About this title: This is the combined biography of two domestic servants, a mother and her daughter, each of whom worked for thirty years in the White House. In 1909, he mother was hired by President Taft, who was the first president ever to allow a Black person to enter the White House. She worked in the White House until 1939. Her daughter was hired by President Hoover in 1929 and she worked there until the final days of the Eisenhower Administration in 1959. 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 ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: Reprint.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ishi Press, Bronx NY
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780923891961ISBN:092389196X
Description: New. No dust jacket. 388 p. 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 ... read more
Binding: Unknown Binding
Publisher: Avon
Date Published: 1961
Description: Very Good. Very nice paperback. Photos: We now have a scanner in-shop and can provide you with a picture of this item if you do not currently see one. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ishi Press International
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780923891961ISBN:092389196X
Description: New. BRAND NEW and ready for dispatch. Delivery normally within 4/7 days. Our reputation is built on our Speedy Delivery Service and our Customer Service Team. read more
Edition: 2nd ptg
Binding: hardcover
Publisher: Fleet, Chicago
Date Published: 1961
Description: illus. G+/POOR. 346pp. Bookplate front end paper, spine quite cocked. Edgewear on DJ so bad it's nearly detached on foreedges, badly chipped, etc. Why is this book in such demand? I love to have it, even in this condition, but have never understood why it's been such an easy sell over the years. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ishi Press
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780923891961ISBN:092389196X
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 9 by 6 inches. This book is printed on demand [allow 1-2 weeks for printing]. (00392 pages) lang=english accessory: no accessory (Paperback ) read more
Edition: 1st Edition 4th Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Fleet Pub'g. Co., New York, NY
Date Published: 1961
Description: VG+/VG+ W/Dust Jacket 346pgs Price clipped, Dj nicked head & foot of spine, fore-edge corner tips, foxing at DJ flap top edges, ink gift note on front. Endpaper, o.w. clean, bright & tight. Rest of book in Fine condition. DJ in clear plastic protective cover. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Fleet Publishing, New York
Date Published: 1961
Description: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Good, unmarked book with foxing to page ends and tape-residue stains on both boards and endpapers, where it appears that a now-missing DJ was once taped to book. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Fleet Publishing, New York
Date Published: 1961
Description: Very Good in Good+ jacket. Second printing, hardcover, paperclip impression to page 131, scratch to bottom edge, light offsetting to endpapers, light soiling to page edges, otherwise a VG+ copy in a Good+ dustjacket which has a long closed tear with some creases to the rear panel, some wear and tiny chips to the edges and some short closed tears. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ishi Press International
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780923891961ISBN:092389196X
Description: New. This is the combined biography of two domestic servants, a mother and her daughter, each of whom worked for thirty years in the White House. In 1909, he mother was hired by President Taft, who was the first president ever to allow a Black person to en... read more
Description: Good. My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House by Lillian Rogers Parks in collaboration with Frances Spatz Leighton. Published by Fleet Publishing Corporation, New York. 1961. Second Printing. HB/DJ. Rental library stamp on first-free-end-page but there are no other library markings. There is a mylar sleeve on the book that has been there for years. The flaps were at one time taped to the boards but the tape has given way and there are the remains on the flaps and on the cover of the ... read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly imported from the UK using DHL or Royal Mail international mail WITH TRACKING NUMBER. Print on demand title. D elivery is typically 5-10 working days. Please do not select expedited shipping. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). read more
"This book covers a maid's perspective of the White House from the Tafts through the Eisenhowers. The author and her mother both worked at the White House as maids and the book covers memories of both of their times there. The book was obviously written a while ago, but it really reminded me that history is very cyclical. The author herself says at the end "The Music Goes Round and Round."
The book gives a very human side of the presidents and their families, how they handled the constant stress of the job, and many of their quirks and strengths. One of the most profound - and prophetic even - things the author states is "the best advice I can give the new First Lady, before it is too late, isto find the thickest set of invisible armor and put it on. She will need it to let the arrows of false accusations and needless criticism bounce off her." At the end of the book, it is quite apparent that her favorite family was the Trumans because they were so down to earth. She said that Truman's mother told him that everyone needed to wash their own socks and underwear, so Truman did that even in the White House. I liked him too after reading that.
I enjoyed the book and I kept thinking all the way through how much my mom would love the book with all the personal information. I found, however, that sometimes it was a little like listening to an older great aunt tell endless non sequitur stories. Too much of the book was written in nearly stream of consciousness form, I thought the editors should have given some more form and structure to the innumerable little stories.
If you enjoy personal histories and are interested in modern U.S. history, you'll like this book."
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