My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House
by Lillian Rogers Parks
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Book Summary Information
Author: Lillian Rogers ParksContributor: Frances Spatz Leighton
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-03-31
ISBN: 092389196X
Number of pages: 388
Publisher: Ishi Press
Book Reviews of My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House
Book Review: A Must for White House Fans
Summary: 3 Stars
I loved the NBC miniseries years ago, and found the revised ("movie") version of this book then, which I read to tatters. This story instilled in me an obsession with all things Presidential. When I saw Park's "original" version was once again available, I was excited to finally read it. As expected, the book itself is much more simply written, but the stories are still as fascinating and insightful. Lillian Park's love and appreciation for the First Families shines through some not-so-glamourous or dignified stories, and anyone interested in White House history will enjoy this book.
My only complaint is the Forward/Update, written by Sam Sloan. It is so poorly written as to be worse than amateurish. The language is awkward and reads like a folksy 6th grade term paper. Mr. Sloan actually presents as FACT the author's opinions of such things as the size of Margaret Truman's nose being why she did not enjoy a long singing career. He also gives a sort of synopsis of the book , citing pages, etc. Very unnecessary, and very badly written. Not sure why this was added, or why this "author" was chosen to write the Updates, but it really distracted me at first, and I almost put down the book in frustration. I may even tear out those pages, so my kids won't think this acceptable literature. If you pick up this book, be aware that this section is NOT representative of the much better writing in the actual memoir- enjoy it for the pictures (and you may even get a laugh out of how cheesy it is)! Other than that, this book deserves to be added to the treasured memoirs of our First Families and the people who worked with them.
Summary of My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House
This book should be required reading for every serious student of American history. The authors were eye witnesses to some of the great events of history and offer different prospectives from that found elsewhere. For example, we learn that when Calvin Coolidge announced in 1927 that he did not intend to run for re-election, he was playing hard-to-get. He believed that the people would insist that he accept a third term of office. He expected to be drafted. He actually wanted a third term in office. Coolidge was disappointed when Herbert Hoover was nominated as he disagreed with Hoover's ideas and policies. We learn that in the last year and a half of the presidency of President Woodrow Wilson, he had to be wheeled around the White House in a wheel chair and was often engaged in "sickbed rambling". The unique prospective offered by this book arises from the fact that the authors are two White House domestic servants, each of whom worked for 30 years in the White House. As there was an overlap of ten years that both of them worked there together, that means that they were in the White House for a 51-year span from the end of 1909 until 1960, when Lillian Rogers Parks retired at age 64 in the concluding days of the Eisenhower Administration.African-American & Black Books
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