NEW BOOK: Official Residences Around the World

Oct 23, 2018 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association announced today the release of its latest publication, Official Residences Around the World. This book by Abby Clouse-Radigan, is the first of its kind to place the White House in a global perspective, highlighting 50 other official residences and work places around the globe, from Western and Eastern Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the British Isles, and the Nordic region.

For more than 200 years, the White House has served not only as the official residence of the President of the United States, but also as its executive office, and as the symbolic home of its owners, the American people. Built in the experimental years of the new nation and altered over its 200-year-history, it remains the natural symbol of the American presidency and perhaps the best-known residence in the world.

Official Residences Around the World tells the story of other important sites, from Buckingham Palace to the Arg in Afghanistan, which, like the White House, serve as home and office to heads of state or government. This book presents the history, design, and architecture of 50 select iconic workplaces and homes of world leaders. In many cases, the sites and buildings are symbols of a nation and reflect the story and character of the peoples they serve.

“The White House is truly unique in that it serves as a residence for the First Family, an office for the Executive, a museum of American history, and the symbolic home of its people,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association. “This fascinating new book opens the door to other homes of heads of state or government, and in doing so, reveals the cultural similarities and differences between the White House and similar sites in the world while reflecting each nation’s stylistic heritage.”

Official Residences Around the World tells the stories of these other sites, their histories, their spaces and functions. This book presents the history, design, and architecture of approximately 50 select iconic workplaces and homes of world leaders around the globe. By comparing these to the White House, Clouse-Radigan provides a wonderful reflection on history and culture at home and abroad.

Official Residences Around the World will be available for order October 23 at shop.whitehousehistory.org.

Fully illustrated, case bound with dust jacket

9 x 11.5 inches, 300 pages

About the Author

Abby Clouse-Radigan, PhD, is an independent researcher, editor, and writer with a background in cultural studies. She has contributed to publications of the White House Historical Association and the Smithsonian Institution and was an Andrew Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Wesleyan University.

For media inquiries, please contact Jessica Fredericks, Communications Director, at JFredericks@whha.org.