Designing Camelot : The Kennedy White House Restoration (Hardcover)

by James A. Abbott (Author), Elaine M. Rice (Contributor), Inc Boscobel Restoration (Author) "From the moment President John F. Kennedy took the oath of offices, his administration was characterized as having style..." (more)
Key Phrases: eagle fabric, drapery design, televised tour, White House, Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This illuminating study documents the transformation of the White House from the home of the U.S. presidents to a notable house museum occupied by successive presidents of the United States. This transformation took place between 1961 and 1963 under the guidance of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; the premier collector of American decorative arts, Henry Francis du Pont; and the French interior designer Stephane Boudin. Room-by-room accounts detail the decoration and furnishing of White House interiors, and both private and public rooms are all addressed. This is more than an evocative account; it is based on the authors' master's theses at, respectively, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture at the University of Delaware. A fine work of scholarship on a topic of popular interest, this is recommended for most architecture and interior design collections.?Peter Kaufman, Boston Architectural Ctr.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
This exquisite book documents the extensive restoration of the White House under the Kennedy administration. It examines the physical transformation of America's premier residence from "home of the President" to house-museum". Kennedy enthusiasts, architects, interior designers, collectors, history buffs, preservationists, and White House watchers alike will covet this book. Full color throughout Pub: 10/97.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: International Thomson Publishing Services (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0442025327
• ISBN-13: 978-0442025328
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #716,761 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars As good an insight into Jackie Kennedy as any biography, February 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration (Hardcover)

Designing Camelot demonstrates the debt owed to the Kennedys for transforming the White House into an institution worthy of its history. They, particularly Mrs. Kennedy, established a structure for its preservation that, in essence, changed the view of the White House from a private, albeit official, dwelling to a grand home worthy of the dignity of the American Presidency, a true asset of the federal government.

But as with all things that become "governmentized," the Kennedy Restoration has been the source of controversy since its inception. The debate described in the book centers around the influence of Stephane Boudin, a celebrated French designer whom Mrs. Kennedy adored. The controversy revolves around Boudin's French interpretation of this most American of houses.

Throughout the book, the authors appear conscious of the anti-Boudin criticism, and seem to want to downplay his singular involvement in all aspects of the restoration's tone and direction. (This bias may be natural and unintended, as Boudin was the subject of one author's Bachelor's and Master's theses).

This is displayed in the repeated references that the "official" restoration effort acknowledges three individuals, not just Boudin. Yet every chapter and room recounts how Boudin's designs would win out, with Mrs. Kennedy's blessing. More than once a person would be placated at the time, only to return to the mansion to see the Boudin design had replaced their vision.

The book points out that one early goal of the restoration was to keep Boudin's name out of it the picture. While the book credits all participants in the restoration process, it undermines that assertion with acccounts of bad feelings, threatened resignations, and the Kennedy view that Boudin's competitors were vital for their money, credentials, connections, and "americanism" as much as for anything else. The authors acknowledge this, but at times I felt the true history, and perhaps some detail, was lost in their tone of defense (perhaps "protection" is a better word) of Boudin.

The pro-Boudin feeling came through also in the last chapter discussing the restoration's legacy. Nancy Reagan's placement of a painting in the Green Room to the spot that Boudin had placed it is explained by a Kennedy-era White House curator as a conscious attempt to recapture the Boudin/Kennedy style (and therefore a vindication of the Boudin legacy). This may be true, but that picture of Franklin is generally viewed as perhaps the finest portrait in the White House. Could its Reagan-era placement be a reflection of that fact instead? And why did not Mrs. Reagan rehang the Van Buren portrait in the Green Room as well? She instead kept it in the Red Room, where the "anti-Boudin" forces placed it in 1973. And while Mrs. Clinton's Blue Room decor copies Boudin's Blue Room, widely acknowledged as being his best work, and source of some of the loudest criticism of the Boudin style, the case wasn't made that the guiding principal behind the change was a reevaluation and vindication of Boudin's scheme.

As someone whose primary interest is White House history, not design, the details over arguments over drapery placement (should they be inside the window moulding, or outside?) were not as important as what Mrs. Kennedy's preferences translated into what was ultimately done (she hated them tied back, because of the wrinkles which would show when they were drawn).

I wanted a book that provided for me unknown background into a very necessary, successful, and magnificent undertaking. I was aware of the Boudin controversy prior to reading Designing Camelot, but was a bit disappointed by the deference paid to Boudin. Mrs. Kenney stated that the long history of White House precluded its redecoration to any particular era, yet justified the heavy French influences on the decor by stating (rightly) that it was the preference of James and Elizabeth Monroe. I wanted to understand more about the other viewpoints, and whether Boudin's designs were really appropriate to the history of the White House specifically, not just the style of the time. I didn't feel I got that. I recommend the book, though, and am glad I ordered it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive & in depth look into the Camelot White House, August 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration (Hardcover)

A wonderful book that gives you every little detail in the entire restoration project of the White House. The color coded floor plans at the beginning of each chapter really let you picture where they are in the White House and how it all flows together as a building. I especially enjoyed the photos of the private residences and reproductions of handwritten notes and Christmas cards.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An historic record of great interest, wit and style., November 21, 1997

By	Leon Pascucci "lppascucci" (Kenosha, WI United States) - See all my reviews

Superb addition to the history of White House decoration. Fascinating insights into how the young Mrs. Kennedy was able to accomplish a top-to-bottom top-notch restoration and redecoration within just 30 months. Fine photographic record and well-written text make this a must-read for Jackiephiles and all students of interior design. Thanks to the authors! Leon Pascucci