The White House

The History and Legacy of America's Executive Mansion

By: Charles River Editors

Narrated by: Jack Chekijian

Length: 1 hr and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

"Sometimes I wake at night in the White House and rub my eyes and wonder if it is not all a dream." - Grover Cleveland

For over two centuries, the capital of America has been located in Washington, D.C. And among all the iconic landmarks and monuments associated with the city, nothing provides symbolism quite like the White House, the primary residence and office of the president. The instantly recognizable exterior, and its location, have ensured that the White House is associated as the main seat of power in the world's most powerful country.

At the same time, the majesty of the White House and its tranquil setting belie its rather chaotic history, which includes being burned down by the British during the War of 1812, suffering damage during wild inaugural balls, and undergoing countless renovations. As Brian Kelly, author of Best Little Stories from the White House: More Than 100 True Stories, put it, "You could almost argue, in fact, that it wasn't finished, truly, until yesterday. And...who knows what they may do to it tomorrow, as it has undergone so many changes, additions, improvements, and even subtractions in its 200-year history. The fact is, the White House we see today is not the White House of yore."

Just as the interior has changed, the use of the White House has also changed considerably over time. The White House was always intended to serve as the president's home and a place to receive dignitaries. But in the early 19th century the White House was open to the public, to the extent that people could simply call on the president.

©2012 Charles River Editors (P)2015 Charles River Editors

An interesting read

I'd like to think that I retained a lot of what i learned in school, but i don't remember learning about half of the things that happened to the white house. I love mixing in one of these non-fiction books when i finish my novels. A really interesting listen that taught me more about the white house then i could ever want to know. The attention to detail is second to none!

Informative and Interesting

Really enjoyed this short and delightful book about our WHITE HOUSE. Some facts were new to me, many I enjoyed hearing again, and all very interesting. I laughed out loud at laundry in the East Room and was reminded how much I love and admire Dolly Madison.
Highly recommended.

Not worth an audiobook credit

Some interesting history here, but very little narrative connecting a bunch of historical accounts. Not a good listen, maybe a good coffee table book, or something classy in a waiting room. The narrator is boring, but it's probably more the material than the performance.

A fount of information

Lots of information, but sometimes hard to follow as not always presented in a logically sequential manner. But it could have been. No smooth flow here.
JC did his usual fine job of interpretation. His is a pleasant voice tone with good cadencing. Be sure to find and enjoy his other works done for Charles River Editors.

The White House

Any additional comments?

This was a well researched and well written history of the most famous house in the United States.It starts,well,at the beginning.We learn the thoughts behind whether there should be a house for the President as well as why it took so many years to complete.I really enjoyed the narration by Jack Chekijian.He was masterful in his telling of the story.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com."

Interesting and informative....

I received this audio book as a gift for me to read / listen to and leave a review about. This book is about the history of the White House and who all lived in it. So many questions get answered when you listen to this story. Did you know John Adams was the first president to live in the White House? It took over eight years to even build the White House. Read along and discover the who's who list of visitors, who decorated it, who added on to it and so on...

This book was way more interesting than I thought it would be. The author, Charles River Editors did fine job in writing this. It sure makes for great conversation when the subject comes up. The narrator did a super job delivering this story to us. His voice is smooth and easy on the ears. He sounds a lot like the narrator on Discovery Channel or History Channel. The voice has a certain somethin' somethin' that just makes you pay attention!

The People's House Built by Our Founding Fathers

and Mothers.

I especially enjoyed listening to all the history that went into the building of The White House. From Washington choosing the perfect location and the cornerstone being laid in 1792 to the occupation during the War of 1812, this audiobook is a veritable timeline of events that occurred bringing the 'People's House' into the 21st century.

I found the mention of L'Enfant's planning of this first meridian interesting. And hearing about the expansive gardens was neat including the garden with rare botanical specimens for medicinal use in the infirm.

I love the role that Dolly Madison took in furnishing the house and creating a drawing room for entertaining as well as hosting fundraisers and charitable organizations. When the house was set on fire, she received credit for saving the famous painting of George Washington. Jackie Kennedy was another First Lady who had a lot to do with the preservation of the White House.

This was a terrific listen as a reminder or a refresher course of our history of the White House. It wasn't all that long ago that this took place.

Jack Chekijian always does a fantastic job narrating. I've especially liked this series of audiobooks. They're truly gems to listen to and make me want to learn more about pieces of our possibly forgotten history.

Audiobook received in exchange for an honest review.