The West Wing and Beyond

August 15, 2022
An official White House photographer gives an insider's tour of the West Wing and its key personnel. Distinguished photo journalist Souza--chief photographer during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama as well as the longtime director of White House Photography--presents valuable documentation in the form of vivid, full-color photos and accompanying explanatory text. Souza's job covering the president and his team required long days "inside the presidential bubble," whether in the White House or on the road (more than 25,000 hours during Obama's tenure). He begins his tour of "The People's House" with photos from the Oval Office, where, because of the room's many windows, the light constantly changed. He chronicles numerous brief yet indelible moments--e.g., when a member of the press knocked over a glass of water on the Resolute Desk--and we learn that Obama always edited his speeches with a black Uni-ball Vision Elite pen. Souza takes readers into the Outer Oval, the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, the Situation Room, the Brady Press Briefing Room, the Rose Garden, and the State Floor. But Souza's focus is always on the people who inhabit these spaces. We meet the White House butler and chefs. We see a variety of performances and events on the South Lawn and Beyonc� performing inside a tent at a state dinner for the president of Mexico in 2010. The "On the Road" section includes many trips foreign and domestic aboard Air Force One; during the Reagan years, it was a Boeing 707, but since 1989, there have been two identical 747-200Bs. Souza offers candid portraits of the traveling White House staff, including the military aide who carries the presidential "football" and the president's personal aide, his "body man." Throughout, the author uses his unprecedented access to create up-close and personal studies, informal moments dressed up in formal clothes, of the powerful people who populate the presidential bubble. Fascinating, in-depth portraits within the halls of power.

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Starred review from September 1, 2022
As chief official White House photographer during the Obama administration, Souza had unlimited access to the West Wing and everyone who passed through it. His Obama, an Intimate Portrait (2017), a photographic history of President Obama's public and private moments, became a runaway bestseller. This companion piece, rather than concentrating on people, focuses on spaces: the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, the Colonnade, the Rose Garden, Air Force One, and more. For each room, Souza explains its use, according to strict social and political protocol, and shares personal anecdotes, including memories from past administrations. (Souza worked as a staff photographer for Reagan, and was often present at the White House for other occasions.) As intriguing as these insider accounts tend to be, Souza's photos steal the show. Some of his images are candid shots of behind-the-scenes activities; some have no people at all, showing just empty rooms in unscripted moments; and some are informal portraits of staff, politicians, guests, and the general public. There aren't, however, any photos of President Obama or his family, which is a bit disappointing. This unique offering is bound to be popular, so expect demand--and have the Obama book standing by.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.