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The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents - A Memoir
A riveting look into the personal lives of our presidents through the eyes of their White House doctor. Dr. Connie Mariano served 9 years at the White House under Presidents George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush. She participated in world headline-making news events and traveled all over the world. She cared for visiting dignitaries and was charged with caring for all the members of the First Family. From flirting with King Juan Carlos of Spain to spending the night on the Queen of England’s yacht, Dr. Mariano glimpsed a glittering and powerful celebrity that few ever see. White House Doctor is a fascinating look into what goes on behind closed doors at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 28, 2010
First, thumbs up to Dr. Connie Mariano for being only the second female white house phsycian in American history and the FIRST Filipino American White House Doctor AND becoming the first Filipino American Admiral in the US Navy. That's all quite an accomplishment.
Now, about the book.. It was a very eye opening read about life in the white house and following the president around for 9 years. Dr. M, a Navy doctor, first steps into the position as a white house doctor thinking it will be a two year stint. She becomes hooked to the rush, the white house life, gets a promotion and when the Bush Sr. administration switches to the Clinton administration, she stays on. Her total time serving in the white house becomes 9 years.
In those nine years, some funny things happen like Bush Sr. throwing up on the Japanese Prime Minister, some bad things happen, like Hillary Clinton having a blood clot in her leg, some stressful things happen, like a potential suicide in Ireland, and much more.
Dr. M also talks a lot about being Filipino American in a mostly "white" house. Her entire life was spent feeling as tho she "wasn't good enough" and she goes above and beyond the call of duty to prove she is good enough, earning not only the respect of two US presidents, but also the rank of Admiral before ending her Navy career.
To be honest tho, despite the fact I found myself admiring Dr. M, I have to admit sometimes she came across as a bit full of herself and very controlling. In the 8 years she followed Clinton around, she pretty much abandoned her own family (a husband and two children) to care for the first family. At times I found myself wondering, "Out of all the doctors in the United States, does she not trust a single one besides herself to follow the president around or is this an ego trip?" She went with Clinton on over 130 some overseas trips alone. Basically, this woman had no life for 8 years besides the white house. It's her memoir and she'll tell it like she wants to, but at times I felt she portrayed herself as too good to be true like Wonder Woman.
Thus, four stars. This book was better than I expected it to be. Amazing look at white house life.
Thanks, Book Trib.
Now, about the book.. It was a very eye opening read about life in the white house and following the president around for 9 years. Dr. M, a Navy doctor, first steps into the position as a white house doctor thinking it will be a two year stint. She becomes hooked to the rush, the white house life, gets a promotion and when the Bush Sr. administration switches to the Clinton administration, she stays on. Her total time serving in the white house becomes 9 years.
In those nine years, some funny things happen like Bush Sr. throwing up on the Japanese Prime Minister, some bad things happen, like Hillary Clinton having a blood clot in her leg, some stressful things happen, like a potential suicide in Ireland, and much more.
Dr. M also talks a lot about being Filipino American in a mostly "white" house. Her entire life was spent feeling as tho she "wasn't good enough" and she goes above and beyond the call of duty to prove she is good enough, earning not only the respect of two US presidents, but also the rank of Admiral before ending her Navy career.
To be honest tho, despite the fact I found myself admiring Dr. M, I have to admit sometimes she came across as a bit full of herself and very controlling. In the 8 years she followed Clinton around, she pretty much abandoned her own family (a husband and two children) to care for the first family. At times I found myself wondering, "Out of all the doctors in the United States, does she not trust a single one besides herself to follow the president around or is this an ego trip?" She went with Clinton on over 130 some overseas trips alone. Basically, this woman had no life for 8 years besides the white house. It's her memoir and she'll tell it like she wants to, but at times I felt she portrayed herself as too good to be true like Wonder Woman.
Thus, four stars. This book was better than I expected it to be. Amazing look at white house life.
Thanks, Book Trib.
August 26, 2017
Pros: Interesting look at the White House through the eyes of the military doctor that served Bush (#43) briefly and then Clinton.
Cons: I really did not like the author. She is a rich Asian doctor whose patients are American Presidents, but she constantly acts like a whiny victim. She is in the military, but gets personally offended anytime she is tested (or looked at funny) by new teammates. She repeatedly claims the title "person of color" and associates herself with the suffering of her "sister" African-Americans. She is fixated on her gender, race and never "fitting in" or "belonging" to her perception of male/white America. She has an us-versus-them mentality against Caucasians.
She also treats her husband and children horribly - eventually alienating her children and divorcing her husband. She is self-aware and describes herself as a "horrible wife and mother" but does nothing to change it. Her career is her priority and everything else is just a distraction to her. She shows no regret for the damage she did to loved ones in pursuit of her career.
She is also a very partisan Democrat. Hillary is a paragon of virtue to her. She claims she never tested Bill Clinton for STDs and resents being asked about it repeatedly by reporters and the general public. She claims she never witnessed even a hint of hanky-panky by Bill in the White House. She accuses Kenneth Starr and Republicans of falsely "attacking" Bill for sexual impropriety; describing them as "vile", "odious" and "the enemy" multiple times. She later briefly describes (in a couple paragraphs) her shock at seeing Bill's television confession about Lewinsky and then brushes the entire topic under the rug.
This book is insidious. After being privy to the author's internal thoughts, I now wonder if the smiling (seemingly happy) Filipinos that I encounter in service roles secretly hate me because I'm white and hope for my ill fortune. Not a nice way to see life. :-/
Cons: I really did not like the author. She is a rich Asian doctor whose patients are American Presidents, but she constantly acts like a whiny victim. She is in the military, but gets personally offended anytime she is tested (or looked at funny) by new teammates. She repeatedly claims the title "person of color" and associates herself with the suffering of her "sister" African-Americans. She is fixated on her gender, race and never "fitting in" or "belonging" to her perception of male/white America. She has an us-versus-them mentality against Caucasians.
She also treats her husband and children horribly - eventually alienating her children and divorcing her husband. She is self-aware and describes herself as a "horrible wife and mother" but does nothing to change it. Her career is her priority and everything else is just a distraction to her. She shows no regret for the damage she did to loved ones in pursuit of her career.
She is also a very partisan Democrat. Hillary is a paragon of virtue to her. She claims she never tested Bill Clinton for STDs and resents being asked about it repeatedly by reporters and the general public. She claims she never witnessed even a hint of hanky-panky by Bill in the White House. She accuses Kenneth Starr and Republicans of falsely "attacking" Bill for sexual impropriety; describing them as "vile", "odious" and "the enemy" multiple times. She later briefly describes (in a couple paragraphs) her shock at seeing Bill's television confession about Lewinsky and then brushes the entire topic under the rug.
This book is insidious. After being privy to the author's internal thoughts, I now wonder if the smiling (seemingly happy) Filipinos that I encounter in service roles secretly hate me because I'm white and hope for my ill fortune. Not a nice way to see life. :-/
August 25, 2011
As memoirs go The White House Doctor was both fun and informative. I like both political and medical memoirs, so this book was one that I gravitated toward naturally.
I hadn’t realized prior to reading this book that the White House had its own medical team that travels everywhere with the president, but it does make sense if you think about it. I had been hoping for the inside scoop on the lives of the presidents and their families, but realized that there is doctor-patient confidentiality, so I wasn’t too surprised that there wasn’t a lot of gossipy news. While you do get to read some anecdotes about the first families, most of the book is about Dr. Mariano’s experiences as part of the medical staff and the role that she played while she was there. I wish that there would have been more detail when it came to medical procedures and/or politics, but as I said, I can understand why she stuck to writing about her personal experiences in the job.
I enjoyed reading about the extra training that she received from the secret service when it came to preparing for an emergency, and about all of the travels that she did. I think the biggest surprise was in how all-consuming the job was. Although there was a team of medical personnel who would relieve each other from duty, a white house doctor had to accompany the president on all occasions.
I hadn’t realized prior to reading this book that the White House had its own medical team that travels everywhere with the president, but it does make sense if you think about it. I had been hoping for the inside scoop on the lives of the presidents and their families, but realized that there is doctor-patient confidentiality, so I wasn’t too surprised that there wasn’t a lot of gossipy news. While you do get to read some anecdotes about the first families, most of the book is about Dr. Mariano’s experiences as part of the medical staff and the role that she played while she was there. I wish that there would have been more detail when it came to medical procedures and/or politics, but as I said, I can understand why she stuck to writing about her personal experiences in the job.
I enjoyed reading about the extra training that she received from the secret service when it came to preparing for an emergency, and about all of the travels that she did. I think the biggest surprise was in how all-consuming the job was. Although there was a team of medical personnel who would relieve each other from duty, a white house doctor had to accompany the president on all occasions.
October 20, 2010
I liked this. However, I also thought that the author was a bit dramatic in her presentation of her time in the White House. While many historic events took place, she didn't have much to do with them and seems to force herself into them. (She did have to do the blood draw that was used to provide Clinton's DNA in the Lewinsky investigation. Interesting.) Most of the stories are tame and any points of interest come from the daily details describing life in the White House.
December 30, 2010
Read Dec. 2010. Interesting. Surprised she had such low self-esteem but she is also boastful ("I said without missing a beat…" (bravado))
December 6, 2011
Only read half way through and was through.
April 7, 2021
The daughter of a Filipino Navy mess steward who rose to Master Chief, Dr. Connie Mariano followed her father around the world as he waited on admirals, never dreaming that one day she herself would attain the rank of Rear Admiral by virtue of becoming the chief White House physician for nine years after she had joined the Navy and gotten her MD at the Military Services University.
While some may read this book in order to get behind the scenes "dirt" on the H. W. Bush and Clinton families (an impression fostered by the fact that a previous reader had torn the Lewinsky pages out of my library copy), she keeps patients' confidentiality.
I was more interested in the functioning of the WH medical unit (WHMU) having a close friend, Master Chief "Paul", who was Hospital Chief at Camp David and having myself consulted with the Secret Service back in the 1980s. From my perspective, Dr. Connie tells it like it is, especially how protection of the president and first family is what it is all about. For example, her description of the USSS is spot on. If the protectee is wounded, the WHMD stays out of the "kill zone" and does not rush to his side until the scene is secure so as not to lose the medical officer as well as the protectee.
Dr. Connie does not sugar coat things. If she thinks someone is a jerk, she says so, and she reports the occasional friction between her as a female Navy commander and certain male Army Colonels. (All three services provide MDs to the White House.) There is also racial tension between whites and nonwhites which she feels as a Filipina. Dr. C. is also frank about the toll the assignment takes on family life, although much of that was her own doing since, once she became the Chief WHMD, she insisted on going on all the (numerous) overseas trips whenever possible.
Some critics feel Dr. Mariano is too prone to mention the fact that she was the first Filipina or Filipino to attain flag rank and only the second woman to be WHMD. However, if she had been self-effacing and modest, she probably would not have successfully bossed the White House Medical Unit for nine years.
While some may read this book in order to get behind the scenes "dirt" on the H. W. Bush and Clinton families (an impression fostered by the fact that a previous reader had torn the Lewinsky pages out of my library copy), she keeps patients' confidentiality.
I was more interested in the functioning of the WH medical unit (WHMU) having a close friend, Master Chief "Paul", who was Hospital Chief at Camp David and having myself consulted with the Secret Service back in the 1980s. From my perspective, Dr. Connie tells it like it is, especially how protection of the president and first family is what it is all about. For example, her description of the USSS is spot on. If the protectee is wounded, the WHMD stays out of the "kill zone" and does not rush to his side until the scene is secure so as not to lose the medical officer as well as the protectee.
Dr. Connie does not sugar coat things. If she thinks someone is a jerk, she says so, and she reports the occasional friction between her as a female Navy commander and certain male Army Colonels. (All three services provide MDs to the White House.) There is also racial tension between whites and nonwhites which she feels as a Filipina. Dr. C. is also frank about the toll the assignment takes on family life, although much of that was her own doing since, once she became the Chief WHMD, she insisted on going on all the (numerous) overseas trips whenever possible.
Some critics feel Dr. Mariano is too prone to mention the fact that she was the first Filipina or Filipino to attain flag rank and only the second woman to be WHMD. However, if she had been self-effacing and modest, she probably would not have successfully bossed the White House Medical Unit for nine years.
July 26, 2015
Prior to reading this book, I never gave much thought to the fact that the U.S. President has his own personal physician, who is unlikely to be the physician he had prior to taking office. Mariano served as the President's physician at the end of the George H.W. Bush presidency and the entire Clinton presidency, taking care of things as minor as the former's blister from a new set of golf shoes, to getting the latter to the hospital ASAP after he severely injured his leg after a mis-step on a set of stairs. I had my timeline wrong and expected Mariano to cover Clinton's heart issues, but those must have developed after he left office. Presidents were not Mariano's only charge, as she was part of a medical team who would travel everywhere with the President but were on attention for anyone who was in need of medical attention at the event, whether the person was a foreign dignitary, a civilian with a special invite to the event, or any of the other government staff members who accompanied the President.
Probably out of privacy for her patients, the book focuses more on Mariano than the Presidents, or perhaps she was fortunate to serve 9 years of relatively uneventful times in the health of the President. She broke many boundaries during her time of service, by being one of the first women to serve as a physician in the office, and certainly the first Filipino-American doctor to assume the role. Mariano was a military brat whose father served as a steward for Admirals in the Navy, so her own service in the Navy felt destined, and it was a very proud moment for her father when he saw his little girl rise to the rank of Admiral during her time as the President's doctor. Mariano used her relationship skills to excel at her job. By befriending Hilary Clinton when Bill was President-Elect, she secured her job when most of the other officials from the Bush presidency were dismissed with the new President taking office. Similarly, she got to know Bill's mother before her death, and made a promise to the elder Mrs. Clinton to keep an eye on her son. Appreciating the value and knowledge of the kitchen staff and valets, who are relatively low-ranking in the White House hierarchy, but were primarily Filipino and reminded Mariano of the role her father served for the Admirals, she was able to keep tabs on Clinton's movements and schedule better than even the Secret Service at times.
All wasn't perfect for Mariano though, as she was grilled during the investigation of Clinton by Ken Starr, and her role as a beautiful woman who had close association with the President raised a few eyebrows. However, her professional demeanor kept any suspicion away from her, as her role was as his doctor, nothing more, and it was her obligation to her country to serve that role with the ultimate professionalism. Moreso, it was Mariano's personal life that unravelled, as accepting the job as Bush's doctor uprooted her family, including 2 young boys and lawyer husband, from San Diego to D.C., and her husband became a stay-at-home dad as Mariano travelled the world with the First Family. She missed out on many milestones in her sons' lives, and was oblivious to the toll her constant absence had on the family until she found a school paper written by one of her sons where he wrote that he felt at times like his mother was dead because she was never around. Mariano was popular at the White House, and was invited to remain as George W. Bush's personal doctor, as the family knew her well from his father's presidency, but her new realization about her role in her own family prompted her to retire from the Navy at the end of Clinton's term.
Overall, it was an educational book about a side of the government that gets very little publicity, but if they weren't doing their job, there would be big problems. Of course, I would have liked more medical stories and less of Mariano tooting her own horn, if you will. She must have mentioned that her father was a Navy steward and how proud she was to represent the Filipino community a half dozen times each throughout the book. By the end of the book, it was clear that Mariano left a lasting legacy in the White House medical office and strove to make it a better place when she left than when she got there. I didn't find it too political, though obviously any bias she had was towards whatever President was in office, so it's more Clinton-centric since she only served for the last year of Bush's presidency.
Probably out of privacy for her patients, the book focuses more on Mariano than the Presidents, or perhaps she was fortunate to serve 9 years of relatively uneventful times in the health of the President. She broke many boundaries during her time of service, by being one of the first women to serve as a physician in the office, and certainly the first Filipino-American doctor to assume the role. Mariano was a military brat whose father served as a steward for Admirals in the Navy, so her own service in the Navy felt destined, and it was a very proud moment for her father when he saw his little girl rise to the rank of Admiral during her time as the President's doctor. Mariano used her relationship skills to excel at her job. By befriending Hilary Clinton when Bill was President-Elect, she secured her job when most of the other officials from the Bush presidency were dismissed with the new President taking office. Similarly, she got to know Bill's mother before her death, and made a promise to the elder Mrs. Clinton to keep an eye on her son. Appreciating the value and knowledge of the kitchen staff and valets, who are relatively low-ranking in the White House hierarchy, but were primarily Filipino and reminded Mariano of the role her father served for the Admirals, she was able to keep tabs on Clinton's movements and schedule better than even the Secret Service at times.
All wasn't perfect for Mariano though, as she was grilled during the investigation of Clinton by Ken Starr, and her role as a beautiful woman who had close association with the President raised a few eyebrows. However, her professional demeanor kept any suspicion away from her, as her role was as his doctor, nothing more, and it was her obligation to her country to serve that role with the ultimate professionalism. Moreso, it was Mariano's personal life that unravelled, as accepting the job as Bush's doctor uprooted her family, including 2 young boys and lawyer husband, from San Diego to D.C., and her husband became a stay-at-home dad as Mariano travelled the world with the First Family. She missed out on many milestones in her sons' lives, and was oblivious to the toll her constant absence had on the family until she found a school paper written by one of her sons where he wrote that he felt at times like his mother was dead because she was never around. Mariano was popular at the White House, and was invited to remain as George W. Bush's personal doctor, as the family knew her well from his father's presidency, but her new realization about her role in her own family prompted her to retire from the Navy at the end of Clinton's term.
Overall, it was an educational book about a side of the government that gets very little publicity, but if they weren't doing their job, there would be big problems. Of course, I would have liked more medical stories and less of Mariano tooting her own horn, if you will. She must have mentioned that her father was a Navy steward and how proud she was to represent the Filipino community a half dozen times each throughout the book. By the end of the book, it was clear that Mariano left a lasting legacy in the White House medical office and strove to make it a better place when she left than when she got there. I didn't find it too political, though obviously any bias she had was towards whatever President was in office, so it's more Clinton-centric since she only served for the last year of Bush's presidency.
November 28, 2017
The White House Doctor, CONNIE MARIANO is the first female director of the white house medical unit and the first Filipino-American to become a navy rear admiral. She served and cared George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton for nine years in Washington. She born in 1955 as the daughter of a U.S. Navy steward in the Philippines, she was appointed a White House physician by the navy in 1992, and her mettle was thoroughly tested during medical emergencies—and political storms. Whether helping to treat Bush’s skin cancer or dispensing a Band-Aid on the golf course, accompanying the president on overseas trips or performing a Heimlich maneuver on a choking guest at a holiday gala, Mariano always kept her cool and her sense of humor, which she retains in this unusual inside look at the White House.
As my own opinion, this book was a good read, but not a great read. Although it did give a glimpse into what it takes to be the First Doctor to the President as well as cracking the door to have relationships with the others on both the secret service and the medical support, it does not go in depth about anything. So if you are looking for in depth information, this is not the book for you. If you just want to enjoy a book, this may be the one for you.
For more review for this book, you can find from my blog at The white House Doctor Summary
As my own opinion, this book was a good read, but not a great read. Although it did give a glimpse into what it takes to be the First Doctor to the President as well as cracking the door to have relationships with the others on both the secret service and the medical support, it does not go in depth about anything. So if you are looking for in depth information, this is not the book for you. If you just want to enjoy a book, this may be the one for you.
For more review for this book, you can find from my blog at The white House Doctor Summary
July 6, 2010
Connie Mariano is only the second female doctor -- and first Filipina -- to be the President's physician and to head the White House Medical Unit. In this memoir, Dr. Connie, a Navy officer, recounts stories of preparing for the worst-case-scenario (assassination) to digging for a BandAid in her medical bag on a golf course for President George H. Bush to forming lasting bonds with Filipino cooks who served in the kitchen like her father before them.
Dr. Connie served the last year of George H. Bush's term and all eight years of President Clinton's term. For all practical purposes, she was married to her job and her husband and two young children did not see much of her. Whether career fathers or career mothers, this story is a reminder that it's hard to do both jobs well.
Excellent book. Well-written, full of stories and humor and Dr. Connie's wit in the face of prejudice and determination to overcome feelings of "not being enough."
Thanks, Dr. Connie, for your story. And I am glad that you found a new love!
I never thought about the people behind-the-scenes at the White House until I saw Dr. Connie Mariano's book on display in the new nonfiction section of the Champaign Public Library.
Dr. Connie served the last year of George H. Bush's term and all eight years of President Clinton's term. For all practical purposes, she was married to her job and her husband and two young children did not see much of her. Whether career fathers or career mothers, this story is a reminder that it's hard to do both jobs well.
Excellent book. Well-written, full of stories and humor and Dr. Connie's wit in the face of prejudice and determination to overcome feelings of "not being enough."
Thanks, Dr. Connie, for your story. And I am glad that you found a new love!
I never thought about the people behind-the-scenes at the White House until I saw Dr. Connie Mariano's book on display in the new nonfiction section of the Champaign Public Library.
March 4, 2012
2.5 Stars
This autobiography of Connie Mariano is very interesting story of the behind the scenes workings of protecting the first families. The White House doctor is a crucial role in the team of folks that are ALWAYS with the president and as such, develop close relationships. Connie serves under Bush, Sr and then all 8 years of the Clinton administration. During this time, she gets promoted to rear admiral, becomes director of the white house medical unit, and travels quite extensively. Unfortunately, we also see the toll this responsibility takes on her marriage and family life.
Dr Mariano is highly accomplished in many things. Unfortunately, she is not a great writer. The book is very disjointed, jumping from place to place and back and forth in time. If this were TV, then she would be looking off wistfully into the distance as a thought bubble appears which will feature a small antecdote. She often experiences pangs of guilt over not being there for her family, but as a highly driven person who comes from a poor background, it is not suprising. I did like the fact that we got a view into military life, and a back office view to how much goes into keeping our president safe and sound.
This autobiography of Connie Mariano is very interesting story of the behind the scenes workings of protecting the first families. The White House doctor is a crucial role in the team of folks that are ALWAYS with the president and as such, develop close relationships. Connie serves under Bush, Sr and then all 8 years of the Clinton administration. During this time, she gets promoted to rear admiral, becomes director of the white house medical unit, and travels quite extensively. Unfortunately, we also see the toll this responsibility takes on her marriage and family life.
Dr Mariano is highly accomplished in many things. Unfortunately, she is not a great writer. The book is very disjointed, jumping from place to place and back and forth in time. If this were TV, then she would be looking off wistfully into the distance as a thought bubble appears which will feature a small antecdote. She often experiences pangs of guilt over not being there for her family, but as a highly driven person who comes from a poor background, it is not suprising. I did like the fact that we got a view into military life, and a back office view to how much goes into keeping our president safe and sound.
September 28, 2010
"Just make sure they keep on breathing." "And keeping them breathing is what I did for nine years, twenty four hours a day, home and abroad." Doctor Connie Mariano is an accomplished Filipina woman. She has served in the Navy aboard ships caring for numerous crews, she became the first Filipino-American to have the rank of Navy Rear Admiral. In the 1990’s she was working at the Navy Hospital in San Diego and was trying to get out of the Navy, when her boss notified her that she was being nominated to be considered for the position of White house Navy physician. She had no idea the position existed and wasn’t going to do it, but her husband talked her into it and shockingly, she got the position and had the opportunity to be a doctor to both George Bush and Bill Clinton. The memoir discusses her nine year stay and her experience getting to know the two presidents as friends rather than bosses. Mariano discusses everything during her stay from getting to know all of the Filipino valets in the house to having to help out injured White House tourists. The memoir is inspiring, captivating and humorous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2013
I like behind the scenes books, there is always so much more going on that we never hear about. Dr. Mariano became the White House doctor near the end of George Bush's (sr) term of office and continued throughout the Clinton era. Taking her job very seriously she always referred to the president as "my patient." His safely and health was always formost in her mind, unfortunately above that of her own family. I learned a bit such as the president never travels without the doctor trailing along, be it to the backwoods of Tanzania or the local golf course. Before any out of the country trip the medical team always travels there first - to check out the medical conditions of the area and interview local hospitals should the need arise for one. And always traveling with the president are bags of matched blood. A good book but I wish there was more to it.
February 4, 2016
A fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the work of the White House medical team and in particular, Dr. Mariano, physician to presidents H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. It never occurred to me that the president would have a medical team but it does make sense for doctors to trail the leader of the free world on every excursion. Dr. Mariano's overhaul of the White House medical system and her sheer determination to prove herself as a woman of color make for inspiring reading. The main dark cloud of her story is the negative impact her career had on her marriage and family. But hooray for her becoming the first Filipina rear admiral! Now she heads a practice that serves corporate executives...obviously, she has done very, very well for herself.
October 11, 2010
Rear Admiral Connie Mariano was only the second woman to serve as the President's primary physician and she was the first Filipina officer to become an Admiral. Pretty impressive. An interesting look at the responsibilities of medical personnel who serve in the White House. Dr. Mariano served there for 9 years--a year with George and Barbara Bush and 8 years with the Clintons. This book would have been vastly improved with the assistance of an experienced editor. As it is, it rambles and retells several stories. Editors, get out those red pencils and use them.
May 2, 2011
Interesting "behind the scenes" look at the White House Medical Unit. Dr. Marino was certainly an overachiever, but, as you'll see, at the expense of her family. maybe that's the real story here (Tip for Rahm Emanuel - read this book!). Otherwise, a somewhat overdramatic chronology of the unit's work during the Cinton Administration. Somewhat rambling toward the end, as if her editor said that she needed to fill x number of pages, but really didn't have anything else to say. None theless, nod a bad read.
March 23, 2012
Connie Mariano's book "The White House Doctor" is really a memoir, which includes many stories about her upbringing as well as her time spent as a White Doctor during the Bush and Clinton administrations. It is more about the workings of the White House than a story of a medical doctor, as she is lucky to have few emergencies on her watch. It is a fast, easy read and it is told with humor and grace, I recommend it. I appreciated the fact that in the last chapter, she updated the reader on her life after this challenging assignment.
July 4, 2013
Although I am not at all interested in politics, I chose to read this book because it includes several pages about two friends of mine. It did give me quite a bit of insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the White House and into how expensive it is to protect the first family, both in the US and abroad. Mariano shared some tidbits of personalities of those people she was physician for in the White House without sounding like she was presenting a "tell all" gossip tabloid. I liked her style.
June 7, 2015
Dr. Connie Mariano was the doctor for all eight of Bill & Hillary's years in the White House. She takes you inside the White House and across the world travelling with the always charming Bill Clinton. The pressures of having to tell the first patient, "you need to stay off your feet" or "you need to let your voice rest" or tell Hillary that she really needs to go to Bethesda NOW for that blood clot. But the sadder part of the story is that her "dream job" cost her her marriage and her family who she barely knew after eight years of being 110% at the White House.
Read
January 22, 2016Honestly written, an inspirational story.
When one writes so openly about their personal family situation it 19s hard not to believe what she wrote about the Presidents, specifically President Clinton and Hilliary.
Throughout the book I had often wondered and worried about her husband and two boys 13 how were they doing with Dr Connie being GONE for so much of their lives?
But Dr. Connie confesses to the hard truth about what she had to give up to serve the President and First Family. Interesting read.
When one writes so openly about their personal family situation it 19s hard not to believe what she wrote about the Presidents, specifically President Clinton and Hilliary.
Throughout the book I had often wondered and worried about her husband and two boys 13 how were they doing with Dr Connie being GONE for so much of their lives?
But Dr. Connie confesses to the hard truth about what she had to give up to serve the President and First Family. Interesting read.
March 17, 2011
I had never thought about the president having a medical team always nearby, as close as the Secret Service. This book illuminates the function of the White House Medical Service. Mariano had quite a few firsts while serving the president, including revamping the Medical Service procedures. I will admit that the memoir portion of the book (her personal triumphs and thoughts on becoming a Rear Admiral) paled in comparison to the tales about the training and White House atmosphere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2011
This book was good, definitely not great. She tries to organize it by topics, rather than chronologically. That made things confusing at times, but I really enjoyed the anecdotes about the presidents and their families. I'd liked the "insider info". She was rather redundant at times and made way too many references to overcoming her Philippine ancestry. Ultimately, though, I found it interesting and enjoyed it.
July 15, 2010
The story is interesting and the style engaging, but I found myself skimming through the last third or so of the book. Each chapter just started to seem like more of the same. Also, the author skips around a lot chronologically, and this was very confusing and off-putting. It would have been better if it had been shorter and better-organized.
February 5, 2011
In some ways, this was an interesting book because I knew nothing about presidential doctors. On the other hand, it wasn't a book I'd recommend others read! Dr. Mariano is to be respected for all that she achieved, although she lost her family in the process. It sure is hard to imagine working so closely with the president.
July 8, 2010
she really could've halved the length by substituting an acronym for "first asian-american woman filipina doctor and admiral, daughter of a navy steward."
alas, i will read anything any doctor of bill clinton writes, and you heard that here first.
alas, i will read anything any doctor of bill clinton writes, and you heard that here first.
October 18, 2010
I saw her on the Daily Show and was pretty fascinated by the snippet she provided. I never thought that they would have a doctor who followed the president around, even though that makes sense. She provides a cool behind the scenes look about herself, her upbringing, and the job
August 10, 2010
Overall, this is a well-written anecdotal autobiography about her career as only the 2nd woman appointed Chief of the White House Medical Unit. It does meander a bit in the end, but this doesn't take away from it being an important must-read for Filipino Americans and/or U.S. history buffs.
March 20, 2011
I liked this. It was a random pull off the library's "New" shelf, but it was well-written and an interesting look at one particular perspective on the presidency. Nothing earth-shattering, but worth the time to read.
July 1, 2012
Very interesting to know how the president is escorted medically. Insight in to the senior Bush president and the Clinton presidency. Enjoyable memoir and interspersing information about White House medicine.
July 13, 2012
Truly enjoyed this book. It is a great behind-the-scenes look into the life of the POTUS and his Dr. I enjoyed getting a grasp of the grueling schedule they maintain, day in and day out! I recommend this book if you have any interest in the medical profession.
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