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About the Book
-A hardcover edition of this book was published in 2015 by HarperCollins Publishers---Title page verso.Book Synopsis
A remarkable history with elements of both In the President's Secret Service and The Butler, The Residence offers an intimate account of the service staff of the White House, from the Kennedys to the Obamas.
America's First Families are unknowable in many ways. No one has insight into their true character like the people who serve their meals and make their beds every day. Full of stories and details by turns dramatic, humorous, and heartwarming, The Residence reveals daily life in the White House as it is really lived through the voices of the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, engineers, and others who tend to the needs of the President and First Family.
These dedicated professionals maintain the six-floor mansion's 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases, and prepare everything from hors d'oeuvres for intimate gatherings to meals served at elaborate state dinners. Over the course of the day, they gather in the lower level's basement kitchen to share stories, trade secrets, forge lifelong friendships, and sometimes even fall in love.
Combining incredible first-person anecdotes from extensive interviews with scores of White House staff members--many speaking for the first time--with archival research, Kate Andersen Brower tells their story. She reveals the intimacy between the First Family and the people who serve them, as well as tension that has shaken the staff over the decades. From the housekeeper and engineer who fell in love while serving President Reagan to Jackie Kennedy's private moment of grief with a beloved staffer after her husband's assassination to the tumultuous days surrounding President Nixon's resignation and President Clinton's impeachment battle, The Residence is full of surprising and moving details that illuminate day-to-day life at the White House.
From the Back Cover
"Absolutely delicious."--Washington Post
From the mystique of the glamorous Kennedys to the tumult that surrounded Bill and Hillary Clinton during the president's impeachment to the historic tenure of Barack and Michelle Obama, each new administration brings a unique set of personalities to the White House--and a new set of challenges to the fiercely loyal and hardworking people who serve them: the White House residence staff.
In her runaway bestseller The Residence, former White House correspondent Kate Andersen Brower pulls back the curtain on the world's most famous address. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with butlers, maids, chefs, florists, doormen, and other staffers--as well as conversations with three former first ladies and the children of four presidents--Brower offers a group portrait of the dedicated professionals who orchestrate lavish state dinners; stand ready during meetings with foreign dignitaries; care for the president and first
lady's young children; and cater to every need the first couple may have, however sublime or, on occasion, ridiculous.
"Superbly reported. . . . A fascinating backstage account of the world's most famous residence."--Judy Woodruff, anchor, PBS NewsHour and former White House Correspondent for NBC News
Review Quotes
"The Residence is a true insider's tour of the White House. Never before has the president's home appeared so loud and so human."--Chris Matthews, host, Hardball on MSNBC "A juicy new book. . . . A touching story."--The Daily Beast "A revealing look at life inside the White House...it's Downton Abbey for the White House staff."--The Today Show "A work of great historical interest that is also quite entertaining."--Kirkus Reviews "Beautifully written, The Residence offers a unique and compelling view of what really happens inside the very private White House. An absolute must-read!"--Norah O'Donnell, co-host, CBS This Morning and former Chief White House Correspondent for CBS "If you've been geeking out over the details of the Underwoods' residence on House of Cards, or you loved that centerpiece story line on Sunday's Veep premiere, prepare to encounter the motherlode: Kate Brower's The Residence."--Glamour "Kate Andersen Brower's The Residence is one of those rare books that is both elegant portraiture and highly readable, important White House history. The anecdotes are fresh and the analysis cogent. The stories about Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama are irresistible. Highly recommended!"--Douglas Brinkley, editor of The Reagan Diaries "Superbly reported. . . . A fascinating backstage account of the world's most famous residence."--Judy Woodruff, anchor, PBS NewsHour and former White House Correspondent for NBC News "The tell-all The Residence, featuring intimate anecdotes collected from past and current White House staff members, is absolutely delicious."--The Washington Post "This intimate portrait of what it's like to take care of the first family is a compelling read. Whether you're a political or history junkie or devoted Downton Abbey viewer, this book adds unique context to understanding our presidents as human beings."--Chuck Todd, moderator, Meet the Press