Presidential Wives: An Anecdotal History - Softcover

"For anyone interested in a snapshot view of the presidency, this anecdotal history of American presidential wives...is important to read--and certainly fun....Boller's anecdotes are fascinating and amusing."--Letitia Baldrige, The Washington Post Book World"Boller excels at illuminating the pathos and tragedy that suffused the lives of other presidential wives."--The Chicago Tribune"Boller's deep insight into [these women's] lives and personalities...[adds] new historical detail to White House folklore."--Los Angeles Times Book Review"Boller has splendidly fulfilled his purpose of producing a fascinating...account of what it has meant for a woman to be the wife of a president....This collective history of presidential wives calls attention to their significance in the nation's history."--Journal of American History "For anyone interested in a snapshot view of the presidency, this anecdotal history of American presidential wives...is important to read--and certainly fun....Boller's anecdotes are fascinating and amusing."--Letitia Baldrige, The Washington Post Book World "Boller excels at illuminating the pathos and tragedy that suffused the lives of other presidential wives."--The Chicago Tribune "Boller's deep insight into [these women's] lives and personalities...[adds] new historical detail to White House folklore."--Los Angeles Times Book Review "Boller has splendidly fulfilled his purpose of producing a fascinating...account of what it has meant for a woman to be the wife of a president....This collective history of presidential wives calls attention to their significance in the nation's history."--Journal of American History "For anyone interested in a snapshot view of the presidency, this anecdotal history of American presidential wives...is important to read--and certainly fun....Boller's anecdotes are fascinating and amusing."--Letitia Baldrige, The Washington Post Book World "Boller excels at illuminating the pathos and tragedy that suffused the lives of other presidential wives."--The Chicago Tribune "Boller's deep insight into [these women's] lives and personalities...[adds] new historical detail to White House folklore."--Los Angeles Times Book Review "Boller has splendidly fulfilled his purpose of producing a fascinating...account of what it has meant for a woman to be the wife of a president....This collective history of presidential wives calls attention to their significance in the nation's history."--Journal of American History "For anyone interested in a snapshot view of the presidency, this anecdotal history of American presidential wives...is important to read--and certainly fun....Boller's anecdotes are fascinating and amusing."--Letitia Baldrige, The Washington Post Book World"Boller excels at illuminating the pathos and tragedy that suffused the lives of other presidential wives."--The Chicago Tribune"Boller's deep insight into [these women's] lives and personalities...[adds] new historical detail to White House folklore."--Los Angeles Times Book Review"Boller has splendidly fulfilled his purpose of producing a fascinating...account of what it has meant for a woman to be the wife of a president....This collective history of presidential wives calls attention to their significance in the nation's history."--Journal of American History

This 3rd book in Professor Boller's series of "Presidential Anecdotes", looks at the women who have presided at the White House alongside their President husbands. The First Ladies featured include Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison, Louisa Stanton Adams, Mary Todd Lincoln, Edith Galt Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Rosalind Carter, and Nancy Reagan. Each is described in an introductory section, describing the woman and her contribution both to her husband's administration and to the history of the period, followed by anecdotes that give particular insight into her personality and achievements.