The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House

by Kate Andersen Brower

Da icônica família Kennedy aos descolados Obama, tudo o que aconteceu e acontece na Casa Branca passa pelos olhos e ouvidos de seu fiel e discreto staff, que, há mais de dois séculos, prepara as refeições, tira o pó dos móveis e arruma a cama dos presidentes americanos e de seus familiares. Neste livro da jornalista americana Kate Andersen Brower, esses privilegiados observadores ganham voz e revelam que a propriedade localizada no número 1.600da Pennsylvania Avenue, em Washington, é, além da sede do governo dos Estados Unidos, também uma residência como muitas outras, que abriga uma família diferente de quatro em quatro anos – ou de oito em oito anos. Com uma prosa saborosa e fluida, Kate traz à tona cenas do dia a dia do a fama do endereço que nunca ou pouco repercutiram aqui no Brasil, como a reação do porteiro da Casa Branca ao atentado de John Kennedy, a rotina espartana de Jimmy Carter que obrigava os empregados a se levantarem de madrugada para limpar o Salão Oval, as ameaças sofridas pelos titulares da residência e, claro, os grandes jantares e festas. Graças aos depoimentos de mordomos, arrumadeiras, cozinheiros, floristas e calígrafos, entre outros profissionais, e de três ex-primeiras-damas, os bastidores dos mais de 160 cômodos distribuídos por seis andares da mansão mais famosa do mundo são revelados ao curioso leitor.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Audiobook, Book Club, Biography, American History

281 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

Kate Andersen Brower is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller THE RESIDENCE and the New York Times bestseller FIRST WOMEN, as well as FIRST IN LINE, TEAM OF FIVE, and the children’s book EXPLORING THE WHITE HOUSE. She is a CNN contributor and she has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Vanity Fair and Time. She spent four years covering the Obama White House for Bloomberg News and is a former CBS News staffer and Fox News producer. She lives outside Washington, D.C, with her husband, their three young children, and their wheaten terrier named Chance.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Quick, easy read. Brower did a great job at showing first families as real, genuine people. Also at making one dislike the Clintons...all of them. Having said that the author also manages to annoy beyond belief by constantly (and I mean every-other-paragraph-constantly) reminding the reader of the humble nobility and unassailable righteousness of the WH residence staff. For someone peddling a book whose very selling premise is the "inside scoop" she can't help be keep reminding the reader how the residence staff would NEVER provide the inside scoop. EVER!

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read, but the author hopped all over the place when telling stories so it was hard to follow. A couple of times, I felt I had already read the same "story." Having said that, I enjoyed the stories and learning which first couples were enjoyed by the White House staff and who they didn't particularly care for. This book has peaked my interesting in reading some of the biography books written by past maids, butlers, and ushers!

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

My inspiration for this book was no other - than..... our wonderful Michelle Obama ...
who might have just written the most popular - well respected - and enjoyed memoir of the year - possibly BEST BOOK of the year!!!

This was good -
I did the Audiobook/ ebook sync combination ( I’m becoming a fan of this combination)....
It’s a different experience to read a book than to listen: both have special aspects for different reasons.

I’m sitting by the pool - listening to ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’.... ‘Sugar Sugar’ and other oldies that’s playing in the background that has TOTALLY interrupted my REVIEW TRAIN OF THOUGHT....

Heck with it - I’m getting lazy these day’s anyway -
I’m on vacation - ( first couple of days here in Mexico were days I HOPE we laugh about one day).
—
This book gave a great historical view about staff members ( juicy gossip of course - haha) who worked in the most famous house in America.

I liked it - 4 strong stars ... but given that Michelle Obama’s stories during her time was A STRONG MELTING MISSING AND LOVING HER 5 stars ....
I’ll take this book down a notch. ... but it was good!!!

Any review I write for the next couple of weeks - if I do -be kind! Lol
I’m sooooo on vacation!!!!
I’m reading a bunch of books - tossing as many back as staying with them - crazy reading period! But this was GREAT compared to other books I tossed back!!

Hugs love peace happy holidays!!!!!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read JB West's memoir of life as the chief usher in the White House for Presidents FDR - Nixon (briefly). I eagerly picked up The Residence hoping for a continuation of that.

In many ways, that is what I got. This is a sort of collective memoir of the domestic staff of the White House for Presidents JFK - Obama.

The thing is, though... This book was sort of a mess. I really enjoyed all the accounts of White House life. It was very unique to weave so many stories together. But the organization was sort of a disaster. Instead of doing a chapter or two per president (which I was expecting), this tried to chronologically through a presidency's various stages. There was a chapter all about the presidents all moving into the White House and the transition periods, but the stories were all mixed together. It went from Obama to Johnson to Clinton, etc. I was hoping for something a bit more cohesive.

But still definitely worth a read! Among other things, it give insight into the Lewinski scandal, JFK's funeral, Nixon's resignation, and 9/11. Definitely check this out if you're interested in American history, or the various presidents.

[Lois · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review seems to upset the Karen's lol!!!!!

This is an interesting if partisan and biased look at the White House staff that served presidents Kennedy to Obama.
The Clintons are hit the hardest in this, though the author makes an effort to show all Democratic presidents as difficult or reserved.
Most praised are The Bushes, both sets.
The author is now a vapid talking empty-head on Fox.
This book is reflective of that alternative facts nonsense.
Example: there was no formal staff assigned to the white house because of slavery. Most presidents prior to the civil war were southern slave owners. So there really wasn't a need for regular staff attached to the white house. Post the civil war regular staff positions become a thing. Of course the author doesn't want to clearly state these facts so she goes all around them and separates the sections out so she doesn't have to explicitly acknowledge this fact.
Sigh.
Glad I did not pay to read this trash.

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was on my library's featured new books shelf so I picked it up on a whim. Rather to my surprise I polished it off in an evening and really enjoyed it. It's all about life in the White House as seen through the eyes of the incredibly dedicated, hard-working staff who make the beds, dust the thousands of museum pieces, pack the immaculately laundered shirts, lay out the suits, fix and serve the meals (from state dinners to chili at 2 AM) and cater to the whims of Presidents, First Ladies and their families.

Brower is a veteran Washington reporter who first became aware of the staff's largely invisible inner world when she was invited to a luncheon in the intimate Old Family Dining Room. The elegantly dressed butlers with gleaming silver trays struck her as so very Downton Abbey. Every U.S. President discovers on moving in (promptly at 12 Noon on Inauguration Day) that they are going to be living in a world of unbelievable privilege but almost no privacy. And saying no to the valets is simply not an option.

I have often wondered what it is about Washington that turns peoples' heads. This book goes a long way towards explaining the total weirdness, the disconnect that seems to afflict everyone who takes office. Personally, I think we should follow the lead of the 10th century Heian Japanese and periodically move the seat of government to a totally new site to prevent contamination by evil spirits. For the new capitol of the United States I'd vote for someplace bracing in the middle of the country--South Dakota perhaps. And while we're at it we should make Presidents fix their own dinners and iron their own shirts.

Content rating PG. It's less gossipy than I expected but there are some brief but lurid details about President Johnson's shower, President Kennedy and the swimming pool parties, and a few other fairly familiar insider scandals.

[Donald Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining and emotional book about the White House staff. A very general review of the history and plenty of interviews of those who the author could interview from more recent years. This book is a great memorialization of the importance, sacrifice and diligence of the people who actually do the work of the United States of America. Very well written.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many fascinating and wonderful stories in this book. I have been worrying my brain over which ones to tell.This book is about the people who lived and worked in the White House from the Kennedy's to the Obama's. It's not a gossipy tell all about the first families although there are some very riveting tales about certain Presidents and First Ladies. It's mostly about the members of the staff and their utter devotion to their work. A devotion that left many in the staff divorced. The White House came first in their lives and many wives and children had to take a back seat to their family member's job. Some staff members would just arrive home and have to turn around and come back to work because of some need with the First Family.
I love Barbara Bush's description of the White House as an " 18 star hotel". Both Bush families, along with the Kennedy's receive kudos from the staff. Their caring attitude toward the staff members left warm and loving memories. What was remembered was that members of the Bush family treated the staff as people they were interested in and cared about. Of course this attitude made staff members very devoted and happy to serve. Lyndon Johnson, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton were difficult in the extreme and caused the staff great stress. The staff worked hard to provide the best service for both the easy and the hard to please members of the First Families.
The Hope and Tragedy chapter gave insight into what the staff was feeling during the days after the assassination and also 911. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

[Mahlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first this book appears to be nothing more than what you could get on an hour long PBS special, but after a slow start it does begin to reveal several interesting tidbits about both the first families and what working in the White House is really like. I gathered that there is usually a strict code of silence between the White House staff and the outside world, which often persists until long after they retire. They talk to almost no one, but many of them spoke to this author, that alone makes this book worth reading. A much needed addition to the very few books on the White House itself.

[Joseph Sciuto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Andersen Brower weaves an almost seamless, intimate narrative that takes the reader through a tour of First Families living in the White House over the last 80 years, as told through the eyes of the domestic staff (Butlers, Maids, Doormen, Painters, Chefs, electricians, florists etc., that work at the White House).

The domestic staff, unlike the President and his political aides and family, do not leave their jobs at the White House when a new President moves in... Much of the domestic staff has worked at the White House, and for as many as six First Families, as long as 30 to 40 years until they retire and most of the staff is comprised of African Americans. They have been witness to countless Presidents and their families, as one might say, with their make-up off and cameras out of view.

They live by a code, almost Mafia like, "Of see, but never tell" while working in the world's most famous house. The interviews that were given, that make up most of this wonderful book, were given almost entirely by retired staff, relatives of retired staff that have passed away, and the First families themselves. The staff were witness to First Families during difficult, personal times like President Clinton's affair with a 22 year old and through tragic times like the assassination of President Kennedy. They were often the consolers and therapist to Mrs. Kennedy, and First Lady Hillary Clinton.

They adored President George Herbert Bush and his wife Barbara, and to little lesser extent President George W. Bush and his family. President Kennedy and his family were a joy, especially with their two young children, and Nancy Reagan could be difficult, President Johnson quite disgusting, and President Reagan quite friendly and always telling stories.

"The Residence" by a less capable author could easily have turned into a piece of tabloid journalism, but in the hands of Mrs. Brower it turns into a powerful and beautiful piece of history that sheds light on many unsung heroes. Strongly recommend.

[Justin (Bubbas_Bookshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So what I’ve gathered from reading this book: The Kennedy’s loved to party and kept the staff awake long into the night but they were always grateful.
Johnson was a philandering bully with a weird obsession with his shower but Lady Bird would go behind him and apologize to the staff
Nixon is rarely mentioned but he was pretty demanding but also kind hearted during the Watergate Scandal.
Reagan and Nancy were complete assholes and even made a maid go on hiatus because Nancy was so mean to her.
George H W was the nicest guy to the staff and they all adored him and were very sad when he left office.
The Clinton’s were also demanding and kept the staff awake late at night and rarely spoke to the staff. They were also demanding and liked to change things in the White House that made it difficult for the staff.
George W would speak to them but it was brief and short.
The Obamas were very “we can do this ourselves”, private, and humble. They initially felt bad for the staff until they realized that it was their jobs to serve the first family. Michelle also told the maids that their daughters would be doing their own laundry so they knew how to do it.

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched a murder mystery called “The Residence” on Netflix recently. I chose to watch it because I enjoy reading mysteries, but I did not know what the series was about. To my surprise, the story was set in the White House. Yes, a man is murdered in the White House! Of course, its a fictional plot. However, I saw in the credits (I always sit through the credits) that the show was based on a non-fiction book by the same name, written by Kate Andersen Brower, a journalist. I was immediately intrigued! I have spent 55 years watching news shows and reading newspaper articles about the activities at the White House in Washington D.C., especially when important people arrive and the President greets them. But not once, not a single time, did I ever think about the people - the butlers, the ushers, the maids, the cooks, the doormen - who quietly arrange everything for visitors and the President to have an elegant meeting.

Every bit of information in the book, seriously, EVERY sentence, was new information to me. Many times in the book it is said by every person employed to serve and comfort the elected temporary residents and their spouses and children that part of their job was to be unobtrusive, not noticed. However, the servants are really the permanent residents. The people hired to be servants are usually taking up a job that someone in their family did before them. Once hired, many tend to stay on for decades, from age 18 to 70, despite that the job is often a 24/7 one, despite the sometimes onerous tasks of keeping the White House, which actually is a museum, respectable and tidy in appearance, despite that the First Families often made their jobs impossible with their demands or ignorance of how things were done.

I have copied the book blurb:

”Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2015)

#1  New York Times  Bestseller “A revealing look at life inside the White House. . . it’s  Downton Abbey for the White House staff.” —  The Today Show

A remarkable history with elements of both ‘In the President’s Secret Service and ‘The Butler’, ‘The Residence’ offers an intimate account of the service staff of the White House, from the Kennedys to the Obamas.

America’s First Families are unknowable in many ways. No one has insight into their true character like the people who serve their meals and make their beds every day. In her runaway bestseller, former White House correspondent Kate Andersen Brower pulls back the curtain on the world’s most famous address. Full of stories and details by turns dramatic, humorous, and heartwarming, The Residence reveals daily life in the White House as it is really lived through the voices of the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, engineers, and others who tend to the needs of the President and First Family.

These dedicated professionals maintain the six-floor mansion’s 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases, and prepare everything from hors d’oeuvres for intimate gatherings to meals served at elaborate state dinners. Over the course of the day, they gather in the lower level’s basement kitchen to share stories, trade secrets, forge lifelong friendships, and sometimes even fall in love.

Combining incredible first-person anecdotes from extensive interviews with scores of White House staff members—many speaking for the first time—with archival research, Kate Andersen Brower tells their story. She reveals the intimacy between the First Family and the people who serve them, as well as tension that has shaken the staff over the decades.

From the housekeeper and engineer who fell in love while serving President Reagan to Jackie Kennedy’s private moment of grief with a beloved staffer after her husband’s assassination to the tumultuous days surrounding President Nixon’s resignation and President Clinton’s impeachment battle, ‘The Residence’ is full of surprising and moving details that illuminate day-to-day life at the White House.”

The blurb is surprisingly accurate. I was fascinated by every chapter, by every interview, by every anecdote and fact. I think this book truly pulls back the dense curtain hiding the lives of the ‘invisible’ people who see history happening before their eyes. While they are responsible for maintaining the image of pomp and propriety as they maintain the physical appearance of the White House itself - vacuuming, painting, setting tables, changing daily the flower arrangements, making beds, cleaning rooms - they also serve the First Family, making them special Chef-created meals and drinks at all hours, picking up their clothes for dry cleaning, obeying every spoken command and unspoken need they observe. However, the members of the First Family often resent the serving staff. In the White House, the First Family is almost never out of sight of those who work to make their lives as pleasant, calm or safe as possible.

Quote: ”The White House employs approximately 96 full-time and 250 part-time residence staff: ushers, chefs, florists, maids, butlers, doormen, painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, engineers and calligraphers. In addition, about two dozen National Park Service staff take care of the White House grounds. The residence workers are federal employees who serve at the pleasure of the president.”

I was surprised to learn one secret service agent must walk in front and another one must walk behind each member of the First Family in the White House. There is the military man carrying the briefcase, nicknamed ‘the football’, with the President everywhere as well. They only have privacy in their personal rooms on the second floor, and even there servants and aides will disturb them if there is urgent business.

Deep learning about the White House and all of its inhabitants is required from the Head Usher to the newest maid, not only about what each First Family needs, but also in maintaining the museum pieces that also function as everyday utensils, dishes, glassware and furniture, the household furnishings, including priceless paintings, art, chairs, tables, lamps, clocks, etc., some of which date back to the time of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States.

The author interviewed many retired ‘servants’ who were very reluctant to speak of anything which might throw shade, but there were visiting aides and friends whose tongues were not so tied up. They observed interactions between the members of First Families, from John Kennedy’s family to Barack Obama’s, and those who served them. Some First Ladies were exceptionally difficult! Sometimes it was the First Lady’s social secretary or friend who, in taking charge and giving orders, gave the staff fits because of their contradictory commands. Sometimes even the most even-tempered First Family member took out their tension and stress on a hapless usher or maid. Those whom the staff considered the best families to serve were those who apologized to them, or who remembered the staff’s personal details such as their wives and kids. However, a couple of the First Families treated them as if they were furniture, as did some of the aides. Some Presidents came from money and had experience with employing and having servants. Others did not. Apparently, it showed. The staff could tell who had had servants before and those who had no clue what their relationship should be.

The chapters are:

-Introduction
-Controlled Chaos
-Discretion
-Devotion
-Extraordinary Demands
-Dark Days
-Sacrifice
-Race and the Residence
-Backstairs Gossip and Mischief
-Growing Up in the White House
-Heartbreak and Hope
-Epilogue

Although the Presidents and the wives tried very hard to normalize the lives of their children, it was difficult. How difficult I didn’t realized until I read this book.

Also, some of the staff became close to members of the various First Families. They shared their bad days, like when President Kennedy was assassinated, or in the fright of the airplane attacks in New York on September 11, 2001, which included a plane crashing into the Pentagon, visible from the White House, everyone knowing the White House was next. When accommodating the needs of the children of the young First Families, and in serving all of the Presidents and their wives, the staff often does not leave when their shifts are over but instead stay in the White House, working at keeping things in order and calm in atmosphere.

It’s clear the staff is aware they have the most important American staff jobs of service in the maintenance of the White House and in maintaining the pomp and dignity of its temporary residents in the country. It is obvious it is why they keep doing it despite the emotional ups and downs, the political scares and the impossible demands.

The book has a lot of photos. It also has extensive Sources and Notes, Bibliography and Index sections.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid consumer of politics and information about our 44 presidents. When I discovered this book written by Kate Andersen Brower, I knew it would be a fascinating read. Ms. Brower gathered material for this book by combing the archives and by interviewing scores of White House staff members. The anecdotes revealed through these interviews were funny and poignant and even sad; and I realized that the stories Ms. Brower obtained were no small feat as it became clear that the most cherished and mandatory characteristic of all who labor in the White House is loyalty…. loyalty to their jobs and most of all, loyalty to the traditions of that institution we treasure.. the White House.

This book is crammed with facts about the White House… the physical structure itself.. and the inner workings and glimpses of the presidents and families who have inhabited it… Presidents from John F. Kennedy to Richard Nixon; from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush; from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama. For example, did you know that the First Family can make any changes they wish to the 2nd and third floors of the White House? And did you know that the White House contains 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, 3 elevators and 8 staircases? There are plenty of facts just like these that are scattered throughout the book.

To me, the best parts of the book were the observations and memories recalled by staffers about individual presidents. Although all staffers who granted interviews stressed the importance of their loyalty, ability to guard secrets and discretion, they WERE able to share some moving moments…. a memory of a grieving Jacqueline Kennedy with her children back at the White House after President Kennedy's assassination; the anxiety and sadness surrounding President Richard Nixon on the eve of his resignation from office; and the tension, fear, and temporary chaos immediately following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. These are just a few of the memories shared , and the parts of the book I enjoyed most. The anecdotes were not shared in a gossipy way which often characterizes these types of books but rather in a respectful way… demonstrating the unique position White House staffers hold as first hand observers of history being made.

A hallmark of democracy in the United States is the public and peaceful transfer of power on Inauguration Day, from an outgoing administration to an incoming one. This book clearly demonstrates just how crucial the entire White House staff is to this process.. and these many men and women take their jobs very seriously. As former First Lady Laura Bush said….. Inauguration Day is a "choreographic masterpiece done with exceptional speed." These men and women are aware each day that their discretion is paramount to the President and his family's security. They also know that should they be indiscreet with reporters or anyone else, living in the White House would become unbearable. The anecdotes shared in this book were in no way indiscreet.. what they were were snapshots of moments in history that were fascinating to read.

If this subject interests you, I encourage you to check it out!

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very, very interesting and informative. Enjoyed the insight into how the Presidents and first families treated, and interacted with the White House staff, and how staff felt about them, and why they felt the way they did.

It is amazing what all is required from staff, and the hours they put in. They are not paid even close to what they deserve to be paid.

I was also surprised to learn that the First Family pays for all their groceries out of their own money, except for official business, and all personal care items, but also saw incredible waste, such as the asinine placing of fresh flowers in all 132 rooms even though most are not even scheduled to have visitors! Why are there 132 rooms in the first place? The American people have only ourselves to blame for allowing such wasteful spending, and allowing the families to remodel/redecorate without any say so from us, and no accountability!

This one makes it onto my Favorite shelf! Highly recommended for history lovers.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very appropriate to finish this book on the eve of a significant transition of new leadership. Shall I put the words "new leadership" in quotations? Perhaps. I cried at the beginning of this book for how much the first families and staff respected the White House, and cried at the end of this book for what might be lost these next four years. So much detail. So much respect for the House, the leadership, the office and the first families. A fascinating perspective, as told by the many employees who run the show and keep the many, many traditions alive. I recommend!

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining indeed, this was an intriguing peek at goings on in the White House over several recent administrations. As the author successfully interviewed numerous staff members, she was
able to provide a surprisingly human perspective on many towering familiar public figures. Although the workers behind the scenes are fiercely discrete (and must be by nature), bits were divulged, sometimes years later, which are very telling. Particularly fascinating to me was what was related with regard to various first couples' interactions with the staff. There was quite a mix of approaches!

Never before had I reflected on the role of African Americans in the history of the White House and the Capitol. These were largely built by slave labor, and all Southern presidents prior to the Civil War brought their own slaves with them upon assuming office. In those days each president was expected to personally pay for the help needed to run the White House.

The pride and deep loyalty of the staff, together with eccentricities, tempers, surprisingly human moments, the darkness surrounding the Kennedy assassination as well as some humorous episodes - all combine to make The Residence a highly readable, at times titillating, Upstairs Downstairs! Close to four stars.

[Mona · Rating 1 out of 5]

I shouldn't.

This book is essentialy editing free. It feels like compilation of random author's notes squzzed into the book. There is no clear plot, no chronological or thematic organization of any kind eventhough book has chapters. Lots of repetitions and page fillers. It feels like author tries to put patriotic twist on everything, even the pair of socks. 

This supposed to be compliation of interviews with retired White House supportive staff members, however if one would  gather their actual quotes, it would not that much they actually said. There's instead omnipotent author's presence throughout.  I didn't find anything particularly interesting or politically incorrect in here. Everything feels so safe....calculated and fake. 

For positives - there was very little information about history of the White House but certainly not enough to pull it off. I found this book to be very boring. 

Washington Post called it "Absolutely delicious". Well, certainly we have a different taste.  Or it was some neighbors courtesy talking.

[Martin, I stand with ISRAEL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author states 3 unstated/stated rules for the White House staff.
1. Be discreet
2. Never be seen
3. Never talk to the press about what goes on in the White House.
The author repeats these rules over and over again.

Yet, we do learn about the idiosyncrasies of various first families. Nancy Reagan drove the staff crazy with her perfectionist ways. Some had to quit because the pressure she put on the staff. She would berate the staff for placing things out of order on her dresser. Lyndon Johnson required 4 pressurized pumps in the White House just to have the kind of shower he needed. Also, President Kennedy would play when Jackie was away. Staff would occasionally walk in, by accident, on Kennedy being intimate with other women.

But wait. How do we know about these things if the staff was suppose to be discreet and not talk to the press? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[booknuts_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Jamie Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, a mildly interesting book about the staff who manage the White House. There are almost 100 full-time employees, plus lots more part-time staff: cooks, florists, butlers, maids, plumbers, secretaries, etc.

The author jumps around between presidencies, offering stories about the relationship between the First Families and the residence staff, from the Kennedys through the Obamas. The current and former employees were reluctant to share negative impressions (not wanting to imperil their jobs or their pensions) but the author dredges up a few unflattering anecdotes about Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton: Reagan’s quirks are mostly excused as an attempt to shield her husband, while Clinton’s are mostly excused because of the stress of the Lewinsky scandal. Apparently President Johnson was extraordinarily difficult, and had bizarre requirements for his bathroom shower. Everyone claims to have liked the Kennedys and the Bushes. I didn’t really detect a bias towards either political party.

According to this book, the staff bends over backwards to satisfy every little whim of the First Family. If they want to throw a party at the last minute, or rearrange the furniture at midnight, or if their bathroom plumbing doesn’t meet some ridiculous standard, then the staff is at their beck and call, 24-hours a day, dedicated to solving each “problem”. I was struck by what seems like unnecessary obsequiousness (a plumber had a nervous breakdown because he couldn’t make Johnson happy with his shower?) but perhaps it’s reasonable if you think of the Family as being virtually imprisoned, and the staff as doing everything in their power to make their captivity less onerous.

This is a nice read for some details of life at the White House (for instance, the residence transitions at noon on Inauguration Day, when the previous Family must be out, and at their own expense) but the book is scattered and entirely anecdotal, so don’t expect an accurate or balanced portrait of any particular political figure. The author makes an effort to skew toward the positive for everyone.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Book Club Selection for April at my local library. I put off reading it until the last minute mainly because I thought it would be dry. It was not.

The first thing I'd say is that it is a very readable book. Very easy to read and I love that Ms. Brower didn't offer her own opinions or try to speak for the men and women she interviewed.

Even after having been to the White House and been on the tour, I had no idea what goes into running such a huge house, and I also had no idea exactly how big it is. Way over the three stories I had thought!

We hear what working at the house means through the memories of the maids, butlers, chefs, florists, doormen, plumbers, secretaries who have worked there through multiple administrations. They are the house. The first families are really just renters for however long they are there.

I'm not sure I could work in such a place where every four to eight years, on a day's notice, you had a new family living with you and you had no idea what they were like and you couldn't really grieve the loss of the outgoing family.

If you want to know what some of our first families are really like in private you must read this book. However I found the memories of all those who have served generation after generation to be much more compelling. The pride in what they do. The professionalism they maintain day after day. It is definitely a juggling act!

The poignant moments when Mrs. Kennedy returned from Dallas with her blood stained pink suit, that was a truly tender moment that spoke volumes about the characters of the staff and of Mrs. Kennedy. It was not shocking to me that some of the First Ladies weren't as nice as they appeared.

I think you should all read this book! I actually read it out loud to my friend as I kept saying, " Oh, my, listen to this!" He finally said, just read it to me.

Great job Ms.Brower! And great job to those men and women who keep out White House running so flawlessly!

[Aj Sterkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nonfiction book that combines archival research and interviews with retired White House staff to show readers what goes on behind the scenes at the White House. How does the staff keep that mansion running smoothly? Who are those ushers and maids who scramble out of the way when journalists with cameras enter the room? It’s a fascinating look at recent American history with bits of gossip and a few scandals thrown in. If you love Downton Abbey, this is a must-read.

My only complaint is that it glorifies working yourself to death. The author never misses an opportunity to remind readers that the staff is thrilled/grateful/happy/lucky to work thousands of overtime hours while getting verbally abused by their bosses. I rolled my eyes a few times, but mostly it’s a short, captivating book. Please pick it up if you get the chance.



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[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title tells it all. Fascinating.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could've given this book more than 5 stars if it was possible, this book deserves 10 stars, or more!! My Mom read this book last year, checking it out from the library, she thought it sounded good, and she couldn't stop raving about it, she kept telling me I had to read it, so I asked for it for my birthday, and I finally got to reading it myself!

It's a wonderful behind-the-scenes tour of our Nation's Capitol and the residents that occupy it, and the way it's described, it almost makes you feel like you're really there!

Kate Andersen Brower really reaches out to the people who have occupied the White House going back many years, residents who have served with many of the Presidents, the Obamas, the Bushes, Clintons, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, and even Eisenhower!

We are told stories from many of the Resident's POV, both funny and sad. Times when I was laughing out loud and others when I teared up a bit. Some comical events such as these, when Lyndon Johnson was in office, he had an obsession with a shower he wanted installed in the White House matching the one in his private Washington Residence, the shower would hit every part of his body, the writer describing the water pressure like red hot needles all over your body. JFK swimming nude in the White House pool with his White House Secretaries while Jackie wasn't around, and he would have the windows frosted so no one from inside saw. And while Ronald Reagan was in Office one of the maids walked in to the Presidential Suite, not thinking anyone was in there, she walks in and there's Reagan in bed with his robe open, and Nancy would get so mad at him. We also get an insight of the Lewinsky Scandal while Clinton was in office, and Hilary threw a book at his head, and Bill would keep saying he fell.

They also touch on the JFK Assassination and how it hit hard all the staffers, and where everybody was on 9/11, when Laura Bush was planning a White House Luncheon while President Bush was visiting students at an Elementary School in Florida. It felt very surreal while reading, it almost made you feel like you were one of the ones there.

I could go on forever, but I'll never be able to stop. I'll just end by saying this was a wonderful insight to our Nation's Capital, and tells me that people just like the rest of us run the White House, without the Staffers the White House would be uninhabitable! I think this is a book everyone should read, it's a small easy, fun historical read!

[Kim Miller-Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely buy books when they are first released (mainly because, with my book addiction, I would be broke!), but as soon as I read about this one in the Washington Post, I knew I had to read it immediately. I am fascinated by stories about the inner workings of all aspects of the government, and this one seemed like it would provide a fresh perspective. Moreover, it promised to deliver inside stories about how the White House functions on a daily basis. As someone who grew up in the Northern Virginia suburbs, and a true lover of all things DC, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.

And it didn't disappoint. Every single moment was delicious. In fact, I savored it so much that I would stop and read passages to my kids and to my husband, especially those that related some heartwarming or interesting story about the presidential families. Other times I would stop reading so that I could teach my sons something that I was learning about White House protocol. Since I don't usually talk about what I'm reading right in the middle of it, I am thinking that I did it this time just so I could prolong the experience; I really did not want the book to end.

I am a little irritated with the publicity surrounding this book that suggests that there are tons of salacious stories (like those about Hillary throwing items at Bill during raucous arguments) because that simply isn't an accurate portrayal of Brower's work. Although the staff members' anecdotes do reveal a few eyebrow-raising tidbits, most of the stories simply provide insight into the interactions between the staff and the presidents they served. If nothing else, almost all of the presidents and their families seem more human and more likeable. (Only one of the first ladies does not come across very well, but her controlling antics have been well-documented in other histories. And, unlike most of those previous works, Brower includes positive staff anecdotes about said first lady, as well.)

I can't think of any other modern work that provides such interesting inside information about late-20th century White House's inhabitants and workers. Definitely recommended for all politicos and history buffs.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is basically a homage to the working people who staff the White House: the plumbers, butlers, electrians, housekeepers, the guy who keeps track of the dishes, and many more. They were and are almost all totally dedicated to the people they serve and anyone who is a guest in the White House. They do not become wealthy serving in the White House, many work part time and have other full time jobs. The value of the book is its focus on these people and what it takes to keep the White House running.

The book provides more than enough salacious details to make the "E" channel and television pundits happy. The book is not a difficult read. It moves fast and it keeps the reader entertained. You don't have to be particularly perceptive to be able to keep track of which Presidents and which spouses were loved by the White House working staff. The same is true when it comes to identifying which Presidents and which spouses made the working staff's jobs and lives much more difficult than they needed to be. If you want the dirt read the book. There are no big surprises, well, okay I was a bit surprised by one or two things.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the book shows how deep the friendships between some of the temporary occupants of the White House and the working staff were. The description of the relationship between Jackie Kennedy and Chief Usher J B. West may be among the most poignant in the book. This dialogue takes place as arrangements for JFK's funeral are being made:

"She (Jackie) walked the short distance to the Cabinet Room and sat at the imposing mahogany table. “My children. They’re good children, aren’t they, Mr. West?” she asked the chief usher, who had become a friend. “They certainly are.” “They’re not spoiled?” “No, indeed.” “Mr. West, will you be my friend for life?” the first lady, who had seemed to have it all just a day earlier, pleaded. He was too upset to speak. He could only nod. The Sunday after the assassination, the flag- draped coffin was carried on a horse- drawn caisson, the same one that had carried the bodies of Lincoln, FDR, and the Unknown Soldier, to the Capitol Rotunda where it laid in state for twenty- one hours...."

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not an American, but I couldn’t wait to read this book. I mean, who wouldn’t be curious about what happens inside the White House. Honestly, I never gave a second thought to the going ons of this residence, but when the opportunity presented itself to get a glimpse into the private lives of the first families who have lived there, I just couldn’t resist.

I had no expectations of this book, because I didn’t know what to expect. I was intrigued from the start and every time I put it down, I couldn’t wait to dive back in. I was amazed at the loyalty, respect, and utmost dedication with which the ushers, butlers, maids, and others, through generations, have (and still do) served the first families. As one former first daughter put it: the people serving in this residence are the world’s greatest con artists, as they make each first family feel like they love them best.

Most of these staff members dedicate their lives to working in this house to such an extent they oftentimes sacrifice their marriages and time with their children to serve the president and his family with such utter devotion. It’s just incredible. I’ve learned so many things I never would’ve imagined going on behind those walls, I am in awe.

Overall, this was a surprisingly good read. If you’re looking for dirt and spilled secrets about the first families who’ve lived in, and are currently living in the White House, you won’t find it in here. Ms Brower gives the reader a well-balanced, objective peak into the daily routine of the most respected household in the world, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at some monumental events in history and how it affected the staff working in the White House. This is most certainly a book you’d want on your to-read list.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The people who work behind the scenes at the White House are really a remarkable group who should be applauded for their efforts! The author gives readers an astounding look at goes on in that famous house. Some of the Presidents and their families were wonderful and thoughtful, others, not so much. Some things were surprising, like who the immodest presidents were. Some things weren’t surprising, like who the unfaithful husbands were. We learned who argued and fought, who partied very late, who went to bed early, who yelled at staff, who was overly demanding, and who was kind. The staff had to put up with much, sometimes without much appreciation. It was certainly something special, to say you worked at the White House, but it took a toll on the workers, and especially on their families. The staff must have thought it was worth it, because they worked hard, above and beyond the call, and stayed for years. They were very kind to the children who lived there, to try to make their life more normal in place where it was anything but normal. It may take an extraordinary person to run the country, but it takes many extraordinary people to make the White House run smoothly.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads.

A look inside the most famous residence of the U.S. from the staff. There are stories covering everything from the Kennedys to the Obamas. Anything from the major events in history to the personalities of the staff and first families.


I found a lot of the stories quite fascinating and often funny. It does bounce around quite a bit and would have perhaps been easier to understand had it been broken up by presidents or followed a timeline of some sort though. Otherwise a good read for anyone wanting a closer look into the White House.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, fun, FUN book!

I love everything relating to politics and presidents and DC and this was like listening to two people gossip, snippets here and there about different things they'd heard about different people and events in the White House. I know it wasn't put together that well, it jumped around a ton, flitted back and forth between presidents and time frames and it was hard to keep track. Still really fun though, and a five star for me just because it's what I love.