Books about the residence of presidents

Learn more about the White House, also known as the Executive Mansion, in these three books. Although John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, it was George Washington who selected the site and was instrumental in planning and building the home of all his successors.

The White House: An Historic Guide , by the White House Historical Association, 250 pages, White House Historical Association softcover, 2022 a museum, a place of beauty and serenity that encompasses a hub of intrigue that is politics. The White House is a treasure trove for art lovers and political junkies, history buffs and sightseers alike. tion has published the 26th edition of this popular guidebook. A dozen First Ladies have overseen its publication, beginning with Kennedy.

The Bibliophile

By Dinah Rokach

Take a tour of the White House from the comfort of home. It’s an office and a residence, a nerve-center and

Beacon Bits

Ongoing

Many of us recall the efforts of First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy to restore the furnishings and décor of the Executive Mansion. When she had toured the White House as a teenager, Bouvier had been disappointed that there was no guidebook to purchase as a souvenir. As First Lady, she rectified that omission.

The White House Historical Associa-

SENIOR WRITERS’ GROUP (VIRTUAL)

Join people who like to write as they read aloud their essays, poems, novel excerpts, commentaries and other written works. In this friendly, informal group, lively discussion always ensues. Come to share or to listen — all are welcome to this free meeting that takes place monthly on the first and third Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Email karen.maxin@montgomerycountymd.gov for the Zoom link.

Turning the pages will open a window into the realms of American history, architecture, art, design, gardening and, of course, the presidency.

See the state rooms and the private, offlimits spaces. Most of the more than 200 photographs are in color. There are 40 hand-drawn illustrations. The guide may be purchased online at bit.ly/whguide2023.

The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency, by Pete Souza, 256 pages, Voracious hardcover, 2022

Pete Souza served as a White House photographer during the Reagan administration and was chief photographer during both Obama terms.

He is intimately familiar with the mansion, its grounds, its historic rooms as well as the cramped offices and obscure hideaways, one of which served as his workspace.

The West Wing and Beyond transforms the house into a home. Souza takes readers behind the scenes.

Learn esoteric acronyms other than POTUS and FLOTUS. Get inside the bubble with the press pool and the secret serv- ice detail as you ride along in the Beast, the armored presidential limo. See the iconic views of the National Mall from Marine One, and fly on Air Force One with the staff. Join the advance team planning foreign trips.

More than 200 color photographs feature unique visual perspectives from a consummate photographer. Souza, who is in his late 60s, was married in 2013 at a White House ceremony.

James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House , by Stewart D. McLaurin, 200 pages, White House Historical Association hardcover, 2021

When considering the design of the President’s House yet to be built in the Federal City of Washington, President George Washington inquired about a young Irish builder he had heard of during a visit to Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1792, James Hoban’s architectural rendering was selected in a competition for the design of the President’s House. Washington also put him in charge of its construction. Hoban also supervised rebuilding the President’s House after it was set aflame by the British during the War of 1812.

See BIBLIOPHILE, page 37