Backstairs at the White House

This was a very good series, based on the memoirs of an employee at the White House from the Taft Administration through President Eisenhower's. It's obvious too that besides the book by Lillian Rogers Parks, there are also bits from other White House books that are frequently used by historians (Leslie Nielson plays White House usher Ike Hoover, who wrote an important volume that is frequently used as a source book). Leslie Uggams plays Lillian, and the film begins with Lillian's mother Maggie (Olivia Cole) starting there in 1911 when William and Nellie Taft are in the White House (or as the unhappy Taft called it, "the great White Jail"). Maggie's daughter Lillian eventually overcomes a physical disability to become a useful member of the staff.

But the most interesting thing in the series was the glimpse into the eight first families who inhabited the building from 1909 to 1961. Interestingly the families preceding and following the framing administrations (Theodore Roosevelt's and John Kennedy's) are better known to most people than some of those in the eight (the Tafts, Hardings, Coolidges, and Hoovers are not all that well known today - although Warren Harding's scandal filled administration is recalled to some extent).

Each administration and the way they handled the White House is different. Taft (Victor Buono, in a rare nice-guy role) is concerned with the health of wife Nellie (Julie Harris) who had a stroke and had to learn how to speak again. He is also upset at how his old friend Teddy Roosevelt has turned against him (in one moment he shows how a reconciliation is impossible, as he is depending on Major Archibald Butt to bring Teddy and him back together - and Butt's returning from Europe on the Titanic). Wilson (Robert Vaughan) has two wives, and the first one (Ellen - Kim Hunter) was better liked than the second (Edith - Claire Bloom) . Later it is Wilson's health collapse in the fight for the League of Nations that is followed, with Edith taking over his office quietly.

Warren and Florence Harding (George Kennedy and Celeste Holms) are stuck with a dimwitted husband (and a corrupt one) learning that his administration has more holes in it than a swiss cheese. His infidelities are revealed (before Kennedy and Clinton Harding was our most priapic President). Also shown is Mrs. Harding playing Warren's favorite song (Carrie Jacob Bond's "The End of a Perfect Day.") on the piano.

But George Kennedy and the script writer has one moment giving some dignity to our 29th President. During the 1920 campaign a nasty smear was thrown at Harding based on rumors that his family was not originally white but African - American (see Francis Russell's THE SHADOW OF BLOOMING GROVE for an account of this). Maggie sees a furious Harding ripping up a "book" about his ancestry by one "Professor" William Estabrook Chancellor that the Justice Department confiscated. Harding sees Maggie, turns to her, and heartily apologizes for the racist piece of garbage directed at all African-Americans. After he leaves, Maggie sees the book and tells another servant to let the book burn.

Ed Flanders shows Coolidge as a businesslike, honest man - a welcome change in terms of abilities to Harding, who is in love with his wife Grace (Lee Grant), and broken - hearted about the death of his younger son Calvin from blood poisoning in a freak accident. Flanders has a great moment telling off (in ironic manner) Cloris Leachman as the snooty head of the staff (leading to her resignation).

The Hoovers (Larry Gates and Jan Sterling) are done too quickly, and one gets the impression they were too aloof from the staff. F.D.R. (John Anderson) and Eleanor (Eileen Heckart) are shown to be sympathetic to the minority groups due to the President's physical condition. The Trumans (Harry Morgan and Estelle Parsons) show that President's feistiness (and Bess's love of mystery novels). And then President and Mrs. Eisenhower (Andrew Duggan and Barbra Barrie) raps things up as we reach fairly modern times.

It was a welcome view of Presidential private lives rarely done before or since on television (except for individual Presidents or events in their administrations). It has not been revived on television since 1979, but now is on video and well worth catching.

Excellent mini-series from the time when the major networks crafted them with care. Olivia Cole is very strong in the lead providing a through line for the stories of the many administrations she witnessed. A fascinating peek at the life behind the white pillars by people who were actually there. The stories of the lesser known president's and their families is a definite draw, the Roosevelt's are legendary of course but their tenure has been examined many times. The Coolidges and Trumans come across well the Hoovers do not. Lou Hoover in particular seemed to be a cold, autocratic iceberg. One of the great things about these shows is the opportunity to see so many great actors and actresses all in the same program and they all deliver good work. For history buffs this will be heaven.

Believe it or not, I just called Borders on a whim, and they actually had a copy. I ran down, bought it, and watched the whole thing that same night. This miniseries was even better than I had remembered. (Of course, I was 9 or so the first time, and watched it with my mommy.) Younger viewers, such as my roommate, have a difficult time looking past the sets, which don't look anything like "The West Wing", but I quickly began to ignore him, and just sat there and soaked it all in.

I feel like there could have been a better attempt to clean up the film from the original airing, but it still was absolutely enjoyable.

All in all, worth the seven and a half hours I spent in front of the TV last Tuesday night!!

Veteran Television Music Composer Morton Stevens, ("Hawaii Five-O", "Police Woman") wrote an outstanding music score for this fine TV mini-series. It featured a beautiful main title theme that really set the tone for each episode. I join the other comments here in hoping that there will be a video release soon of this wonderful show.

I, too, wish this was available on videotape! In 1979, I was teaching a Special Education class in rural Ohio when this series was aired. My students all arrived the following day of the first installment excited, asking many questions about what the first part had shown. They asked to "study history" just like the other regular classroom students. I borrowed eighth grade American History textbooks from one of the other regular classroom teachers, and we began an adventure that lasted for the remainder of the school year. My students rode the school bus carrying a regular textbook for the first time ever! Self-esteem soared, and we all had fun!