The hidden White House
Subtitle: Harry Truman and the reconstruction of America's most famous residence
By: Robert Klara
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 371
ISBN-13: 9781250000279; 9781250022936
Subjects: Repair and reconstruction; White House (Washington, D.C.); Public buildings; History
Description: "In 1948, Harry Truman, President of the United States, almost fell through the ceiling of the Blue Room in a bathtub into a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A team of the nation's top architects was hastily assembled to inspect the White House, and upon seeing the state the old mansion was in, insisted the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed was the biggest home-improvement job the nation had ever seen. The Trumans moved across the street to the Blair House, the Congress argued about how much the job would cost, and then, in the midst of it all, the Soviets exploded an atomic bomb. Indefatigable researcher Rob Klara reveals what has, until now, been little understood about this episode: America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House. The facade was left intact, but the entire structure was taken apart, removed, and replaced with a steel structure with a complex series of steel-reinforced subbasements and bomb shelters. The story of Truman's rebuilding of the White House is a snapshot of postwar America and its first Cold War leader, undertaking a job that changed a piece of America's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable--and history has nearly forgotten about it"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Moving day; title: The Great White Jail; title: The Porch; title: "Like a ship at sea"; title: The inspection; title: The eviction; title: The slow murder; title: Wanted : home for President; title: "The people want a new building"; title: The verdict; title: "Shoot it"; title: The shovel in the earth; title: Wreck it gently; title: "We are no longer ahead"; title: The hidden White House; title: Twenty-seven rounds; title: furniture, rugs, and draperies; title: The tour; title: Something to remember you by; title: "Every dollar must be saved"; title: The General's burden; title: Missing pieces; title: "A race against time"; title: Open house.