Life in the White House : A Social History of the First Family and the President's House

Interdisciplinary essays on the White House and the lives of first families.This unique perspective on the White House, one of the most readily identifiable structures in the world, brings together the views of librarians, journalists, political advisers, attorneys, researchers, and professors. Filled with anecdotes, little-known facts, and scholarly analysis, the book shows how “The People's House” has been shaped and molded both architecturally and philosophically by the different administrations over the past 200 years.Erudite and entertaining, Life in the White House looks at the social history of the first family, the creation of the president's home, and efforts by first families to carve out a space for the important business of family, while preserving the history of their famous residence. This public museum and private residence, which began as the result of a $500 Jefferson-era architectural design contest, now symbolizes one of the world's great superpowers.Robert P. Watson is Associate Professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University. He has published several books, including the coedited volume (with Colton C. Campbell) Campaigns and Elections: Issues, Concepts, Cases. Life in the White House......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Part I: Introduction: The “First Home”......Page 16 Overview: Welcome to the White House......Page 18 1. At Home with the First Families ROBERT P. WATSON......Page 24 2. Political Architecture: The Building of the President’s House RUSSELL L. MAHAN......Page 46 3. Rooms of Their Own: First Ladies and Their Impact on Historic White House Rooms ELIZABETH LORELEI THACKER-ESTRADA......Page 64 Part II: Private Lives in a Public Home: Media Coverage of First Families......Page 90 Overview: On Stage in a Public Home......Page 92 4. The Media in Their Midst CAROL LYNN BOWER......Page 96 5. The Carter White House: The Public and Semiprivate Lives of the First Family VIRGINIA A. CHANLEY......Page 114 6. A Tale of Two Brothers: Billy Carter, Roger Clinton, and the Media CHRISTOPHER S. KELLEY......Page 130 7. First Sons versus First Daughters: A Gender Bias in News Media Coverage? LORI COX HAN......Page 158 Part III: Profiles of First Families in the White House......Page 180 Overview: Calling the White House “Home”......Page 182 8. “A Hell on Earth”: The Pierce Marriage During the White House Years, 1853–1857 MICHAEL J. C. TAYLOR......Page 188 9. TR’s White House: The Biggest First Family TOM LANSFORD......Page 208 10. The Scandalous Hardings JAMES S. MCCALLOPS......Page 224 Part IV: Preserving the President’s House......Page 238 Overview: A Mansion with a History......Page 240 11. Renovating the White House: A Brief History ROBERT E. DEWHIRST......Page 244 12. Preserving the President’s House: The Office of the White House Curator MICHAEL E. LONG......Page 260 13. Edith Roosevelt and the 1902 White House Renovation TOM LANSFORD......Page 276 14. The Truman Renovations of the White House: The House that Harry (Re)Built RAYMOND FREY......Page 290 Appendix 1: White House Floor Plan......Page 306 Appendix 2: First Families, 1789–2003......Page 308 Bibliography......Page 314 Contributors......Page 330 B......Page 334 C......Page 335 E......Page 336 G......Page 337 H......Page 338 J......Page 339 M......Page 340 N......Page 341 P......Page 342 R......Page 343 T......Page 344 W......Page 345 This Perspective On The White House, One Of The Most Readily Identifiable Structures In World, Brings Together The Views Of Librarians, Journalists, Political Advisers, Attorneys, Researchers, And Professors. Filled With Anecdotes, Little-known Facts, And Scholarly Analysis, The Book Shows How The People's House Has Been Shaped And Molded Both Architecturally And Philosophically By The Different Administrations Over The Past 200 Years. Life In The White House Looks At The Social History Of The First Family, The Creation Of The President's Home, And Efforts By First Families To Carve Out A Space For The Important Business Of Family, While Preserving The History Of Their Famous Residence. This Public Museum And Private Residence, Which Began As The Result Of A $500 Jefferson-era Architectural Design Contest, Now Symbolizes One Of The World's Great Superpowers.--jacket. At Home With The First Families / Robert P. Watson -- Political Architecture : The Building Of The President's House / Russell L. Mahan -- Rooms Of Their Own : First Ladies And Their Impact On Historic White House Rooms / Elizabeth Lorelei Thacker-estrada -- The Media In Their Midst / Carol Lynn Bower -- The Carter White House : The Public And Semiprivate Lives Of The First Family / Virginia A. Chanley -- A Tale Of Two Brothers : Billy Carter, Roger Clinton, And The Media / Christopher S. Kelley -- First Sons Versus First Daughters : A Gender Bias In News Media Coverage? / Lori Cox Han -- A Hell On Earth : The Pierce Marriage During The White House Years, 1853-1857 / Michael J.c. Taylor -- Tr's White House : The Biggest First Family / Tom Lansford -- The Scandalous Hardings / James S. Mccallops -- Renovating The White House : A Brief History / Robert E. Dewhirst -- Preserving The President's House : The Office Of The White House Curator / Michael E. Long -- Edith Roosevelt And The 1902 White House Renovation / Tom Lansford -- The Truman Renovations Of The White House : The House That Harry (re)built / Raymond Frey. [compiled By] Robert P. Watson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 299-314) And Index. This unique perspective on the White House, one of the most readily identifiable structures in the world, brings together the views of librarians, journalists, political advisers, attorneys, researchers, and professors. Filled with anecdotes, little-known facts, and scholarly analysis, the book shows how "The People's House" has been shaped and molded both architecturally and philosophically by the different administrations over the past 200 years. Erudite and entertaining, Life in the White House looks at the social history of the first family, the creation of the president's home, and efforts by first families to carve out a space for the important business of family, while preserving the history of their famous residence. This public museum and private residence, which began as the result of a $500 Jefferson-era architectural design contest, now symbolizes one of the world's great superpowers. "This perspective on the White House, one of the most readily identifiable structures in world, brings together the views of librarians, journalists, political advisers, attorneys, researchers, and professors. Filled with anecdotes, little-known facts, and scholarly analysis, the book shows how "The People's House" has been shaped and molded both architecturally and philosophically by the different administrations over the past 200 years." "Life in the White House looks at the social history of the first family, the creation of the president's home, and efforts by first families to carve out a space for the important business of family, while preserving the history of their famous residence. This public museum and private residence, which began as the result of a $500 Jefferson-era architectural design contest, now symbolizes one of the world's great superpowers."--BOOK JACKET. Robert P. Watson is Associate Professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University. He has published several books, including the coedited volume (with Colton C. Campbell) Campaigns and Issues, Concepts, Cases .