Customer Reviews

The Smithsonian Book of the First Ladies: Their Lives, Times, and Issues

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I expected more from The Smithsonian. This book contains a total of three paragraphs about Martha Wayles, Thomas Jefferson's wife; four paragraphs about Anna Symmes, William Henry Harrison's wife; five paragraphs about Rachel Donelson, Andrew Jackson's wife; eight paragraphs about Letitia Christian, John Tyler's wife; and only three sentences on Hannah Hoes, Martin Van Buren's wife. A high school research paper based on such a half-hearted attempt would have received a "D".

I agree with Mrs. Clinton's foreword that this book gives just a glimpse (and not a full picture) of the lives of the 43 women who have been First Ladies of the U.S.

In all cases it is heavy on the patriotic heroics of these women, while subordinating and deemphasizing the role of mother and wife in favor of the more glamorous role of First Lady. But this is to be expected in a "women friendly book."

Heroics aside, this set of women is an interesting group in almost all cases, including that of Hillary herself. With a great deal of grace and strength all but a few of them seem to have weathered the storm of serving the dual and sometimes triple roles of mother, wife and First Lady quite well. Abigail Adams is difficult to beat given the special relationship, marriage and circumstances of her marriage to John Adams.

History is still out on Hillary. But given that she has become a national superstar as Secretary of State and is certainly likely to challenge Obama in 2012, she could very well become not only the first, First Lady President but also the first women to have served as both Secretary of State and President. Stay tuned on that one. Two stars.