...the public, those interested in the structural and interior evolution of a famous residence, and anyone wishing to expand their presidential trivia will enjoy Real Life at the White House: Two Hundred Years of Daily Life at Americas Most Famous Residence. -- H-DC, H-Net Reviews

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