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Edward P. Moser

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The White House's Unruly Neighborhood: Crime, Scandal and Intrigue in the History of Lafayette Square Paperback – Illustrated, December 2, 2019

by Edward P. Moser (Author)

4.8 19 ratings

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Chronicling the sometimes outlandish, often tragic history of the environs of the White House, this book covers two centuries of assassinations, slave escapes, deadly duels, sex scandals, battles, brawls and spy intrigues that took place in the presidential neighborhood, Lafayette Square. The author recounts the triumphs and catastrophes of heroes and villains both famous and unsung, placing them in the context of contemporary world events of the day.

Review

“Ed Moser leads a rollicking tour of Lafayette Square―the front door to the White House―and along the way enchants us with true stories of assassinations, duels, escaped slaves, heroes, scandals, spies, and a strong appreciation for one of America’s most historic spaces.”―Garrett Peck, author of The Great War in America: World War I and Its Aftermath

“A fascinating read about an overlooked but important public space at the center of Washington drama for decades. An enjoyable read.”―Peter Schweizer, author of Profiles in Corruption

“Turns out the White House isn’t in the best neighborhood―not if you like a life of peace and quiet. Edward Moser has discovered that the houses, streets, sidewalks, and alleys around Lafayette Square have produced as much drama as the Oval Office and have hosted an even more colorful cast of characters.”―P. J. O’Rourke, New York Times bestselling author

“Moser takes readers on a quick-paced joy ride. From the front door of the White House and through the streets and back alleys, Moser entices with the true stories of assassinations, duels, escaped slaves, heroes, salacious affairs, and nasty double crosses. … Hidden dramas buried within the walls of the homes, taverns, and parks of Lafayette Square come alive. And his readers gain a ground level appreciation for this historic area.”―The Zebra.

About the Author

A former presidential speechwriter and writer for The Tonight Show, Edward P. Moser is the author of 12 published books. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Print length

261 pages
Language

English
Publisher

McFarland
Publication date

December 2, 2019
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

7 x 0.53 x 10 inches
ISBN-10

1476674868
ISBN-13

978-1476674865
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McFarland; Illustrated edition (December 2, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 261 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476674868
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476674865
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.53 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,690,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #422 in War of 1812 History
- #24,950 in True Crime (Books)
- #56,292 in U.S. State & Local History

Customer Reviews:
4.8 19 ratings

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About the author

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Edward P. Moser

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Ed Moser is a former writer for Jay Leno's "Tonight Show"; operator of a history tours group; speechwriter for President of the United States; a former editor for Time-Life Books; tech/science writer/editor/manager; and biotech writer.

He is also the author of THE OLD TOWN HORROR: Murder and Theft in America’s Most Historic Locale:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX27RWYG?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

He is also the author, for Rowman & Littlefield, of The White House’s Unruly Neighborhood: Crime, Scandal & Intrigue in the History of Lafayette Square:

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-History-Capital-Tumultuous-Congress/dp/1493055909/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

And the author, for McFarland Publishing, of The White House’s Unruly Neighborhood: Crime, Scandal & Intrigue in the History of Lafayette Square:

https://www.amazon.com/White-Houses-Unruly-Neighborhood-Lafayette-ebook/dp/B082ZVDCD7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1555118270&sr=1-1-catcorr

And Ed runs a fun, White House-area history tour, the Lafayette Square Tour of Scandal, Assassination & Intrigue, a highly rated tour on Meetup and TripAdvisor:

https://www.meetup.com/Lafayette-Sq-Tours-of-Scandal-Assassination-Spies-Meetup/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g28970-d12791843-Reviews-Lafayette_Square_Tour_of_Scandal_Assassination_Intrigue-Washington_DC_District_of.html

https://www.facebook.com/LafayetteSquareTourOfScandalAssassinationIntrigue

He is also the author of the book, The Two-Term Jinx!: Why Most Presidents Stumble in Their Second Terms, and How Some Succeed:

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Term-Jinx-Presidents-Washington-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/1530790514/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469708458&sr=1-1&keywords=two-term+jinx

Facebook page for The Lost Capitol:

https://www.facebook.com/The-Lost-History-of-the-Capitol-112769207721802

Facebook page for The White House's Unruly Neighborhood:

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouseUnrulyNeighborhood/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Facebook page for Two-Term Jinx!:

https://www.facebook.com/TwoTermJinx

He is also author of the comedy, Foundering Fathers: What Jefferson, Franklin, and Abigail Adams Saw in Modern D.C.!:

http://www.amazon.com/Foundering-Fathers-Jefferson-Franklin-Abigail-ebook/dp/B00FEZG8UW

He also authored the history book, A Patriot's A to Z of America:

http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-America-Things-American-Should-ebook/dp/B00655SO9S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1415975803

Further, Mr. Moser is a social media analyst for various enterprises; writer of histories of Abbott Labs and Pfizer, Inc.; and author for Random House of the "Political Correct" series, among others.

He specializes in entertaining and informative speaking and writing on complex and timely topics. Humor, computers, politics, biotech, business, science, history, tech. Contact him for a intriguing speech to your org--savvyveteran at gmail dot com.

Has pen, will travel!

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

19 global ratings

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Paul D. Blumstein

True DC stories from the past

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

A wonderful book! I've been on two of the author's tours and he presents DC like no other tour guide. The others give you text book highlights but the author digs deeper, based on his own research, to uncover interesting stories you would have never known otherwise. I'm glad that he's taken the time to put his findings into book form so that many others can learn the many things that were happening behind the scenes instead of just highlights.

6 people found this helpful

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MTS

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

Thrilling guided tour of historic buildings of Washington DC and all the scandalous behavior that happened within. Covers all eras of American history. 45 colorful stories in one book. The type of nook I will reread in a few years as there are so many great stories I want to remember.

3 people found this helpful

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Lisa M

Fascinating author and entertaining book

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2020

Verified Purchase

I’ve gone on several of Ed’s walking tours and just had to buy one of his books. Can’t believe how much he knows and is fascinating to listen to him. This book has even more detail/history so great refresher.

3 people found this helpful

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Savvy Veteran

The White House’s Secret History Brought Skillfully to Life

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2019

As the U.S. capital is lately consumed with Trump impeachment and Hunter Biden’s Ukrainian ties, one can forget how scandal, crime, and intrigue has riddled the area in and around the White House for 220 years. This book is a bracing, informative, and fun reminder of that.

The work’s 45 gripping tales are rooted in actual events, in the Square’s evocative buildings and statues, and in the outlandish personalities of the long history of the President’s Park. The author shows that wild politics and craven misbehaviors have always been a hallmark of this center of Washington D.C., perhaps due to the neighborhood’s concentration of great power and wealth sought after by overly ambitious men, and not a few women. You’ll learned of the villains and heroes, famous and forgotten, who took part in deadly espionage, foreign invasions, slave escapes, attempted assassinations, outright murder, and tragic suicides.

As the epicenter of a very powerful nation, Lafayette Square is a gold mine of hidden history. Of Hamilton vs. Jefferson, of the highly influential slave Alethia Tanner, of duels to the death, as well as the forgotten terror attack on Marion Barry, and a litany of America’s worst, and bravest, military officers, and how a clerk’s spying on a President led to the NSA, to mention a few examples. This comprehensive yet highly readable book brings the locale’s myriad and bloody secrets back to life.

A must-have for anyone interested in true crime, politics, history or, in the author’s capable hands, the almost-forgotten art of the short story.

3 people found this helpful

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Gamaliel Rose

Life in the Swamp!

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019

Anyone who wants to know what goes on backstage in the Nation's capital, needs to read Moser's superb exposé. The major media give us the demo; Moser gives us the software. Washington isn't different in kind from any other American town: it just attracts more despicable people, who take depravity to greater extremes and then hide it better -- except from Moser, who uncovers significant details like a practiced archaeologist. Moser then puts the pieces together for a picture of Washington that American's need today more than ever.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Added welcome depth and color

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020

Thoroughly enjoyed this!
My mom was a historian and so was able to sprinkle my dry high school history lessons with little-known, sometimes scandalous anecdotes in order to gain my interest.
The author did the same for me here with this book. His stories added depth and color to the images that were already built in my mind.
Great read and one I definitely recommend.

One person found this helpful

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Edith

A great read!

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2020

I really liked the breadth of this book and its arresting anecdotes. Stories range from the founding of DC, with George Washington and Jefferson, to the Civil War period of Confederate spies and escaped slaves, up to modern times, including a forgotten terrorist attack on City Hall. If you love history, and if you're fascinated by national politics, you'll find this book a wealth of information and fun.

One person found this helpful

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Maryanne

Fun way to read history

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020

Reads like a novel and soooooooo interesting. Have read all his books and this one tops them

One person found this helpful

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