Book Review: "The White House" by Judith St. George

I recently re-read a brief popular history book on the White House. The White House: Cornerstone Of A Nation by Judith St. George illustrates the history of America’s executive mansion, a home that has been the office and residence of 45 men in America’s past (46 presidents in 'number' total since Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms). The book, a detailed but brief narrative, was captivating and got the job done. Despite no academic scholarship in this piece, though it was nice to read for fun again (graduate training while completing my history MA prevented me from appreciating the joys of reading for fun). Most of the book review below was published in my first blog in 2019.

The White House: Cornerstone Of A Nation by Judith St. George provides an excellent, meticulously-crafted survey of America's famous residence. Picture from Rare Book Sellers.

It is interesting to read how each President left a mark at the White House, whether that footprint was a positive or negative one. Some, most notably Harry Truman and Teddy Roosevelt, called for extensions on to the mansion. Others, like Calvin Coolidge, despised the place, once gloomily joking with a friend that ‘nobody [lives there]… they just come and go.” The roots of the White House story began after the American Revolution, when the Founding Fathers bickered over where the nation’s capital would be– New York City & Philadelphia seemed like obvious choices as these metropolises were the largest cities in the new nation. George Washington, our first President and a beloved general from the war, chose a small plot of land in Maryland and Virginia, on the Potomac River. Andrew Ellicott and Frenchman Pierre Charles L’Enfant (who I have researched and written about for French Quarter Magazine) were assigned to survey the swampy land and plan a capital city. James Hoban, an Irish architect, was hired to design a house for the president (Washington admired Hoban's plans and also used L’Enfant’s street drawings for D.C.'s final design). Hoban created a two-story mansion– the biggest in America at that time– with Roman-styled columns and large state windows. The final cost for the house was around $300,000. The construction of the thirty-six room residence, which began in the mid-1790s, would be stalled until the last months of 1800– due to stone and slave labor shortages– and John Adams, our second president, would be the first chief to move into the house. Adams, including his wife, truly disliked the residence, as most of the interior was unfinished (there was no running water or plumbing, the toilet was outside, and the paint was still wet– yes, Abigail Adams did hang her laundry in the East Room as the winds blew in the open window panels). The first edition of the White House, which was mocked at by the international community, would not see most of the nineteenth century since British soldiers marched into Washington D.C. in 1814 and burned the residence, along with other buildings in the capital (insert the famous Dolley Madison moment where the First Lady saved the famous portrait of Washington). The White House was rebuilt and breathed new life during the ‘Era of Good Feelings,’ where James Monroe, the fifth man to hold office, brought expensive furniture items over from France to furnish the dreary-looking residence. During the rest of the century, presidents entered and exited the doors, and the White House had little exterior additions yet a variety of interior changes.

When the British burned down the White House in August 1814 (during the War of 1812), government officials and President James Madison vowed to rebuild. This sketch shows the residence's exterior structure still intact yet its interior was charred. Picture from Library of Congress.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Teddy Roosevelt, issued plans to install a new executive wing (aka ‘the West Wing’), as he needed to move the president’s office away from the family quarters because his large family needed more bedrooms. It was during this time when the name ‘White House’ stuck with the public. Woodrow Wilson and his two wives (Ellen & Edith) ensured the residence played a key role in rationing/impacting the tide of World War I in 1918, and sheep and cattle were allowed to graze on the house’s grounds. Another extensive remodeling session happened during the presidency of Harry S. Truman in the early 1950s - the interior of the residence was gutted and replaced with stronger beams (the famous story of Truman’s daughter’s piano falling through the ceiling during the President’s cocktail party is true). Though the house had been neglected over the years, Truman set a precedent for all First Families to follow: looking after America’s treasure. Jackie Kennedy, the young wife of JFK introduced the White House to the public; she arranged a tour of the interior to be seen on TV. The White House would open up for public tours soon after, although security was beefed up during the Reagan presidency in the 1980s. Today, the White House continues to change with each President and their family. New staffs occupy the offices that once were homes to former leaders of the free world, while technology is embraced in the antiqued mansion, and First Families get to decorate the family quarters to their desire. As the author clearly points out in his introduction, although the White House is the home and office of our president, it is the symbol and home of the American people.

Jackie Kennedy, the beautiful wife of President John F. Kennedy, opened the White House doors by giving a tour of the residence on television in February 1962. The broadcast was seen by over 80 million viewers in 50 countries. Mrs. Kennedy also re-designed the Rose Garden, which is today used for ceremonies and press conferences. Photograph from Library of Congress.

This was a very interesting read! I enjoyed the unusual, unheard facts in this book. Who knew that the White House staff had to get the precise temperature for British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s evening bath during his state visits in World War II, or otherwise he would have an angry fit at FDR's employees?! Additionally, it is worth noting that the author examines the moods exhibited in a variety of presidential administrations when our leaders are assassinated, die from heart attacks or illnesses, or resign. The book reflects on the good times America has had, as well as the bad times. Judith St. George does an excellent job at painting a patriotic landscape of America’s home. I would recommend this short book 'The White House: Cornerstone Of A Nation' to scholars and history lovers who wish to read a compact survey of America's famous residence.

The White House faced its biggest renovation in its history during the presidency of Harry S. Truman (early 1950s). The interior support beams were removed and replaced with stronger ceiling boards. A underground shelter was built in case the Soviet Union attempted to attack the United States with nuclear weapons (this was during the start of the Cold War). Truman and his family lived in the Blair House across the street during the renovation/remodeling. Photograph from PBS Learning Media.

St. George, Judith. The White House: Cornerstone Of A Nation. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Spring 1990. **Author received this edition of the book as a Christmas present in 2019.

The Blair House is located across the street from the White House. This residence was the home of Harry S. Truman's family during the White House renovations in the early 1950s. Today, the residence is used by foreign dignitaries and guests of the president. It appeared that an Irish politician or ambassador was in D.C. when my wife and I were there. Photograph from author's collections.

I did not get to see President Joe Biden when I walked past the White House in March, but I did get to witness the changing of the Marine sentries at the West Wing door! Photograph from author's collections.

I visited Washington D.C. in March with my wife and thoroughly immersed myself in the amazing history and culture of the United States. My wife took this fantastic photograph. I am looking at the Capitol Building in awe (a powerful, symbolic moment for me since I was recently sworn in as an American citizen!). Photograph from author's collections.