The White House's unruly neighborhood : crime, scandal and intrigue in the history of Lafayette Square / Edward P. Moser.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Moser, Edward P., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

White House (Washington, D.C.).

Social problems.

History.

Crime.

Neighborhoods.

Lafayette Park (Washington, D.C.)--History.

Lafayette Park (Washington, D.C.).

White House (Washington, D.C.)--History.

Neighborhoods--Washington (D.C.)--History.

Crime--Washington (D.C.)--History.

Social problems--Washington (D.C.)--History.

Washington (D.C.).

Washington (D.C.)--Lafayette Park.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

ix, 251 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2020]

Summary:

"Chronicling the history of the environs of the White House, this book covers two centuries of assassinations, slave escapes, deadly duels, sex scandals, battles, brawls and spy intrigues that took place in Lafayette Square. The author recounts the triumphs and catastrophes of heroes and villains both famous and unsung, placing them in the context of contemporary world events of the day."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 The Secretary of State Is Nearly Stabbed to Death p. 3

2 The Unsung Slave Whose Family Sparked a Civil Rights Revolution p. 7

3 The Perilous Life of America's Greatest Foreign Friend p. 10

4 The Craziest Inaugural Party of Them All p. 17

5 The Biggest Slave Escape in American History p. 21

6 The "Big Cheese" Receives a Mammoth Gift p. 26

7 Mrs. Lincoln's Sad Search for Her Deceased Son p. 30

8 The Plantation Owner's Startling Army of Diversity p. 35

9 The Burning of the White House and the Rescue of Its Riches p. 40

10 A White House Surgery That Echoed Bullets and Brawls p. 44

11 The Populist Politics of Pennsylvania Avenue's Park p. 49

12 The Biggest Sex Scandal in Washington's History p. 52

13 The Tragic Wife of Americas Premier Thinker p. 57

14 The Secret Life of the Intrepid Explorer p. 62

15 The Cunning Craft of a Deadly Spy p. 68

16 The Backstory of the American Revolution's Martinet p. 73

17 The Violent End of America's Bravest Sailor p. 80

18 A Duel Between the Oddest and Most Famous of Congress p. 88

19 The King of the Camel Corps p. 91

20 The Enslaved Woman Who Sued the Head of the State Department p. 98

21 The War-Hero Womanizer Who Slayed the Son of Francis Scott Key p. 103

22 The Accursed Life of the Man Who Tried to Save the President p. 107

23 A Shocking Seedling from the Victory at Yorktown p. 111

24 The Bloody Assassination Attempt on President Truman p. 117

25 Lincoln Makes Lee an Offer He Could Refuse p. 120

26 The Wretched Life Behind the Gaudiest Place p. 127

27 How a Personal Vendetta and Patriotic Passion Led to America's Most Honored Place p. 134

28 The Spook Who Spied on the President and Inspired the Formation of the NSA p. 144

29 The Most Criminally Inept Family in Military History p. 149

30 A Peerless Singer Lays the Groundwork for "I Have a Dream" p. 155

31 The Miracle Manse p. 160

32 The Lost Barracks of the National Mall p. 164

33 George Washington, the Flinty Scot, the Powerful Mayor, and the Children's Angel p. 169

34 The Near Drowning of the President in the Potomac p. 177

35 The Forgotten Terror Attack p. 180

36 A President's Brush with Death After a Deadly Navy Accident p. 184

37 The Poetess Behind America's Most Inspiring Song p. 191

38 Hamilton! The Tour!!: A White House Area Itinerary p. 198

39 Murder Bay and Hooker's Division p. 209

40 A Wartime Tavern Keeper's Unwanted Guests p. 215

41 A Humble Cleaning Lady Gulls a Mighty Invader p. 218

42 The Entrepreneur and the Ingénue: A Match Made in Heaven Gone to Hell p. 222

43 The Black Businessman Whose Workplace Birthed Jim Crow p. 227

44 The Financial Wizard Who Helped Stave Off a Civil War p. 233

45 The Crooked Bank for the Former Slaves p. 238.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781476674865

1476674868

OCLC:

1096285860