The White House: An Illustrated Tour

by Bill Harris

Book Overview

The Rose Garden. The Blue Room. The State Dining Room. The China Room. These terms are as familiar to Americans as their own homes. In fact, the White House is America's own house, home to the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762414111
• ISBN13: 9780762414116
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Courage Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 3.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.2" x 10.6"

Customer Reviews

Tour-age and the White House

Like Alice walking into Wonderland, many residents visit the public areas of the White House through its many tours. A few documentaries have been made over the years, but few which track the "life" of the White House itself. Since it plays its own panoramic role in the life of every President who lives there, it deserves its own category in American History as more than simply the home of Presidents. More within the realm of "if these walls could talk" scenes, there is the architectural significance of the changes made there, but there is also the social history of the "home" that becomes a part of each Presidential term. Every President should be publishing his own "view" of the White House, his impressions, his concerns, the significance of living there, changes that might be made, etc., all in an effort to identify the "true" nature of the White House because they are in the best position to evalutate its strengths, weaknesses, and significance, which likely changes relative to the personality of each President who inhabits it, or tries to accommodate his family there. This is something that should be separate from any autobiography he or a First Lady might write because it is its own unique topic, and deserves the attention that any ultra-historical building might require as a result of its potential influence upon those persons. Each President who lives and works there is likely to enter, some with anticipation, but most without a sense of the spectacular wonderland atmosphere that accompanies that journey through time, identified by their own performance, and is possible to be viewed best, from their personal experience of living there. From such personal perspective of America's house, it is possible for ordinary Americans to appreciate what that might be like, what value the home is to the nation, and possibly, how its support (and condition) is essential to American history. It also makes great flavor-fare in respect of historical preservation, while giving a running history of the place from such unique perspectives. It is the most common denominator of each President and from these views, a pattern over time may develop to identify unique perspectives of historical significance, and perhaps something about the Presidential experience as well as the personal attributes and contemplative possibilities of each President. There have been observations previously by several Presidents about the White House, and accumulated and taken together, they offer great insight into the unique experience of being a President, always a valuable exercise from the perspective of the public who must choose one each four years to live there. Because the experience of a President is as much about each person as it is about what each President does during his term, this is a very family-friendly method of reaching those interesting perspectives through which America may relate to its Presidents and their families, and the experience they go through in being

looking in from the outside

Living in the UK and never visiting the USA I find the White House very interesting indeed, and this book is very helpful to me as its right up to date, explains the various changes to the building, from Thomas Jeffersons north & south porticos to George W Bush's new Oval office carpet. its vert well illustrated ,very well written and very educational ( to a White House novice like me at least) the only hiccup i think is that its not long enough, i read it in no time and it left me hungry for more information on this wonderful building, but for [this price]who can argue?

Great book at a very good price

I don't often find a coffee-table worthy book [at this price]. This book has more content (including great historical coverage) than I expected, and I am happily suprised. Great product!