An Invitation to the White House
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| Author | Hillary Rodham Clinton |
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| Language | English |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
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Publication date
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November 14, 2000 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 324 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 44550598 |
| 975.3 21 | |
| LC Class | F204.W5 C58 2000 |
| Preceded by | Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets (1998) |
| Followed by | Living History (2003) |
An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History is a 2000 coffee table book written by First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton. Published by Simon & Schuster, it describes life at the White House during the Clinton administration, including the renovation and refurbishment projects that were done and the emphasis on American cuisine.
Plans for the book were announced publicly in April 1999. A spokesperson for the publisher said that Clinton had first thought of the idea for the book a year and a half earlier.
Clinton worked on the book during the United States Senate election in New York, 2000, often writing notes or text out longhand in between campaign stops. Writer Cheryl Merser was stated to be assisting Clinton with the research and writing of the work; she met with Clinton twice during this period. The book was completed during summer 2000, but publication of it was held up until after the Senate election, to avoid the appearance that Clinton was using the book to gain an advantage with her time as First Lady. Thus the book was released shortly before the author left the White House to take her seat in the United States Senate.
The book is the most traditional of Clinton's publications, having less to do with politicking than with hostessing. In particular, it sought to portray the author as "a keeper of tradition". Clinton received no advance and sales proceeds for the $35 book were given to the White House Historical Association, a private, non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the public's understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the White House. That association also holds the book's copyright.
The book's foreword is by J. Carter Brown, former director of the National Gallery of Art. Its introduction is by historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony. Chapters of the book include ones that discuss the historical aspects of the White House, what goes on behind the scenes, how White House functions celebrate arts and culture and Americans of accomplishment, and traditions associated with the winter holidays. Much attention is given to the two-year renovation of the Blue Room. The final 90 pages of the book are devoted to various recipes of the White House Kitchens. The volume contains over 350 color and black-and-white photographs. Most were taken by various photographers of the White House Photo Office, including Ralph Alswang and Barbara Kinney, along with never-before-published family photographs. Many of the photographs of food items were taken by Romulo Yanes.
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