I once heard an adult tell some kids (I think I was about 10 or 11) that all children were expected to go one level beyond their parents level of education. Since this was an M.D. talking to children of a parent with a PhD I wondered even then how that could be done. What if your dad was the President of the United States? And what kind of fathers did they make? First Dads: Parenting and Politics from George Washington to Barack Obama, by Joshua Kendall explores that question. Some of them were really awful, many had ultra high expectations, many were not interested, a few were quite good. There seemed to be many of the children who did not do well as they grew up, but I'm thinking it's more that they were always in the public eye, so we'd be more aware of them. An interesting read, but also sad as early on many presidents lost several of their children at a very young age.

A recommendation from Constant Reader took me to Hissing Cousins: the Untold Story of Eleanor Roosevelt and Alice Roosevelt Longworth, by Marc Peyser and Timothy Dwyer. Cousins, from the same big family, raised very differently had different impacts on the country (and the world). This is the story of their relationship, sometimes stormy, sometimes friendly, and their lives (very similar in some ways). I loved the description that while these cousins were both well known in their time, one will become a footnote, and one will be remembered. An excellent book, but a bit confusing at times for this reader because of the tendency to name offspring after a relative! Frequently.

For an up close idea of what it was like to work for the President's wife, read Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, by J.B. West with Mary Lynn Kotz. From Eleanor Roosevelt to Pat Nixon, Mr. West remembers what each was like, how they made the White House their own, and what it was like when their families were in residence. His job was one of controlled chaos (most of the time, anyway), often a 24/7 work week, keeping everyone happy (think about visitors (family and otherwise), foreign dignitaries, the whims and wishes of the First Family) ... he managed it all, beautifully.

Here's another in the White House Chef Mystery series by Julie Hyzy: Foreign Eclairs. This one was a bit too intense for me, mostly because of what was happening to the characters I've come to like! It was rather nerve wracking ... which means the author did a good job, yes? ;-)

Reading Hermit With Dog