Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the White House with this richly illustrated new book on America's, if not the world's, most famous residence. Abigail Adams dried her wash in the unfinished East Room. Benjamin Harrison left the lights burning all night because he feared being shocked by the newly installed electric switches. LBJ waged an obsessive battle with the water pressure in the shower, demanding shower heads on all sides. His successor, Richard Nixon, promptly had them removed. The White House has not always been the ideal home, and as each president moved in, he transformed the house in small and large ways to fit his family's needs.

Real Life at the White House celebrates two centuries of domestic life in this historic abode. In forty-two chapters - one for each administration - this stylish sourcebook takes us on an intimate tour of the daily life of each president and his family, bringing into view everything from china patterns to built-in closets (a luxury added during the Truman renovation), from plumbing to telephones (Coolidge refused to use the phone for business) from architectural structure to state dinners and family meals.

Filled with hundreds of anecdotes, photographs, and presidential quotes from Washington(who never lived there but oversaw the first plans) to Clinton, this thoroughly engaging book captures the texture of presidential life while documenting the very human history of a house.

About the Author

Father/daughter author team John and Claire Whitcomb have previously collaborated on Oh Say Can You See: UnexpectedAnecdotes about American History (1987) and GreatAmerican Anecdotes (1994). John Whitcomb has taught American history for 32 years. Claire Whitcomb has written extensively about houses and history while on the staffs of magazines such as House & Garden, HouseBeautiful and Victoria.

Reviews

"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 AntonioExpress 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 HundredYears of Daily Life at Americas Most Famous Residence." -- H-DC, H-Net Reviews

Book Information
ISBN 9780415923200
Author Claire Whitcomb
Format Hardback
Page Count 532
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 1338g