The First Ladies Fact Book: The Stories of the Women of the White House from Martha Washington to Laura Bush (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "When sixty-year-old Martha Washington arrived in New York in the spring of 1789 to join her husband, the newly inaugurated president of the United States,..." (more)
Key Phrases: congressional wives, lady bird, New York, The First Ladies Fact Book, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The First Ladies Fact Book is the definitive guide to the lives, achievements, triumphs, and tragedies of every first lady from Martha Washington to Laura Bush. Arranged chronologically for easy reference and illustrated throughout with artwork, photographs, and documents, it is a complete overview of everything you’d ever need to know: the major impact of their lives and the legacies they left behind; their personalities and personal habits; their early lives; their family backgrounds, siblings, children, friends, and foes.

What’s more, The First Ladies Fact Book surpasses typical references, featuring selections of the most intimate correspondence of each first lady, from letters to their families to letters to their presidential husbands. Delightful surprises abound, including little-known information about the women’s hobbies, style of dress, habits of socializing, and peculiarities. The more than 700 evocative photographs include sixteen pages of color photography of first-lady fashion, making it a wonderful combination of solid reference and eyecatching visual history.

About the Author

Bill Harris is a freelance editor and the author of One Thousand New York Buildings and sixteen other books about New York. He worked at The New York Times for twenty-five years and was a licensed New York City tour guide before moving to Dallas, Texas, where he currently resides.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 725 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579124682
• ISBN-13: 978-1579124687
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.5 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,914 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating information!, November 9, 2006

By	M. Fierge "booklover" (IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am teaching an extra-curricular high school class this semester on the history of U.S. presidents and wives. This book has some very interesting information on the wives of the presidents. I have found fascinating tidbits from this book which kept my students interested even when the presidents might have proven boring! I am enjoying reading the book on a personal note too!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Stories, March 18, 2006

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This huge book bollows Mr. Harris earlier book The Presidents Fact Book where he talked of the Achievements, Events, People, Triumphs, and Tragedies of Every President. Obviously in this book he is not talking about the presidents but their wives.

The first ladies have had their own share of the making of history. In recent years, Jackie Kennedy did a lot towards the creation of the Camelot image of the Kennedy years. Hillary Clinton is certainly remembered for her efforts towards creating universal health care.

These are just two small details of the lives of two first ladies. This book has over 700 pages about their lives, their interests, their activities in the white house and the way that they worked with their husbands to assist in the governance of the country.

And yes, there is a color section of pictures featuring mostly the clothes they wore.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the History !!!, May 2, 2009

By	C. Howell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is exactly what I was looking for in a history book not only of First Ladies, but a history of their husbands.