First women : the grace and power of America's modern First Ladies

Title:

Author:

Brower, Kate Andersen, author.

ISBN:

9780062439659

Personal Author:

Brower, Kate Andersen, author.

Edition:

First edition.

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2016]

Physical Description:

380 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 cm

Contents:

The political wife -- Sisterhood of 1600 -- Profiles in courage -- Motherhood -- Supporting actors -- East Wing vs. West Wing -- The good wife -- Bad blood -- Keep calm and carry on -- Ladies, first.

Abstract:

"An intimate, news-making look at the true modern power brokers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- the First Ladies, from Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama"-- Amazon.com.

Brower draws on a wide array of untapped, candid sources to tell the stories of the ten remarkable women who have defined the role of First Lady of the United States since 1960. From Jackie Kennedy to Michelle Obama, she offers new insights into this privileged group, and shares stories 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.

Subject Term:

Presidents' spouses -- United States -- Biography.

Presidents' spouses -- United States -- History -- 20th century.

Presidents' spouses -- United States -- History -- 21st century.

Document ID:

SD_ILS:2229275

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Library	Collection	Collection	Call Number	Status
Searching... Beale Memorial Library (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Adult Non-Fiction	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Clovis Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-fiction Area	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Coalinga District Library (Coalinga-Huron)	Searching... Unknown	Non-Fiction Area	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Farmersville Branch Library (Tulare Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-Fiction Area	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Fig Garden Branch (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-fiction Area	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Frazier Park Branch (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Adult Non-Fiction	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Hilmar Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-Fiction	973.09 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Merced Main Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-Fiction	973.09 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Northeast Branch Library (Kern Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Adult Non-Fiction	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Tulare Public Library	Searching... Unknown	Adult Non-fiction	973.09 Bro	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Visalia Library (Tulare Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-Fiction Area	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Woodward Park Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Non-fiction Area	973.099 BRO	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the groundbreaking backstairs look at the White House, The Residence, comes an intimate, news-making look at the true modern power brokers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: the First Ladies, 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. Now, as she did in her smash #1 bestseller The Residence, former White House correspondent Kate Andersen Brower draws on a wide array of untapped, 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, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Patricia Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. 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. 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.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Brower (The Residence) has written a sophisticated and intimate portrait of modern first ladies, from Jacqueline Kennedy through Michelle Obama in expertly balanced prose that is neither too impersonal nor too personal. Though Brower doesn't whitewash the different personalities of the women, she manages to find positives in even some of the more reputedly prickly characters. With a deft touch, the author moves from Kennedy's lifelong grief over her husband, John F. Kennedy's, assassination to the impact of Richard Nixon's scandal and resignation on his wife, Pat, to Betty Ford's addictions. Though attention is given to all of the women, there is perhaps a greater focus on Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. This leads to the only negative point that can be made about the book, which is that there is a decidedly small amount of information on more recent first ladies, particularly Laura Bush. Brower writes with grace and ease and finely outlines the lives of these influential figures, providing deep insights into the experiences of each. VERDICT A must-have for every library, this account will entertain and enthrall readers of a wide variety of ages and interests.-Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Introduction	p. 1
I The Political Wife	p. 7
II Sisterhood of 1600	p. 41
III Profiles in Courage	p. 83
IV Motherhood	p. 101
V Supporting Actors	p. 143
VI East Wing vs. West Wing	p. 167
VII The Good Wife	p. 193
VIII Bad Blood	p. 243
IX Keep Calm and Carry On	p. 285
Epilogue. Ladies, First	p. 319
Acknowledgments	p. 333
Sources and Notes	p. 337
Bibliography	p. 355
Index	p. 365

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Summary

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents