Meeting Sallie Capps's Grandson

At the end of July, I traveled to Oklahoma City and had a pleasant lunch with Bill Webb, the grandson of Sallie Capps, the woman who I wrote about in my 2021 book. Mr. Webb, a retired engineer who graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, was very interested in my research and enthusiastically praised the biography (he had given copies of Sallie Brooke Capps: Education Trailblazer in North Texas to his sons and close friends). Since he was born one year after Sallie's death and had only heard short stories of his grandmother's distinguished career, he was delighted to find out that my book filled some holes in his own genealogy research. We had a fantastic conversation on the close relationship he had had with his dad, Count Brooke Capps (Sallie's son), who unfortunately passed away from pancreatic cancer when Mr. Webb was a child. After lunch I gave Mr. Webb a signed copy of my book. I am tremendously grateful for the support I have received from Mr. Webb and Ms. Grace Byrd, and will cherish the memories of our fond conversation for a long time!! I stayed the night in Oklahoma City at a Best Western Hotel, and visited a few antique shops and tourist destinations while I was in the Sooner State. At the end of the day, this was a brief yet productive and exhilarating excursion to Oklahoma, where I discovered a paradise and further cemented my interest in studying local women's history.

Mr. Bill Webb and I, July 2022. Mr. Webb has been a generous supporter in my research and I can not thank him enough for publicizing the book I wrote about his now-famous grandmother! Author's Collections.

Whilst in OK City, I visited the state Capitol, which was constructed in 1917. The building is topped with a statue of a Native - Oklahoma was known as the Indian Territory for several decades. Author's Collections.

A funny, cute photograph of my cat Pink. Author's Collections.

A silly photograph of my dog Jessie, July 2022. I missed my pets while I was out of town. Author's Collections.

My wife was invited to a science/mathematics conference in Boston a week after my Oklahoma trip and I was lucky to travel with her. I will be documenting my Boston trip in future blog posts. Here I am pictured outside the Boston Tea Party Museum - Sam Adams, leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty, looms over my shoulder. Author's Collections.

Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine Article

I have always been fascinated by France and Americas' special relationship (I discuss it frequently in my high school history classes), and thus have contributed to the online and print editions of French Quarter Magazine, a renown periodical that publishes articles on French/American history, culture, and food. My good friend and the magazine's talented editor Isabelle Karamooz has been very supportive in my early writing career, and I enthusiastically leap at the chance to share my research with FQM readers whenever she has an article idea for me. The fifth print edition of French Quarter Magazine (prints are published annually) was recently released in May 2022. I was fortunate to have contributed to this fantastic volume. My article (found on pages 28-30 of the print edition) closely analyzed French Queen Marie Antoinette's rustic and whimsical retreat at the Palace of Versailles, the Hameau de la Reine. I have previously written a FQM article on the troubled and often (sexually) lackluster marriage of Antoinette and King Louis XVI, so it was a wonderful experience retracing my steps and diving deeper into the lavish, yet fiscally-careless world of France's most infamous monarchs. The article is found below - happy reading!!

My article in the fifth print edition of French Quarter Magazine in May 2022. (Author's Collections)

Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine

By Joshua V. Chanin (published in FQM print edition, May 2022)

Let’s take a walk in Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine…

Upon entering the English Gardens, the first section of the Hamlet, one would find Antoinette’s favorite classical arrangement, the Love Monument. Crafted by Richard Mique, an architect whose chiseled jaw and sultry gaze caught the attention of the queen, the Love Monument comprises of twelve Corinthian columns atop a circular platform. The centerpiece features a breathtaking copy of Edme Bouchardon’s Cupid fashioning his bow from Hercules’ Club, and perches on an embellished floor that incorporates veined white, Languedoc red and Flanders marble. Antoinette usually commenced her tour of the gardens at the Love Monument when the sun kissed its columns and glistened on the surface of the lake. The structure’s romantic ambience has invited couples to share an intimate smooch on its steps since 1778.

Another structure included in the English Gardens, requested by the queen, was the Belvedere. Also designed by Mr. Mique, this folly is an enclosed octagonal pavilion that is adorned with marvelous mural paintings by Sébastien-François Le Riche, a renowned artist and admirer of the queen, as well as low-relief sculptures depicting the four seasons. Four patio doors were installed prior to its 1781 completion to allow the playful monarch to frolic among the white silk curtains when a strong breeze descended on the gardens. The open-air lounge played host to many light-hearted gatherings in the 1780s, which included Antoinette’s closest girlfriends and rumored lovers. Among platters of sandwiches and biscuits, the queen entertained her guests by gently pulling the strings of her harp, creating a beautiful sound that softly reverberated off the living room’s walls. Today, the Belvedere is a beautiful reminder of the queen’s gaiety. 

Besides the frequently-used English Gardens, Marie Antoinette also amused her royal court in an ornamental village, a collection of quaint farm buildings—including a dairy, mill (although no mechanism was installed in the structure), dovecote, and layered farmhouse. Trimmed shrubs, colorful flower arrangements and blooming orchards dot the landscape where the queen used to caper. Despite rustic exteriors and thatched roofs, the interiors are of a different world, where French aristocrats felt at ease, playfully enjoying the fruits of life in very elegant rooms. The queen’s imagination ran wild in the dummy village—after gracefully strolling through the farm, Antoinette and her friends would milk the sheep and cows (laborers were hired to mind the farm’s animals, as well as produce fresh fruits and vegetables that would later be served at the royal table. According to a nineteenth-century historian, the host took her role seriously, “where, at a table set out under a bower of honeysuckle, she would pour out their coffee with her own hands, boasting of the thickness of her cream, the freshness of her eggs, and the ruddiness and flavor of her strawberries…”

Beyond the towering walls of the queen’s creative, whimsical paradise sat thousands of French serfs, starving and angry at the palace’s thriftless spending. Antoinette’s world, once a rather frivolous, extravagant retreat, collapsed during the bloody French Revolution as several of the garden buildings were burned and the queen’s head was severed on a guillotine. Antoinette’s Hamlet reminds us that the thrills, beauty and riches of the French palace mirrored a poorer, dismal reality for the masses.  

***

Bibliography

The Private Life of Marie Antoinette by Jeanne Louise Henriette Campan (Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2009).

Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France by Evelyne Lever (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2000). 

Portrait of Marie Antoinette, 1775. Antoinette, originally from Austria, married the heir to the French throne at the young age of 14; she became Queen of France at age 18. She clearly was unconcerned about the poor, hopeless situation of millions of hungry French citizens outside the palace walls during her reign, and engaged in reckless spending. Like her husband, she was executed by guillotine in 1793 during the French Revolution. (History Channel)

History of Coppell Article

I recently had an article published in the Texas Escapes Magazine, an online journal that explores towns, historical characters, and cultures in Texas. This is the fifth article I have written for Texas Escapes, and I am immensely grateful to editor Kate for her tremendous support and patience - I have penned articles on Wesley and Burleson Jr. Colleges in Greenville, Whitley Hall at A&M-Commerce, as well as a in-depth study of Hell's Half Acre in Forth Worth. The most recent piece focused on the history of Coppell, a DFW suburb that holds a special place in my heart (and, coincidently, has a vibrant past!). Instead of writing an ordinary survey of the city, I approached this project with a twist - a history of Coppell mixed with some of my favorite memories as a Coppell teenager. My hope is that the reader will acknowledge that Coppell is a drastically-changing community as well as an oasis where memorable vignettes are created... consider this article to be my "love letter" to Coppell (Coppell gave me many unique opportunities to grow into a well-behaved gentleman, and one day, I would like my kids to grow up in Coppell). I thoroughly enjoyed researching this article (which included glancing at hundreds of black-and-white photographs and city council documents, in addition to reflecting back on my own past), and my excitement in writing about a community I love definitely resonates in my penmanship. The Texas Escapes article link is found below. I have moved houses, spent time with my wife and family, been on vacations, rested, begun writing a piece on Liz Carpenter for a upcoming conference, and recollected my fond memories from the previous school year during the summer break - I will be writing more blog posts before the start of the 2022-2023 year in the middle of August (including a 2021-2022 APUSH reflection).

What Makes Coppell, Texas Special? Recollections & History article (click on link) 

Enjoying a scrumptious breakfast at the Local Diner, a hotspot in Coppell. I regularly ate at this 1950s-style establishment during high school with the swim team, and recently introduced my wife to its tasty bites. I will continue to love Coppell, and am incredibly blessed to work in such a great school district! (Author's Collections)

The Queen's Visit to Texas, 1991

A few days ago, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 96th birthday. The Queen will celebrate 70 years on the throne this summer (her Platinum Jubilee!). This unique occasion launches the Queen into unfamiliar territory as she becomes Great Britain's longest-reigning monarch as well as one of the longest-reigning monarchs in European history (if she is still on the throne on May 27, 2024 at age 98, she will surpass the reign of Louis XIV of France -- the great "Sun King" who ruled just over 72 years). In the blog post, I am going to detail the amiable relationship between the Lone Star State and Royal Family as well as the Queen's visit to Texas in 1991 (a time when I wish I was alive!).

The Queen, photographed outside Windsor Castle in spring 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, will celebrate 70 years on the throne this summer! Royal Family Photographs.

Throughout its history, Texas has had a friendly relationship with Great Britain. Following the successful Texas Revolution in 1836, the new republic was recognized as a sovereign state by Britain (one of the first nations to do so). When Texas was admitted into the Union in 1945 as the 28th state, Britain continued to have a warm connection with the Lone Star State through its connections with government ambassadors and dignitaries. In 1986, Prince Charles, the Queen eldest son and heir to the throne, visited Texas to help celebrate the Texas sesquicentennial (150 years old!). The Prince of Wales, who had married Lady Diana Spencer five years prior in what was called "the wedding of the century", cut into a 45-ton birthday cake with a Texas-sized sword! At the the state Capitol, the prince was given a giant gavel by legislators. With a smile, he laughed and exclaimed that the huge judicial instrumental was "extremely appropriate coming from Texas." Prince Charles also toured the Alamo and San Antonio (he had briefly visited in 1977, where he had met with progressive Governor Dolph Briscoe). 

Prince Charles, the Queen's eldest son, shakes hands with a follower when he briefly visited Texas in 1977. The Prince of Wales returned to the Lone Star State in 1986. Photograph from MySA News.

Five years later in 1991, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to visit Texas. She traveled to Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, and she loved the Lone Star State!! The Queen reportedly asked her chief of protocol, "why didn't I come here sooner?" She was amused at the beautifully decorated River Walk barge she rode on in San Antonio in addition to NASA and Antioch Mission Baptist Church in downtown Houston. When the Queen arrived at Love Field Airport in Dallas, she was greeted with a very lively crowd and dynamic band playing the western folk-song "The Yellow Rose of Texas." Afterwards, officials sang "God Save the Queen", Britain's national anthem, in hopes the TX audience would not start chanting "My Country 'Tis of Thee," which happens to be the same tune. While in downtown Dallas, the Queen knighted Cecil Howard Green, a cofounder of Texas Instruments (calculators and electronics) and a philanthropist for the University of Texas at Dallas and St. Mark's School of Texas. I recently found out that Green died in early 2003 at the ripe age of 102! What a great life that was blessed by the Queen!!

The Queen was greeted by Governor Ann Richards in Austin, 1991. Richards was the second woman governor of Texas (1991-1995). Photograph from a Texas Co-op Power Article on the Queen's visit.

As he used to do, Prince Philip, the Queen's late husband, accompanied his wife on the trip to Texas and dutifully stood by her side, waving to ecstatic onlookers and cracking jokes with government officials. He sat next to Louise Caldwell, president of the Dallas Historical Society, who later remarked, "it was very hard to find anything that he didn't know more about than me, including Texas history." The Duke of Edinburgh was known to be an avid fan of historical and military biographies. When the monarch and her husband arrived in Austin, they were warmly greeted by Governor Ann Richards and a massive crowd of 8,000 well wishers. The Queen declared, "no state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born Texans...", which elicited a thunderous roar of approval. I am glad to hear that the Queen certainly approves of Texas!!

In 1991, the Queen dined with Governor Richards and Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady (1963-1969). Photograph from the LBJ Presidential Library Collections.

The Presidents - Simplified on Twitter (Part IV)

The fourth edition of the Twitter Presidents series introduces a new, consequential era in American history. The politicians who ascended to the highest office at the end of the Gilded Age and in the first half of the twentieth century were influential trailblazers as well as unavailing placeholders. America's economy gradually strengthened following the Civil War and was steamrolling at the same time when the government attempted to engage in imperialism. The United States experimented its military strength against a crippling European power in the 1898 Spanish-American War; as a result, Uncle Sam acquired a small overseas empire (which included Cuba, Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Sandwich Islands). In spring 1917, America entered the Great War in Europe, flexing its muscles and cementing its global position as a defender of liberty and the authoritative policeman of the world. At the start of the 1920s, America experienced a growth in culture and fine arts - theaters, radio, moving pictures, and dance halls shaped vibrant communities. Since the 'Roaring Twenties' saw a rise of consumerism, overproduction and credit debt soared to unbelievable heights, terminating in the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression (our darkest days). At the start of the 1940s, America was a different place than it was at the conclusion of the Gilded Age, built on prosperity and greediness. Presidential portraits are located in the National Portrait Gallery in D.C., photographs from author's collections.

William McKinley– 25th man to hold the office & last president to have served in the Civil War. In office, McKinley raised protective tariffs to promote domestic industry, kept the nation on a gold standard & won the Spanish-American War (1898). Yet, he was killed in 1901. (December 15, 2018)

W. McKinley, 1897-1901

Theodore Roosevelt– a young gun who was thrust into political office following the assassination of W. McKinley. A driving force in the Progressive Era, Roosevelt championed domestic policies for the common man, regulated food & drug principles, and created the national parks. (December 15, 2018) 

T. Roosevelt, 1901-1909

William H. Taft– America’s biggest pres. Roosevelt’s secretary of war & handpicked successor, Taft swayed away from conservative progressive policies his predecessor had put forth & reached beyond party lines. He also focused on East Asian affairs. Later he was SC chief justice. (December 16, 2018)

W. Taft, 1909-1913

Woodrow Wilson– the ‘professor’ president. A PhD in poli science, president of Princeton Uni, and gov. of New Jersey, Wilson brought a different approach to D.C. He enforced economic regulations, gave women the vote, and won WWI. However, his League of Nations vote failed. (December 16, 2018)

W. Wilson, 1913-1921

Warren G. Harding– the Republican lone horse who stole the show in 1920. A former senator, Harding ascended to the highest office during a time when peace was wanted and money was spent. Harding executed a plan to limit naval programs worldwide, however scandals clouded his tenure. (December 17, 2018)

W. Harding, 1921-1923

Calvin Coolidge- an intelligent, quiet man. Coolidge, the former governor of Massachusetts, was sworn in by his father, a justice of peace, upon the sudden death of W. Harding. He championed small government, progressive conservative policies & restored public confidence in D.C. (December 17, 2018)

C. Coolidge, 1923-1929

Herbert Hoover- an engineer who exceeded expectations in his role as secretary of commerce in the 1920s, however, failed as president. Hoover’s usual energetic self was destroyed within the first year in office w/ the 1929 Wall Street Crash. He tried to lift the economy–no luck. (December 18, 2018)

H. Hoover, 1929-1933

The Presidents - Simplified on Twitter (Part III)

In the third edition on the Twitter Presidents Series, the men who held the highest office in the latter-half of the nineteenth century had the difficult task of uniting the nation following a bloody crisis. The defeat of the Confederate states in April 1865 meant that bridging the once-frigid differences between the North and South fell on the shoulders of Lincoln's successors... and with little success. A racial hierarchy was established in the South after the Compromise of 1877, enforced by the Black Codes (renamed Jim Crow Laws) and the Ku Klux Klan. In failing to address discrimination as well as the growing political influence of industry titans, these seasoned officials are considered some of our weakest leaders and most served only one presidential term. Also, the nation came to grips with presidential violence as two of these men were assassinated (Lincoln and Garfield). During this age of economic growth, urban life, land expansion, and corporate greediness (historians suitably label this as the Gilded Age), the presidents oversaw a fairly-stable economy (integrated with few financial upsets) and a variety of domestic issues -- it would not be until the next crop of leaders in the next century when the United States began spreading its wings around the globe. All images are portraits found in the National Portrait Gallery in D.C., author's collections.

Abraham Lincoln-America’s favorite president. A humble lawyer from Illinois, Lincoln rose through the ranks, sparring against the great orator Stephen A. Douglas and winning the 1860 election with 1/3 support. Stressed & tired, Lincoln persevered through a war and won our hearts. (December 9, 2018)

A. Lincoln, 1861-1865 (face mask of Lincoln prior to his death in 1865, Ford's Theatre)

Andrew Johnson– Ridiculed by the public and lacking a formal education, Johnson surprisingly became president after Lincoln’s death. In his four years, Johnson implemented a new reconstruction plan which allowed segregation to flourish in the South. He would later be impeached. (December 10, 2018) 

A. Johnson, 1865-1869

Ulysses S. Grant– More remembered for his military career than his presidency. Grant failed in many areas of life except for when he was commanding in battle. Nicknamed ‘butcher of men’, Grant’s army won the Civil War w/ a cost. In the Oval Office, he succumbed to many scandals. (December 10, 2018) 

U.S. Grant, 1869-1877

Rutherford B. Hayes-A man who was elected by the Compromise of 1877. When Hayes defeated Samuel Tilden, the ex-Confederate states were free from the shackles of the U.S. military. Segregation ensured in the South, while Hayes insisted on keeping gold standard–a stable economy. (December 11, 2018) 

R. Hayes, 1877-1881

James A. Garfield– Initially a campaign speaker for the Republican Party at the 1880 National Convention, delegates suddenly chose Garfield as their candidate b/c of his superior oratory skill. In office, he energized presidential power. However, six months later, he was killed. (December 11, 2018) 

J. Garfield, 1881

Chester A. Arthur- In 1878, President Hayes fired Arthur as part of a plan to reform the federal patronage system. A few years later, Arthur was back at the White House & became president upon Garfield’s death. Arthur did little to help the nation’s unity, championing the Chinese Exclusion Act. (December 12, 2018) 

C. Arthur, 1881-1885

Grover Cleveland (1st term)– A lone blue Democrat in a pool of red Republicans. Cleveland, a former governor of New York, championed new businesses and opposed high tariffs, inflation, and imperialism. Amidst his progressive strides, Cleveland found love & married Frances Folsom. (December 13, 2018)

G. Cleveland, 1885-1889

Benjamin Harrison– Grandson of the 9th president & Indiana senator, Harrison brought growth to the nation, championing the arrival of six western states and creating the national forest reserves. Unfortunately, he was unable to enforce African American voting rights. (December 14, 2018)

B. Harrison, 1889-1893

Grover Cleveland (2nd term)– When Cleveland lost reelection to Harrison in 1889, his wife, Francis Folsom, told the White House staff the couple would be back in four years- it was true. Cleveland’s 2nd term was haunted by a national depression, resulting in a political change. (December 14, 2018)

G. Cleveland (again!!), 1893-1897

The Presidents - Simplified on Twitter (Part II)

Continuing with our Twitter Presidents Series, this next list of men held the highest office in the land at a time of expansion and growth, in population, land and the economy. During this period, the United States spanned from coast to coast, as many riskily traveled to California on the famous Oregon Trail in hopes to start a better life. Despite the United States acquiring glory and power through conquest and military victories, the landmass expansion sparked a presiding question: Should slavery be permitted in these new territories? Violence (and bloodshed!) erupted in Congress - members of the House Representatives and Senate bitterly argued on whether slavery ought to expand into the west or be confined to the South. Also, when popular sovereignty was a question, our nation's values of liberty, which the Founding Fathers had created, were in dire jeopardy. The seeds of political division were apparent as the once-united Democratic Party split, and the London-based Whigs and abolitionist-hugging Republican Party emerged. Our leaders (a majority of them were one-term presidents) stayed out of conflict, tried to unsuccessfully mediate peace by involving America in forgettable wars, and brushed the pressing slavery issue aside. Since they ignored the gravity of the tense situation and took little initiative to dissolve a mess that would later plunge the nation into a bloody civil war, these politicians would be ranked among the lowest presidents by scholars and historians. By the mid-1800s, when a young, bright-eyed Illinois lawyer was making waves in state politics, the idea of reunifying the nation using the spirit of compromise was a lost cause... All images are official presidential portraits found in the National Portrait Gallery in D.C., author's collections.

Andrew Jackson– ‘The People’s President,’ hero of War of 1812, and political devil. A patriot, Jackson opened the White House to the people (supplying them with cheese & wine). However, enemies were made, as he vetoed the bank, forced Natives off lands, and threatened SC w/ force. (December 3, 2018)

A. Jackson, 1829-1837

Martin Van Buren– 8th President & founder of Democratic Party. Although he learned English as a second language (he was from Dutch ancestry), Van Buren catapulted into political power as Gov. of NY & Jackson’s key adviser. His presidency was wrecked by the economy (1837 Panic). (December 4, 2018)

M. Van Buren, 1837-1841

William Henry Harrison– A military officer from the Battle of Tippecanoe turned politician. After easily defeating Van Buren in 1841, Harrison showed his strength by delivering a long inaugural address in the rain…. 31 days later, though treated w/ opium & leeches, he was dead. (December 4, 2018)

W.H. Harrison, 1841

John Tyler– the ‘Accidental President.’ April 1841- the nation faces a constitutional crisis: who would succeed the late WH Harrison as President? Should it be the VP? Although Tyler takes control, he vetoes many Whig bills & loses his party’s support. TX is added before he leaves. (December 5, 2018)

J. Tyler, 1841-1845

James K. Polk– 11th President, a protégé of A. Jackson, and a staunch expansionist. Although Polk had served as House Speaker & Gov. of Tennessee, he was the dark horse in the 1844 election. Once president, he won the Mexican-American War & negotiated the Oregon Country (1846). (December 5, 2018)

J. Polk, 1845-1849

Zachary Taylor– ‘Old Rough and Ready,’ our 12th President who preferred the battlefield than the White House. Taylor served in the U.S. Army during War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, & Mexican-American War. Slavery was questioned, yet his time in office was soon cut short. (December 6, 2018)

Z. Taylor, 1849-1850

Millard Fillmore-a New York statesman who took over the Oval Office upon the death of Taylor. Ignored by his predecessor, Fillmore liked change –he dismissed Taylor’s cabinet and altered the administration’s policies. He is best remembered for championing the Compromise of 1850. (December 7, 2018)

M. Fillmore, 1850-1853

Franklin Pierce– 14th President, a northern Democrat who saw the abolitionist movement as a threat to unity and a leader who further divided the nation. The president alienated himself from his party & northerners, signing the Kansas-Nebraska Act & enforcing Fugitive Slave Laws. (December 8, 2018)

F. Pierce, 1853-1857

James Buchanan-considered by many as America’s worst presidents. Buchanan had political knowledge as a lawyer, congressman, senator, and secretary of state. However, in office, he allowed American unity to dissolve, endorsing the Dred Scott case & failed to address slavery. (December 8, 2018)

J. Buchanan, 1857-1861

The Presidents - Simplified on Twitter (Part I)

In 2018/2019, I tweeted short stories of the 46 presidents on Twitter, using only 280 characters. This mini project was exciting yet had challenges since it was often difficult to decide what should be put in the tweets. As a historian who studies the past, I have approached each president with a neutral stance, neither positive nor negative, just factual. For each president, I have attempted to highlight at least one accomplishment and one event that happened during their time in office, as well as examine the legacy they left behind in the history books. The tweets are accompanied by the presidents' official portraits, found in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. (I had the opportunity to photograph all the portraits when I visited D.C. in March). The tweets are found on my Twitter (@joshuavchanin), and it is my hope that teachers and students use these short stories to become familiar with the personalities that have inhabited the White House. I will be splitting the vignettes into chapters, starting with a crew of inaugural office-holders who came from powerful backgrounds, created historic precedents with a hint of aristocracy, and led the country through its early days after the American Revolution.

‘The Presidents- Simplified on Twitter’

George Washington– Our nation’s savior, Founding Father, and first president. In 2 terms, he established the first cabinet, restored faith in government, and kept the young nation out of other wars. A strong & collected leader, his love for the military can never be overshadowed. (November 28, 2018)

G. Washington, 1789-1797

John Adams– first vice-president, second president, and a fine diplomat. Before the Revolution, he defended the honor of the Boston Massacre British soldiers. After the war, he negotiated a peace treaty with Britain’s George III. And when president, he kept the peace with France. (November 29, 2018)

J. Adams, 1797-1801

Thomas Jefferson– Man of many accomplishments: 3rd president, writer of the Declaration of Independence, and founder of the Uni of Virginia. He took patriotism to new heights, expanding state gov. control and landmass of the U.S. (LA Purchase). And let’s not forget his philosophy... (November 30, 2018) 

T. Jefferson, 1801-1809

James Madison– 4th president and the ‘Father of the Constitution.’ As a persuasive writer, he was author of the Articles of Confederation and The Federalist Papers. Although short in height, Madison’s ambitions were bold, as he strengthened the military (1812) & national bank. (December 1, 2018)

J. Madison, 1809-1817

James Monroe– Revolutionary veteran, expansionist, and 5th president. He ushered in Era of Good Feelings, faced little opposition, and enjoyed peace in Congress. Monroe was a successful diplomat, with success on coast to coast control (1818 Oregon). Monroe also supported free slaves. (December 2, 2018) 

J. Monroe, 1817-1825

John Quincy Adams– 6th president, Monroe’s secretary of state, MA Senator and minister to Russia & Netherlands. The most qualified man to be president, however, he is overshadowed by his successor, A Jackson. After a controversial 1824 election, Adams floundered w/ party support. (December 3, 2018)

J.Q. Adams, 1825-1829

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.