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The hidden White House : Harry Truman and the reconstruction of America's most famous residence / Robert Klara.

Klara, Robert. (Author).
Book Book (2013.)
Description: viii, 371 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Publisher: New York : Thomas Dunne Books, 2013.
5 of 5 copies available at NOBLE (All Libraries).
1 of 1 copy available at Gloucester. (Show all copies)
0 current holds with 5 total copies.
Library Location Call Number Status Due Date
Gloucester Adult Nonfiction 975.3/Klara (Text to Phone) Available -
Beverly Main Adult Nonfiction F 204 .W5 K55 2013 (Text to Phone) Available -
Danvers Adult Nonfiction F 204 W5 K55 2013 (Text to Phone) Available -
Salem Adult Non-Fiction 975.3041/KLARA (Text to Phone) Available -
Stoneham Adult Nonfiction Lower Level 975.3041 KLA (Text to Phone) Available -
  • ISBN: 9781250000279 (hardback)
  • ISBN: 1250000270 (hardback)
  • Edition: First edition.
Bibliography, etc.: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: Moving day -- The Great White Jail -- The Porch -- "Like a ship at sea" -- The inspection -- The eviction -- The slow murder -- Wanted : home for President -- "The people want a new building" -- The verdict -- "Shoot it" -- The shovel in the earth -- Wreck it gently -- "We are no longer ahead" -- The hidden White House -- Twenty-seven rounds -- furniture, rugs, and draperies -- The tour -- Something to remember you by --"Every dollar must be saved" -- The General's burden -- Missing pieces -- "A race against time" -- Open house.
Summary: "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. 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"-- Provided by publisher.

Citation:

Klara, Robert. "The hidden White House : Harry Truman and the reconstruction of America's most famous residence." New York : Thomas Dunne Books, 2013.

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