Through Five Administrations

[Gene C]

Written by one of the guards at the White House, William Crook.
I read an on line version
https://archive.org/details/throughfiveadmin06croo

Shop around if you want to buy a copy, the prices vary a lot.

Interesting book, Crook was the guard serving the shift just prior to Lincoln's assassination. He had been serving as a guard for only about 4 months. He was with Lincoln and Tad when they visited Richmond right after it fell.

Written in 1907, about 280 pages, first 80 deal with President Lincoln, about 70 on Johnson, and about 70 on Grant. The remainder on Hayes, Garfield & Arthur.

The chapters on Lincoln, Johnson & Grant were the most interesting to me. I don't normally read e-books, so that may be one of the reasons I was somewhat disappointed in the book, but I can't explain why. We have talked about Crook before, and that he may have some self created memories. I still believe it is well worth reading. I was a bit surprised of his favorable attitude toward Johnson, and he did not care for Senator Charles Sumner or Thaddeus Stevens.

Crook was about 25 when he started serving, married with one small child. That may be one of the reasons he talks in complimentary terms about the family life of the Presidents, and he seemed to have a genuine fondness for Tad.

I'll probably buy a hard copy when I catch the price dropping significantly