Description
An engrossing look at twelve presidential marriages โ from Edith and Woodrow Wilson to Laura and George W. Bushโthat have profoundly affected Americaโs history.โInsightful.... Colorful.... A shrewd and illuminating look at the juncture where the personal and the political overlap.โ โ The Wall Street Journal
Marton uncovers the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the ultimate power couples, showing how first ladies have used their privileged access to the president to influence staffing, promote causes, and engage directly in policy-making. Edith Wilson secretly ran the country after Woodrowโs debilitating stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt was FDRโs moral compass. And Laura Bush, initially shy of any public role, has proven to be the emotional ballast for her husband. Through extensive research and interviews, Marton reveals the substantialโyet often overlookedโlegacy of presidential wives, providing insight into the evolution of womenโs roles in the twentieth century and vividly depicting the synergy of these unique political partnerships. ISBN:0385721889
