What is it like to be America’s First Family? In this wonderfully engaging book, Bonnie Angelo, Time correspondent and acclaimed author of First Mothers, probes two hundred years of American history to tell the story of real life within the White House walls—how presidents, their wives, children, and extended families worked to create a home in an imposing national monument while attempting to … while attempting to keep their private lives from the public domain.
First Families chronicles exhilarating moments as well as dark days at the nation’s most famous address, with fascinating, behind-the-headline accounts of picture-book weddings, gossipy love affairs, rollicking children, domestic squabbles, and tragic deaths. From activist wives Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton to reluctant occupants Bess Truman and Jacqueline Kennedy, to those such as Mary Todd Lincoln, Dolley Madison, and madcap debutante Alice Roosevelt, who embraced their new address and status, here is an unforgettable human portrait of our First Families and how they coped, stumbled, or thrived in the national spotlight.
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A new approach to White House history. It is presented topically instead of chronologically. For example, the White House children from the 19th century through the Bush twins were covered in the same section. (This was published pre-Obama.) I really liked this format.
An engaging and informative read about the residents of the White House reaching back to Martha and George. The book presents a more personal look at the Presidents, First Ladies and families which exposes the good, bad and in some cases the ugly. Part of the information is what history tells us, but most is new. The historical facts …
I didn’t enjoy this book at all.
I. Enjoyed this book very. Much
This book was very interesting and well-written. This is an easy read. I’d recommend it for anyone interested in American history.
Author jumped around n no apparent order. Very disappointed
Very good
Very entertaining information regarding first families with its historical facts throughout. Was very interesting to learn how each family had many obstacles
Chapters were repetitive
Loved it
Author’s style made this a difficult, hard to follow book. First Families or Upstairs at the White House are easier to read and more entertaining.
Enjoyed the book; I even read sections to my wife as we were doing our night reading before going to sleep. The little known facts were interesting and fun to learn about.
I enjoyed this book. It’s not a page-turner and definitely not a tell-all book, which is actually quite refreshing in these days of “journalists” telling much more than you ever wanted to know about public figures! Rather, it is a very interesting book about our presidents and their families during their tenures in the White House.
Interesting facts about the first families. I gave it three stars because I didn’t like how the book was organized.
I liked it, very entertaining and informative. for those who have an interest in the families of the white house over the years.
I enjoyed the author’s earlier book, First Mother’s; this is built much like it, but the stories are generally shorter, yet just as interesting. I was surprised how many First Ladies disliked…often vehemently…. living in the White House. This book gave a less focused yet well-detailed look into what First Families have to face when they call …
A great look at the real people who lived in the White House – the Presidents, the First Ladies and the children. How these folks impacted the “people’s house” and how living there impacted them. Some were happy to leave, some were sad. An entertaining way to learn about the First Families.
There wasn’t anything that had not all ready been written and there were some inaccuracies also.
Wonderful book to read. Very interesting, learned things I never knew.
A great view of the lives “inside the White House” that we never get to see. I really enjoyed this book.