Overview
This groundbreaking book shows the evolutionary role of first lady and its historic importance on the American presidency. In this revised first edition, Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith share new insights and information on the influential women who broke barriers and made a mark on our country during their tenures in the White House. Profiles of first ladies bring their histories, achievements, and legacies to life. Readers learn about the development and expansion of the role of first lady, from its origins under Martha Washinton to Melania Trump.
Full Product Details
Author: Diana Carlin ,
Anita McBride ,
Nancy Smith
Publisher: Cognella Press
Imprint: Cognella Press
ISBN: 9798299710434
Pages: 562
Publication Date: 27 March 2026
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
Reviews from the First Edition ""Over my decades in politics, including during my tenure in the White House, I have witnessed the office of the first lady transform. Presidential spouses have advocated on important issues, become cultural icons, and even run for the presidency themselves. And looking ahead to the next 50 years, I expect first ladies-and hopefully first gentlemen-will continue to play a decisive role on the national scene. That's why Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History Making Women is an indispensable primer for any informed citizen/students of politics. Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith have given us a guidebook to the history of this unique role-and a road map for its future."" Mack McLarty, Former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton ""Lady Bird Johnson famously said, '[The job of First Lady] assigns her no duties and yet when she gets the job, a podium is there if she cares to use it. I did.' So did many others. In Remembering The First Ladies experts Diana Carlin, Anita McBride, and Nancy Smith offer a comprehensive and compelling look at the towering legacies of our First Ladies-many of them overlooked in their own times-and how the vital role has evolved along with our nation."" Mark K. Updegrove, President & CEO, LBJ Foundation, and Presidential Historian, ABC News
Author Information
Diana B. Carlin is Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and a retired professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas. She has taught courses on first ladies at three universities. Anita B. McBride is Director of the First Ladies Initiative at American University, School of Public Affairs. Her experience includes service in three U.S. presidential administrations at the White House and Department of State and as chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush. Nancy Kegan Smith retired in 2012 as Director of the Presidential Materials Division of the National Archives and Records Administration. She is co-editor of Modern First Ladies: Their Documentary Legacy and lectures on first ladies and presidential records. The three authors write and lecture extensively on first ladies and are founding members of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE).
