Books
After excerpts of Michael Wolff's behind-the-scenes book about the Trump White House were published earlier this week, the public showed so much interest in the controversial title that, not only was its release date pushed up four days, it sold out both online and in many bookstores within hours. If you are one of many readers who has yet to get their hands on the most talked about book of the year (so far), don't worry: there are plenty of other White House tell-alls as explosive as Fire and Fury that you can read while you wait.
Americans, both political nerds and otherwise, have a fascination that borders on obsession when it comes to the White House and everyone who gets the privilege to live or work inside of it. As one of the most powerful, and most secretive, places in the country, the Pennsylvania Avenue landmark has been the center of fascination ever since its first resident, John Adams, moved in over 200 years ago, and why shouldn't it be? Within the walls of the White House, presidents and their administrations make some of the country's biggest decisions, take some of the globe's most important actions, and stir up some of the world's juiciest gossip.
The only problem is, no one knows what really happens inside the White House except the people who were there. Luckily for readers, sometimes, those people are willing to talk, and the result is scandalous behind-the-scenes books you won't be able to stop talking about.
While you're waiting for your local bookstore to restock copies of Fire and Fury, here are five other White House tell-alls that were just as explosive when they came out. Donald Trump may be one of the most scandalous presidents in American history, but he certainly isn't alone.
'The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House' by Kate Andersen Brower
Why go behind-the-scenes with one administration when you can take a look at decades of them in the White House? In The Residence, bestselling author Kate Andersen Browner uses a combination of archival research and in-depth interviews with seasoned White House Staff members to create a rare and illuminating look at life on Pennsylvania Avenue. Rich and intimate, the history reveals even the most private moments in the lives of America's First Families, from Lyndon B. Johnson's unreasonable shower preferences to domestic arguments between Bill and Hillary Clinton and everything in between. If you have ever dreamed of being a fly on the wall in the White House, this book is probably as close as you'll ever get.
'What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception' by Scott McClellan
At the time of its publication, Scott McClellan's tell-all about George W. Bush's presidency was labeled as "scathing" and "explosive." In What Happened, the former White House Press Secretary and Bush loyalist dishes up all the dirt and plenty of criticism of the administration, including Bush's propaganda tactics in regards to the Iraq War, the president's advisors misleading behavior, and the botched handling of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. A true insider's look at the White House, this political memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the troubled Bush administration from someone who was there the whole time.
'Nixon's Darkest Secrets: The Inside Story of America's Most Troubled President' by Don Fulsom
Since his presidency ended in shame in 1974, there have been dozens of books written about Richard Nixon and his White House, but few are as scathing — or as scandalous — as Nixon's Darkest Secrets. A veteran White House reporter who covered Nixon and the Watergate scandal, Don Fulsom pulls from his own work as well as interviews with Congress members, staffers, and close confidants to the disgraced former president to create a complete picture of Nixon's many supposed sins. While it may be flawed and embellished in places, Nixon's Darkest Secrets is still a fascinatingly juicy read.
'The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House' by Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward made a name for himself when he and fellow reporter Carl Bernstein broke the Watergate scandal, and since then, has become a White House authority. In The Agenda, the veteran reporter and editor explores the first 100 days of the Clinton presidency, from its biggest political victories to its hardest personal failures. Including an afterword on Clinton's attempt to clear his name and repair his presidency following the Monica Lewinsky scandal, this fast-paced read will make you feel like you're in the oval office alongside Bill, Hillary, and the rest of the administration.
'Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House' by Sally Bedell Smith
There have been hundreds of books written on the Kennedy family, but few offer such an intimate portrait of their life in the White House as Sally Bedell Smith's Grace and Power. In it, the New York Times bestselling author offers incredible access and brand new insight into one of the country's most fascinating, and controversial, First Families. From the details of JFK's illnesses and affairs to the description of Jackie's role in the White House and in her marriage, Grace and Power paints a captivating portrait of the Kennedys like you've never seen before.
