{"product_id":"the-hidden-white-house-harry-truman-and-the-reconstruction-of-americas-most-famous-residence","title":"The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the Reconstruction of Americas Most Famous Residence","description":"\u003cp\u003eCritically acclaimed author Robert Klara leads readers through an unmatched tale of political ambition and technical skill: the Truman administrations controversial rebuilding of the White House.  In 1948  President Harry Truman  enjoying a bath on the White Houses 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 countrys 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.  Indefatigable researcher Robert Klara reveals what has  until now  been little understood about this episode: Americas most famous historic home was basically demolished  giving birth to todays White House. Leaving only the mansions 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  The story of Trumans 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 countrys national heritage. The job was by no means perfect  but it was remarkableand  until now  all but forgotten.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44959882477621,"sku":"ByrdShop_1250000270","price":26.52,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781250000279.jpg?v=1770377874","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-hidden-white-house-harry-truman-and-the-reconstruction-of-americas-most-famous-residence","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}