Patrick Phillips-Schrock

As an historian, I was glad to receive this book for review. At the time it dame up on the Early Reviewer's list, I was reading about Truman's complete gutting of the White House (except the external walls) since the White House almost fell in on him. Having watched Jacqueline Kennedy's documentary about the remaking of the White House (by reclaiming pieces that had been at 1600 and sold) and seeing the final unveiling on television, I wanted to learn what Patricia Nixon had achieved. Patrick Phillips-Schrock has produced a fantastic volume about the architecture and structure of the White House. He carefully discusses in word and photography the research, diligence, and care that Mrs. Nixion took to continue the health and historical importance of the White House - our house - as a presidential home, a family's home, and as an historical and current symbol of our country. Whether you are an architect or not, a design creator or not, or an historian or not, this book will enlighten you.… (mer)

I was pleasantly surprised at how readable and interesting this book was regarding the remodeling of the White House during the Nixon Administration. The extent of the detail incorporated, along with great photos, was exceptional. The author demonstrated a clear love for sharing how this major project was planned and completed.

Do not ignore the ten appendices to this book. The information added there is a fine addition to the main body of the story of the renovations being shared by the author.… (mer)

First let me start by saying that I do not have an understanding in architecture or interior design. When I requested this book from the early reviewers group it was purely a result of my interest in First Ladies. I am happy to say that even without a prior understanding of the topic I still found this book interesting and enjoyable. Mrs. Kennedy's renovation and redecoration of the White House has been thoroughly covered but Mrs. Nixon' s efforts have not. The author provides a detailed description on the changes that there made in each room. I greatly enjoyed being able to compare the two interpretations by looking at color pictures of the same room after each redecoration. As I was reading I actually found myself wishing there were more color pictures beside the ones in the middle of the book. The author includes many black and white graphics throughout the book but the color created a clearer picture for a novice like me. The struggle for the author to acquire photographs is beyond his control but it is one aspect I wish could have been improved .One criticism I had was that many times the explanation under a pictures was the exact text from the passage. For me it seemed redundant to read the same paragraph, in some cases, two times. Do not let the title lead you to believe that this book is only for people who are interested in interior design, this book also gives the reader a glimpse into how the culture of the White House changes from one administration to the next.… (mer)

Over the years, I have read accounts of the Kennedy restoration of the White House or have come across numerous references to it in books which had a primary focus on something other than interior design. I had heard very little about the Nixon restoration and certainly did not realize how extensive an overhaul it was to what Jackie Kennedy had done with her team. Some years ago, I bought four limited edition prints of the Lehman paintings commissioned by Jackie Kennedy to capture the restoration of the White House interiors. So much of what she and Stephane Boudin brought to the executive mansion would be gone ten years later, after Patricia Nixon asked Conger and Jones to refurbish interiors that had not held up well. It was surprising and interesting to me to read how much the new team disdained much of what Boudin had done, believing it to be too French or not grounded in the history of America that they wished to reflect. Earlier restorations or design changes (e.g., the 1902 design changes) are also discussed and the ways in which many of these also disappeared or were altered during the Nixon redecoration. I most enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the decoration and new acquisitions for the Red, Green, and Blue Rooms. The author added many anecdotes that added to the understanding of why the design team made the changes they did. The Green Room was the most extensive transformation, "not a stick of the previous furniture was retained." The author notes that this was somewhat surprising as the furniture was the work of the admired Dupont, but the "despised" Boudin's silk moire wallcovering was retained in this room. Jones wanted to bring in Duncan Phyfe pieces and a more unified period design scheme. The author relates that Raisa Gorbachev, on viewing this room in 1987, remarked to Nancy Reagan, "But you live in a museum!" In most of the other rooms, it was Boudin's work that was targeted for elimination or major change, especially so in the Blue Room. Every aspect of decoration is covered: the curtains, chandeliers, fireplace mantels, rugs, wall coverings, furniture, paintings, etc. It is a fascinating inside look into how the White House came to appear as it does. The author notes that most of the Nixon redesign remains intact, nearly 50 yeas after the work was undertaken. He describes the Green Room as being virtually "frozen in time." The fabrics and rugs chosen then have been reproduced as wear and tear demand. The interiors are what Americans now think of as the White House interiors.

The appendices were equally interesting, describing such things as Elvis Presley's visit to the White House, the Camp David overhaul, and more. I wish the book had more color photographs (the vast majority are black and white), but otherwise, I loved reading this account of the Nixon remodeling and refurbishment. I've toured these rooms before, but the next time I am at the White House, I will have a much greater appreciation for many of the things I see and the choice of placement of so many treasured pieces. Patricia Nixon should be just as celebrated as Jackie Kennedy for her concern and appreciation of the White House and its interiors.

The book did take several months to arrive, but I am so glad it finally came!… (mer)