. A look inside the personal life of every first lady in American history, First Ladies: Influence and Image, based on original interviews with major historiansC-SPAN's yearlong history series, featured interviews with more than fifty preeminent historians and biographers. Susan swain and the c-span team elicit the details that made these women who they were: how Martha Washington intentionally set the standards followed by first ladies for the next century; how Edith Wilson was complicit in the cover-up when President Wilson became incapacitated after a stroke; and how Mamie Eisenhower used the new medium of television to reinforce her, and her husband's, positive public images.
This book provides an up-close historical look at these fascinating women who survived the scrutiny of the White House, sometimes at great personal cost, while supporting their families and famous husbands—and sometimes changing history.
Secret Lives of the First Ladies: Strange Stories and Shocking Trivia From Inside the White House
. Dolley madison loved to chew tobacco • mary todd lincoln conducted séances on a regular basis • eleanor Roosevelt and Ellen Wilson both carried guns • Jacqueline Kennedy spent $121, 000 on her wardrobe in a single year • Betty Ford liked to chat on CB radios—her handle was “First Mama” And much, much more.
This revised and expanded edition from quirk’s best-selling Secret Lives series features outrageous and uncensored profiles of the women of the White House, from Martha Washington to Melania Trump, politically incorrect, it comes complete with hundreds of little-known, and downright wacko facts.
First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies
Brower offers new insights into this privileged group of remarkable women, Betty Ford, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Lady Bird Johnson, Laura Bush, Patricia Nixon, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Rosalynn Carter, and Michelle Obama. She also offers insight as to what Melania Trump might hope to accomplish as First Lady.
Candid and illuminating, this first group biography of the modern first ladies provides a revealing look at life upstairs and downstairs at the world’s most powerful address. Harper Paperbacks. From the #1 new york times bestselling author of the groundbreaking backstairs look at the White House, news-making look at the true modern power brokers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: the First Ladies, The Residence, comes an intimate, from Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.
One of the most underestimated—and challenging—positions in the world, the first lady of the United States must be many things: an inspiring leader with a forward-thinking agenda of her own; a savvy politician, skilled at navigating the treacherous rapids of Washington; a wife and mother operating under constant scrutiny; and an able CEO responsible for the smooth operation of countless services and special events at the White House.
The stories she shares range from the heartwarming to the shocking and tragic, exploring everything from the first ladies’ political crusades to their rivalries with Washington figures; from their friendships with other first ladies to their public and private relationships with their husbands.
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies
Alive with anecdotes ranging from eleanor roosevelt’s fascinating political strategies to Jackie Kennedy’s tragic loss and the personal struggles of Pat Nixon, Upstairs at the White House is a rich account of a slice of American history that usually remains behind closed doors. West, whom jackie kennedy called “one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met, ” provides an absorbing, one-of-a-kind history of life among the first ladies.
B. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings and funerals, and extensive renovations; and, with a large staff, gardens and playgrounds, supervised every activity in the presidential home. J. J. B. For twenty-eight years, as well as their parents, and interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, he witnessed national crises and triumphs, first as assistant to the chief usher, then as chief usher, children and grandchildren, relatives, and houseguests—including friends, and heads of state.
.
The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House
Combining incredible first-person anecdotes from extensive interviews with scores of White House staff members—many speaking for the first time—with archival research, Kate Andersen Brower tells their story. She reveals the intimacy between the First Family and the people who serve them, as well as tension that has shaken the staff over the decades.
Full of stories and details by turns dramatic, engineers, the residence reveals daily life in the White House as it is really lived through the voices of the maids, cooks, florists, doormen, humorous, and heartwarming, butlers, and others who tend to the needs of the President and First Family. These dedicated professionals maintain the six-floor mansion’s 132 rooms, three elevators, 35 bathrooms, and eight staircases, 28 fireplaces, and prepare everything from hors d’oeuvres for intimate gatherings to meals served at elaborate state dinners.
From the housekeeper and engineer who fell in love while serving president reagan to Jackie Kennedy’s private moment of grief with a beloved staffer after her husband’s assassination to the tumultuous days surrounding President Nixon’s resignation and President Clinton’s impeachment battle, The Residence is full of surprising and moving details that illuminate day-to-day life at the White House.
A remarkable history with elements of both in the president’s Secret Service and The Butler, The Residence offers an intimate account of the service staff of the White House, from the Kennedys to the Obamas. America’s first Families are unknowable in many ways.
The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection
The smithsonian first Ladies Collection features many treasures not on view at the exhibit. These and many other unforgettable objects--including gowns, Barbara Bush, Hilary Clinton, tableware, and invitations from beloved first ladies such as Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, and more--tell the story of the first ladies as public and private figures.
Complete with an insider's look at the acquisition, and exhibition of the pieces as well as a timeline of all forty-six first ladies, conservation, this is a must-have for anyone fascinated by these incredible women and their roles in American culture and political life. Admire the nationally famous collection of first ladies' gowns and learn about the contributions made by the women who wore themThe Smithsonian First Ladies Collection is a beautifully illustrated book inspired by one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian: the first ladies exhibit at the National Museum of American History.
Harper Paperbacks.
The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America's Best--and Worst--Chief Executives
As america looks ahead to our next election, this book offers perspective and criteria that may help us choose our next leader wisely. Over a period of decades, their leadership skills, c-SPAN has surveyed leading historians on the best and worst of America's presidents across a variety of categories -- their ability to persuade the public, the moral authority, and more.
The crucible of the presidency has forged some of the very best and very worst leaders in our national history, along with much in between. Based on interviews conducted over the years with a variety of presidential biographers, this book provides not just a complete ranking of our presidents, but stories and analyses that capture the character of the men who held the office.
Harper Paperbacks.
First Ladies: The Ever Changing Role, from Martha Washington to Melania Trump
. Caroli here contributes a new preface and updated chapters. Covering all forty-five women from martha washington to Melania and Ivanka Trump and including the daughters, Caroli explores each woman's background, daughters-in-law, marriage, and sisters of presidents who served as First Ladies, and accomplishments and failures in office.
The residence inside the Private World of the White House. Including the courageous and adventurous, and the reserved, the ambitious, these women often did not fit the traditional expectations of a presidential helpmate. Betty boyd caroli's engrossing and informative First Ladies is both a captivating read and an essential resource for anyone interested in the role of America's First Ladies.
These women left remarkably complete records, and their stories offer us a window through which to view not only this particular sorority of women, but also the role of American woman in general. Harper Paperbacks. First ladies is an engaging portrait of how each First Lady changed the role and how the role changed in response to American culture.
This remarkable lot included abigail adams, whose "remember the ladies" became a twentieth-century feminist refrain; Jane Pierce, who epitomized the politically involved First Lady; and Pat Nixon, who prayed her husband would lose the election; Helen Taft, who insisted on living in the White House, although her husband would have preferred a judgeship; Eleanor Roosevelt, who perfected what some have called "the robot image.
First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies
She also offers insight as to what Melania Trump might hope to accomplish as First Lady. Candid and illuminating, this first group biography of the modern first ladies provides a revealing look at life upstairs and downstairs at the world’s most powerful address. Harper Paperbacks. The residence inside the Private World of the White House.
Now, former white house correspondent kate andersen brower draws on a wide array of untapped, as she did in her smash #1 bestseller The Residence, candid sources—from residence staff and social secretaries to friends and political advisers—to tell the stories of the ten remarkable women who have defined that role since 1960.
Brower offers new insights into this privileged group of remarkable women, Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Betty Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Patricia Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, and Michelle Obama. From the #1 new york times bestselling author of the groundbreaking backstairs look at the White House, news-making look at the true modern power brokers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: the First Ladies, comes an intimate, The Residence, from Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.
One of the most underestimated—and challenging—positions in the world, the first lady of the United States must be many things: an inspiring leader with a forward-thinking agenda of her own; a savvy politician, skilled at navigating the treacherous rapids of Washington; a wife and mother operating under constant scrutiny; and an able CEO responsible for the smooth operation of countless services and special events at the White House.
.
First Ladies: An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives
Fascinating. Now margaret truman, daughter of president Harry Truman and an acclaimed novelist and biographer in her own right, explores the fascinating position of First Lady throughout history and up to the present day. With her unique perspective as the daughter of a First Lady, Ms. Whitehouse wives. Truman reveals the truth behind some of the most misunderstood and forgotten First Ladies of our history, as well as the most famous and beloved.
. Harper Paperbacks. In recounting the charm and courage of dolley madison, good sense of grace coolidge, and the fierce protectiveness of Nancy Reagan, the genius of Eleanor Roosevelt, the brazen ambition of Florence Harding, the calm, among others, the mysterious femininity of Jackie Kennedy, Margaret Truman has assembled an honest yet affectionate portrait of our nation’s First Ladies—one that freely acknowledges their virtues and their flaws.
. The residence inside the Private World of the White House.
First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama
This expanded and updated fourth edition includes laura Bush's tenure, Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid, and an in-depth look at Michelle Obama, one of the most charismatic and appealing First Ladies in recent history. Betty boyd caroli's engrossing and informative First Ladies is both a captivating read and an essential resource for anyone interested in the role of America's First Ladies.
This remarkably diverse lot included abigail adams, although her husband would have preferred a judgeship; Eleanor Roosevelt, who prayed her husband would lose the election; Helen Taft, who insisted on living in the White House, who epitomized the politically involved First Lady; and Pat Nixon, whose "remember the ladies" became a twentieth-century feminist refrain; Jane Pierce, who perfected what some have called "the robot image.
They ranged in age from early 20s to late 60s; some received superb educations for their time, while others had little or no schooling. Including the courageous and adventurous, the ambitious, the emotionally unstable, and the reserved, these women often did not fit the traditional expectations of a presidential helpmate.
These women left remarkably complete records, and their stories offer us a window through which to view not only this particular sorority of women, but also American women in general.