Rating: 
Summary: Wordy and Disappointing
Review: A classy book about the Kennedy White House. A must have for all fans of the Kennedys. It is worth the money for this book. Highly recommended! FOR UQESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: DAZZLING
Review: A classy book about the Kennedy White House. A must have for all fans of the Kennedys. It is worth the money for this book. Highly recommended! FOR UQESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: A superb survey of the White House decor of President & Mrs. Kennedy. The book documents the ideas, process, decisions and choices behind the stunning interiors of the Kennedy White House-both the public and private rooms. What comes through the text is Mrs. Kennedy's leadership and vision - combining taste, history, beauty and great cunning - just to create and then manage this melange of egos, talent and intelligence was an accomplishment, and the results live on today (albeit not as beautifully or artistically). We all gained a greater knowledge and appreciation of our nation's historic and artistic past because of Mrs. Kennedy's work.I've corresponded with Mr. Abbott and he's been most kind and interesting. He assisted in the current show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years," and there's a number of items on display relating to the White House decorations. Read the book, catch the exhibit (it moves to the JFK Library in Boston in the fall).
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: A superb survey of the White House decor of President & Mrs. Kennedy. The book documents the ideas, process, decisions and choices behind the stunning interiors of the Kennedy White House-both the public and private rooms. What comes through the text is Mrs. Kennedy's leadership and vision - combining taste, history, beauty and great cunning - just to create and then manage this melange of egos, talent and intelligence was an accomplishment, and the results live on today (albeit not as beautifully or artistically). We all gained a greater knowledge and appreciation of our nation's historic and artistic past because of Mrs. Kennedy's work. I've corresponded with Mr. Abbott and he's been most kind and interesting. He assisted in the current show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years," and there's a number of items on display relating to the White House decorations. Read the book, catch the exhibit (it moves to the JFK Library in Boston in the fall).
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive & in depth look into the Camelot White House
Review: A wonderful book that gives you every little detail in the entire restoration project of the White House. The color coded floor plans at the beginning of each chapter really let you picture where they are in the White House and how it all flows together as a building. I especially enjoyed the photos of the private residences and reproductions of handwritten notes and Christmas cards.
Rating: 
Summary: As good an insight into Jackie Kennedy as any biography
Review: Designing Camelot demonstrates the debt owed to the Kennedys for transforming the White House into an institution worthy of its history. They, particularly Mrs. Kennedy, established a structure for its preservation that, in essence, changed the view of the White House from a private, albeit official, dwelling to a grand home worthy of the dignity of the American Presidency, a true asset of the federal government. But as with all things that become "governmentized," the Kennedy Restoration has been the source of controversy since its inception. The debate described in the book centers around the influence of Stephane Boudin, a celebrated French designer whom Mrs. Kennedy adored. The controversy revolves around Boudin's French interpretation of this most American of houses. Throughout the book, the authors appear conscious of the anti-Boudin criticism, and seem to want to downplay his singular involvement in all aspects of the restoration's tone and direction. (This bias may be natural and unintended, as Boudin was the subject of one author's Bachelor's and Master's theses). This is displayed in the repeated references that the "official" restoration effort acknowledges three individuals, not just Boudin. Yet every chapter and room recounts how Boudin's designs would win out, with Mrs. Kennedy's blessing. More than once a person would be placated at the time, only to return to the mansion to see the Boudin design had replaced their vision. The book points out that one early goal of the restoration was to keep Boudin's name out of it the picture. While the book credits all participants in the restoration process, it undermines that assertion with acccounts of bad feelings, threatened resignations, and the Kennedy view that Boudin's competitors were vital for their money, credentials, connections, and "americanism" as much as for anything else. The authors acknowledge this, but at times I felt the true history, and perhaps some detail, was lost in their tone of defense (perhaps "protection" is a better word) of Boudin. The pro-Boudin feeling came through also in the last chapter discussing the restoration's legacy. Nancy Reagan's placement of a painting in the Green Room to the spot that Boudin had placed it is explained by a Kennedy-era White House curator as a conscious attempt to recapture the Boudin/Kennedy style (and therefore a vindication of the Boudin legacy). This may be true, but that picture of Franklin is generally viewed as perhaps the finest portrait in the White House. Could its Reagan-era placement be a reflection of that fact instead? And why did not Mrs. Reagan rehang the Van Buren portrait in the Green Room as well? She instead kept it in the Red Room, where the "anti-Boudin" forces placed it in 1973. And while Mrs. Clinton's Blue Room decor copies Boudin's Blue Room, widely acknowledged as being his best work, and source of some of the loudest criticism of the Boudin style, the case wasn't made that the guiding principal behind the change was a reevaluation and vindication of Boudin's scheme. As someone whose primary interest is White House history, not design, the details over arguments over drapery placement (should they be inside the window moulding, or outside?) were not as important as what Mrs. Kennedy's preferences translated into what was ultimately done (she hated them tied back, because of the wrinkles which would show when they were drawn). I wanted a book that provided for me unknown background into a very necessary, successful, and magnificent undertaking. I was aware of the Boudin controversy prior to reading Designing Camelot, but was a bit disappointed by the deference paid to Boudin. Mrs. Kenney stated that the long history of White House precluded its redecoration to any particular era, yet justified the heavy French influences on the decor by stating (rightly) that it was the preference of James and Elizabeth Monroe. I wanted to understand more about the other viewpoints, and whether Boudin's designs were really appropriate to the history of the White House specifically, not just the style of the time. I didn't feel I got that. I recommend the book, though, and am glad I ordered it.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of previously unpublished information on "Camelot".
Review: I was surprised to read of many things I hadn't known before. This is a thoroughly researched book that will be quite interesting to any Kennedy, or White House, reader. J.B.
Rating:
Summary: Wordy and Disappointing
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. I found the writing style dry and the photographs/layout just not up to par. It almost seemed like somebody's thesis with som photos thrown in. Somebody needs to do a large format picture book on this subject with more about Jackie!
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Lady, Classic Designer, Classic Book.
Review: James Abbott and Elaine Rice have documented the blueprinting and designing of much more than rooms in the White House. The title says it all. Camelot was about all things Kennedy Administration. Navy suits and Limousines were younger and more progressive. Presentations on the lawn for visiting heads of states by far surpassed the ho-hum receptions at the train station. No detail of Camelot, the White House public rooms and the family quarters escaped scrutiny of Jackie, Sister Parrish and Boudin. Jackie even designed the ash stands with Boudin's help. I don't understand the criticism of this book as dry or wordy. It's a book. It's a narrative, not a coffee table book. Tomes have been printed and documented of the restored rooms, before and after. The photos are what they were. In this world of colorized movies, Photoshopped magazine covers and remastered music, Abbott and Rice have given us the plain unvarnished way it was, warts and all. I found the background very interesting. It was a collaborative effort between the committee, Jackie, Sister Parrish and Boudin, with a giant does of Henry duPont thrown in. Any one person could have completely changed the way the great house looked, but Jackie rescued the building from it's Gimbell's basement look. It remains generally true to her vision, even though eight First Ladies have imprinted on it. This country would not exist if not for the help of France during the Revolution. It influenced this country greatly and I see nothing wrong with the influence. No one criticized Mamie Eisenhower for the his and hers tvs in the wall or the Mamie Pink. I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Gift
Review: Superb addition to the history of White House decoration. Fascinating insights into how the young Mrs. Kennedy was able to accomplish a top-to-bottom top-notch restoration and redecoration within just 30 months. Fine photographic record and well-written text make this a must-read for Jackiephiles and all students of interior design. Thanks to the authors! Leon Pascucci
| 
