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, checkiI 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! ...more
A fascinating insight of the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, and also his life before as a Hollywood Actor!
I'll admit it's not at all what I was expectiA fascinating insight of the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, and also his life before as a Hollywood Actor!
I'll admit it's not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting the majority of the book to focus on Reagan during his time in Hollywood, the assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr., and the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union. During the first quarter of the book they touch a little bit on the JFK Assassination, on the Watergate Scandal, and Reagan's Political relationship with Nixon, and Reagan being considered being Vice President to Gerald Ford. Then the Presidential Debate between Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which all takes place during the Iranian Hostage Crisis.
I had no idea how disturbed John Hinckley Jr. was, I mean I know he had an obsession with Jodie Foster, but I never knew that during his incarceration he exchanged letters with Serial Killer Ted Bundy, and sought the address of Charles Manson, who had inspired Lynette Fromme, one of his followers, to assassinate Gerald Ford, during his Presidency.
Once again another wonderful, and fascinating insight by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard! Just as enjoyable as
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