About the Author

Father/daughter author team John and Claire Whitcomb have previously collaborated on Oh Say Can You See: UnexpectedAnecdotes about American History (1987) and GreatAmerican Anecdotes (1994). John Whitcomb has taught American history for 32 years. Claire Whitcomb has written extensively about houses and history while on the staffs of magazines such as House & Garden, HouseBeautiful and Victoria.

Reviews

"Fascinating.It's a rich source of information about 40 of our presidents with dozens of photographs that give new meaning to in-house." -- Tampa Tribune
"A genuine page-turner.Both wise and witty, Real Life at the White House is perhaps the most delightful 'house' tour you'll ever take." -- Victoria Magazine
"Anecdotes are very much the point of Real Life at the White House, which relates each successive family's experience there." -- New York Daily News
"...a lively account of private lives being lived in a public place.The Whitcombs have brought history and architecture together in a very human story of an enduring monument to American democracy." -- CNN.com
".. .a lively history of the families who made their homes here and the ways in which each put a personal stamp - for good or for bad - on the building." -- San AntonioExpress News
"Real Life at the White House is more than just a probe of presidential families; it provides in-depth White House history and examines the role of the First Lady as it changed over the decades. An intriguing presentation." -- The Bookwatch
"Well-written ... should be read not only to discern the personal impact of each administration on a famous residence but also to observe the evolving nature of the presidency itself and its relation to the citizenry. Recommended for public and academic libraries." -- Library Journal
"Real Life at the White House is a wonderful history of both the personal and official sides of America's presidential families. Claire Whitcomb and John Whitcomb provide an updated, 'user friendly' introduction to the occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue--their highs as well as their lows. This is a fascinating, concise history of the day-to-day living within America's premier residence." -- James A. Abbott, Curator of Decorative Arts, The Baltimore Museum of Art
"A wall-to-wall chronicle of the First House for the bicentennial of the First Occupant." -- William Seale, author, The President's House: A History
"A completely new and fascinating White House history filled with personalized stories of the lives of presidential families. I've read most White House histories but this one, in my opinion, is the best. I couldn't put it down." -- Clement E. Conger, White House Curator, 1970-1986
"Dense with facts, the work, however, is anecdotal and entertaining...the public, those interested in the structural and interior evolution of a famous residence, and anyone wishing to expand their presidential trivia will enjoy Real Life at the White House: Two HundredYears of Daily Life at Americas Most Famous Residence." -- H-DC, H-Net Reviews