{"product_id":"the-hidden-white-house-harry-truman-and-the-reconstruction-of-americas-most-famous-residence-paperback","title":"The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of America's Most Famous Residence - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRobert Klara\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCritically acclaimed author Robert Klara's \u003ci\u003eThe Hidden White House\u003c\/i\u003e leads readers through an unmatched tale of political ambition and technical skill: the Truman administration's controversial rebuilding of the White House. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and, after discovering it was in imminent danger of collapse, insisted that the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in American history. While the Trumans camped across the street at Blair House, Congress debated whether to bulldoze the White House completely, and the Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb, starting the Cold War. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIndefatigable researcher Robert 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. Leaving only the mansion's facade untouched, workmen gutted everything within, replacing it with a steel frame and a complex labyrinth deep below ground that soon came to include a top-secret nuclear fallout shelter. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe 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 the centerpiece of the country's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable--and, until now, all but forgotten.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eROBERT KLARA is the author of the critically acclaimed 2010 book \u003ci\u003eFDR's Funeral Train\u003c\/i\u003e, which historian and author Douglas Brinkley called \"a major new contribution to U.S. history.\" Klara has been a staff editor for several magazines including \u003ci\u003eAdweek\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTown \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eArchitecture\u003c\/i\u003e. His freelance work has appeared in the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, the New York \u003ci\u003eDaily News\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Heritage\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Christian Science Monitor\u003c\/i\u003e, among other publications. Klara makes his home in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 400\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 x 8.2 x 5.4 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 21, 2014\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42720308265023,"sku":"9781250053930","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/8c41190d01cbc6567278ccaa186438e3.webp?v=1765088720","url":"https:\/\/dhl-adrianne.myshopify.com\/products\/the-hidden-white-house-harry-truman-and-the-reconstruction-of-americas-most-famous-residence-paperback","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}