The Residence: Inside the Private World of The White House / Kate Andersen Brower / 275 pages

Kate Andersen Brower has written this book that describes what it is like to work inside The White House and serving the first family.  She interviewed former White House residence workers from the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama administrations.  The book is filled with many interesting stories of serving these first families.  The book also gives an excellent picture of what it takes to work in the residence of The White House and gives you a glimpse of what it is like for the first family.

Hillary:the Other Woman/ Dolly Kyle/ 304 pages

Hillary: the Other Woman is the first nonfiction book written by Dolly Kyle.  The bulk of the book is written in a conversation-like style and deals with Dolly's relationship with Bill Clinton.  There is little content supported by outside corroboration.  There is very little information about Hillary, and what is presented is subjective in nature regarding choice of clothing and hairstyle.  Dolly is quick to point out Bill's failures, but does not see herself and a partner in crime.  The book does present insight into the attitudes of Arkansas politics and if Dolly is to believed, those closely reflect the Chicago 'machine' of the senior Daley years.  Perhaps Hillary fit in better in Little Rock than what Dolly would believe.  There is probably some truth to what is written, but little substance to back up the claims.

Destiny of the Republic/Candice Millard/308 pgs.

This is an account of James Garfield's brief presidency. I found this rendering of our 20th President of the United States fascinating. It covers background information describing how Garfield was elected, the assassination attempt, and the poor medical care he received which ultimately led to his death. This was during a time in medical history where the cure was as likely to kill a person as the wound or injury he/she sustained. The amount of research Millard put into this book is obvious--highly recommended!

Truman / David McCullough 256 p. December Challenge: 3 French Hens

David McCullough presents a spellbinding biography of Harry Truman.  He shows Truman's humble beginnings in Missouri.  His courtship of Bess.  His spirit, humbleness, honesty, let-the-stop-here philosophy comes through.  This is the president who fought in WWI, came home to experience the depression.  He worked on the local roads - and they were better when he was in charge.  He had his political beginnings with the Pendergast machine, responsible for the Marshall Plan, dropping the atomic bomb, integrated the armed forces, ignored the pollsters, and more.