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Under This Roof
Under This Roof: The White House and the Presidency--21 Presidents, 21 Rooms, 21 Inside Stories | Paul Brandus
4 posts | 3 read | 5 to read
Like taking a tour of the White House with a gifted storyteller at your side! Why, in the minutes before John F. Kennedy was murdered, was a blood-red carpet installed in the Oval Office? If Abraham Lincoln never slept in the Lincoln Bedroom, where did he sleep? Why was one president nearly killed in the White House on inauguration dayand another secretly sworn in? What really happened in the Situation Room on September 11, 2001? History leaps off the page in this riveting, fast-moving and highly entertaining book on the presidency and White House in Under This Roof, from award-winning White House-based journalist Paul Brandus. Reporting from the West Wing briefing room since 2008, Brandusthe most followed White House journalist on Twitter (@WestWingReport)weaves together stories of the presidents, their families, the events of their timeand an oft-ignored major character, the White House itself. Walk with John Adams through the still-unfinished mansion, and watch Thomas Jefferson plot to buy the Louisiana Territory Feel the fear and panic as British invaders approach the mansion in 1814and Dolley Madison frantically saves a painting of Washington Gaze out the window with Abraham Lincoln as Confederate flags flutter in the breeze on the other side of the Potomac Be in the room as one president is secretly sworn in, and another gambles away the White House china in a card game Stand by the presidential bed as one First Ladycovering up her husbands illness from the nationsecretly makes decisions on his behalf Learn how telephones, movies, radio, TV changed the presidencyand the nation itself Through triumph and tragedy, boom and bust, secrets and scandals, Brandus takes you to the presidential bedroom, movie theater, Situation Room, Oval Office and more. Under This Roof is a sensuous account of the history of both the home of the President, and the men and women who designed, inhabited, and decorated it. Paul Brandus captivates with surprising, gloriously raw observations.
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Lkbbooks
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Pickpick

Quick, enjoyable, read about the history of The White House, told using the stories of some presidents and how they used and changed the building. Covers from the construction of the building under George Washington (although not completed until after he left office) through Obama. A number of black and white photos help tell the story. “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof” John Adams. I‘d give it 4 stars.

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Librarybelle
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Just received this from @jbhops and can‘t wait to read it! A view into the White House and 21 presidents who called it home. #DearMrPresident #fiercefeb

Kaye Very good book with lots of interesting stories. Enjoy 😊 7y
Librarybelle Good to hear! Thanks, @Kaye ! 7y
Cinfhen Looks good! 7y
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batsy Sounds interesting! 7y
jbhops I hope you enjoy it! 7y
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NonFictionFan
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Excellent book, especially if you like presidential history. The book details several presidents and White House rooms that had historical significance (ex. Kennedy creating the Situation Room after the Bay of Pigs). Interesting antidotes regarding the First Families and WH remodeling projects.

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