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  • The Residence

  • Inside the Private World of the White House
  • Written by: Kate Andersen Brower
  • Narrated by: Karen White
  • Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

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The Residence

Written by: Kate Andersen Brower
Narrated by: Karen White
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Publisher's Summary


The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House gives listeners a rare insight into the White House and its most overlooked inhabitants: the service staff. From the Kennedy era to the Obama administration, these individuals have maintained the Presidential home and provided for the needs of the first families.

What is it like to spend just about every day in the White House if you aren’t the POTUS or a member of the First Family? The Residence is full of stories, from dramatic state dinners to heartwarming moments, that illustrate daily life in the White House from the perspectives of the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, concierges, engineers, and other staff members, all inside this famous mansion.

These professionals work tirelessly at "the Residence" to maintain the vast 132-room mansion, which includes 35 bathrooms on-site, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases. They prepare everything from simple hors d’oeuvres to extravagant state dinners with executive chefs and often gather in the basement kitchen to share stories and forge lifelong friendships.

Author Kate Andersen Brower has gathered incredible first-person anecdotes from extensive interviews with scores of White House staff members, many of whom are speaking publicly for the first time. The audiobook combines these stories with archival research to provide an intimate account of life in the White House. It reveals the close relationships between the First Family and those who serve them and the tensions that have shaken the staff over the decades.

From a housekeeper and engineer who fell in love while serving President Reagan to Jackie Kennedy’s private moment of grief with a beloved staffer after her husband’s assassination, The Residence is filled with surprising and moving details that give listeners a glimpse into the day-to-day life at the White House. It’s a fascinating listen for anyone interested in the history of the United States presidency and the people who make the White House a home.

What listeners say about The Residence

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