Under This Roof: The White House and the Presidency--21 Presidents, 21 Rooms, 21 Inside Stories

by Paul Brandus Narrated by Tom Zingarelli

Overview

In Under This Roof, award-winning White House journalist Paul Brandus weaves together stories of the presidents, their families, the events of their time, and an oft-ignored major character, the White House itself.



From George Washington to the current occupant, Barack Obama-the story of the White House is the story of America itself, Brandus writes. You'll:

• 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 1814-and Dolley Madison frantically saves a painting of Washington



• 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 Lady-covering up her husband's illness from the nation-secretly makes decisions on his behalf



• Learn how telephones, movies, radio, and TV changed the presidency-and the nation itself

Through triumph and tragedy, boom and bust, secrets and scandals, Brandus brings history to life in this riveting, highly entertaining inside look at the presidency and White House.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

09/14/2015
Beltway journalist Brandus dishes the dirt on the intimate history of the White House and its mythic residents, past and present, in this accessible overview of the major historic events faced by those installed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He starts with the rift between rivals John Adams and Thomas Jefferson concerning First Amendment rights, and moves on to the torching of the chief residence of James Madison by British soldiers during the War of 1812. But Brandus seems more in his element as he shares trivia and other tidbits about Honest Abe never sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom, stroke-afflicted Woodrow Wilson being bedridden on the second floor, Warren G. Harding's flings and cover-ups, F.D.R.'s Fireside Chats, J.F.K.'s Camelot and the blood-red carpet laid in the Oval Office a day before his tragic Dallas trip, Richard Nixon's disdain for the press in their new Briefing Room, Ronald Reagan with his family theater, and Barack Obama watching the Osama bin Laden raid in the Situation Room. Brandus crams this book full of facts and political chatter to make it fun for history buffs and the simply curious. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

[A] fast-moving and well-written history of the presidency…. Brandus is a top-notch tour guide, filling his pages with vivid portraits of presidents and their families at work and play.” —Del Quentin Wilber, New York Times bestselling author of Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan

“[A]n engaging, endearing profile of the world’s most famous residence and the families who called the White House home…. I thought I knew just about everything interesting about the presidency—until I read his book!” —Ron Fournier, senior columnist for the National Journal

“[I]nventive, smart and engaging.” —Susan Page, Washington Bureau chief of USA Today

“[A] towering history. .. a riveting narrative.” —David A. Andelman, Editor & Publisher, World Policy Journal; Columnist, USA Today; and author of Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today

“Quite simply, it’s a fascinating read.” —Steve Scully, C-SPAN Networks

“This fascinating book is stuffed with secrets and little-known tales of presidential intrigue.” —Larry J. Sabato, New York Times bestselling author of The Kennedy Half-Century: The Presidency, Assassination, and Lasting Legacy of John F. Kennedy

“Under This Roof is like taking a tour of the White House with a gifted storyteller at your side illuminating the most dramatic moments of American history…. Paul Brandus paints a vivid picture.” —Christina Bellantoni, Editor-in-Chief, Roll Call.

“Paul Brandus brings wit and insight to vivid depictions of the forty-two men, their families, and staff members who have lived and worked at the ‘President’s House’ since 1800. Liberally sprinkled with anecdotes, Under This Roof is a great choice for anyone interested in American History and life in the White House.” —Libby O’Connell, Chief Historian, HISTORY® and author of The American Plate 

“Under this Roof sweeps us into 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.” —Mark Santangelo, Chief Librarian and Archivist, The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington

“[A] terrifically fun, smart, and thoughtful exploration of the people who lived in the White House…. [A] must-read for anyone with curiosity about what happens within the White House’s historic walls.” —Ben Frumin, Editor-in-Chief, TheWeek.com

“[A] meticulously researched, highly entertaining ‘if these walls could talk’ biography of the White House and its inhabitants from a writer who makes the reader feel he is there. On this brisk walk through American history, author Paul Brandus shows us the small moments that tell the American story.” —Melinda Henneberger, Washington Post and Senior Writer for Bloomberg Politics

Feather Schwartz Foster Presidential Historian

" Under This Roof is a quick-moving read. It is almost like having a guided tour of the White House itself! It brings history alive, and that is no small accomplishment! It is a perfect gift for the Holiday season. And you might enjoy it yourself!"

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"[A] fast-moving and well-written history of the presidency." —Del Quentin Wilber, author of Rawhide Down

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170983643
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged

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