Book Description

This collection of essays about the Presidential wives of the 20th century through Nancy Reagan. An exploration of the records of first ladies will elicit diverse insights about the historical impact of these women in their times. Interpretive theories that explain modern first ladies are still tentative and exploratory. The contention in the essays, however, is that whatever direction historical writing on presidential wives may follow, there is little question that the future role of first ladies is more likely to expand than to recede to the days of relatively silent and passive helpmates. Following a foreword and an introduction, essays in the collection and their authors are, as follows: "Meeting a New Century: The Papers of Four Twentieth-Century First Ladies" (Mary M. Wolfskill); "Not One to Stay at Home: The Papers of Lou Henry Hoover" (Dale C. Mayer); "'I Want You to Write to Me': The Papers of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt" (Frances M. Seeber); "Harry's Silent Partner: The Papers of Bess Truman" (Maurine H. Beasley); "Ike Was Her Career: The Papers of Mamie Doud Eisenhower" (Martin M. Teasley); "An Enduring Fascination: The Papers of Jacqueline Kennedy" (Mary Ann Watson); "A Journey of the Heart: The Papers of Lady Bird Johnson" (Nancy Kegan Smith); "'She Deserved So Much More': The Papers of Pat Nixon" (Paul A. Schmidt); "'If There Was Anything You Forgot to Ask...': The Papers of Betty Ford" (Karen M. Rohrer); "'These Are Precious Years': The Papers of Rosalynn Carter" (Faye Lind Jensen); and "'She Saves Everything': The Papers of Nancy Davis Reagan" (Carl Sferrazza Anthony). The collection concludes with an afterword and suggestions for further reading. (NKA)