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1. Which president killed a man?
2. Which president had just fathered an illegitimate child when he entered the White House?
3. Which first lady taught her husband how to read and write?
4. Which president broke his arm jumping out of a window to escape his mistress's husband?
5. Which president's daughter married another president's grandson?
6. Who was the only president to be preceded and succeeded by the same man?
7. Which president had a secret operation performed to remove a cancerous jaw?
8. Which president's last words were "My nourishment is palatable."

Written by a White House speechwriter who actually served five presidents, this irresistible collection of presidential trivia reveals the more colorful side of American history. Following a Q&A format and organized around 31 themes, Which President Killed a Man? will captivate trivia fans and history buffs of every political persuasion.

Answers:

1. Andrew Jackson
2. Warren Harding
3. Andrew Johnson's wife Eliza
4. Thomas Jefferson
5. Richard Nixon
6. Benjamin Harrison
7. Grover Cleveland
8. Millard Fillmore

Customer Reviews (2)

Very amusing
If you love presidential trivia you'll find this one to be very amusing. It not only satisfied my trivia yen but it actually gives the reader a pretty good biographical portrait of some of the more interesting presidents.

Lincoln was probably the most tragic president but did you know that he once offered to use cow dung in a duel? Did you know that his wife Mary went wild if another woman ever got too close to Abe? Did you know that he loved Macbeth and idolized George Washington?

Franklin Pierce has to be one of the top five most tragic figures in White House history. In one day he lost his young son, his wife's love and ended up on the road to alcoholism and a presidentcy that disappointed everyone.

Herbert Hoover was another sad figure. On paper his administration should have been an unflashy but dignified success. Despite his experience, intelligence and stamina he got hit with the Depression and was unfairly blamed for it.

And don't forget Woodrow Wilson. He's often presented as a plaster saint but ole Woodrow was far from that. He was loved by the ladies, made up obscene limericks and was a rip roaring, shameless racist.

The president who comes "alive" the most on these pages is Theodore Roosevelt. What a man! Cowboy, naturalist, cop, adventurer, statesmen, wit, and force of nature. After reading this book of trivia I decided to go find a good biography of TR.

Political bias in an innocent-sounding cover - be forewarned
Although I enjoyed the trivia in this book and learned a lot of tidbits, the longer I read, the more I was put off by the obvious political bias.It's subtle, but after awhile it becomes unmistakable.The Harding scandals, for instance, are characterized as follows: "Harding was personally honest but exploited by his business cronies."Rosalynn Carter, we are told, "wore an old dress to the inaugural" (she could have instead been characterized as "economical").Nixon's scandals are never mentioned without an accompanying comment regarding the poor character traits of his Democratic foes.George W. Bush is called a "fine student," while we are told that Clinton "never earned a degree at Oxford" (he was not in fact on a degree-granting program).The author gives an account of Teddy Roosevelt's attitude toward muckraking that does not comport with what I have read by other historians.The instances of bias compile the longer you read; these are just a few of the numerous examples.

James Humes is a former speechwriter for Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and the first Bush, so I suppose this bias is not surprising, and I personally have no problem with partisan argument per se.I'm an Independent voter so I have no particular axe to grind in either direction.What bothers me is that a clearly partisan stance is packaged in an apparently neutral and innocent, "fun" wrapper--"tantalizing trivia and fun facts."It's disingenious and deceitful.I believe readers deserve to know when they are getting something different than what is advertised.If Humes is trying to make a case for Republican "honesty" and superior values, it is ironic that he does so in a most dishonest manner.

Had I known there were so many "mini-sermons" embedded among the "tantalizing trivia," I would have saved my [money].Good presidential trivia books abound, and most of them are marketed more honestly than this deceptive little volume.Truly irresponsible reporting and marketing.Mr. Humes, your prejudices are showing. ... Read more

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Here are the personal philosophies, opinions, thoughts, witticisms, and feelings of some of America's most upstanding and quintessential first ladies. ... Read more

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"She is my rock—the one person who keeps it real." —Barack

"I don't want anybody to think that it's easy. . . . We have a strong marriage, but it's not perfect." —Michelle

Customer Reviews (18)

Interesting
I'm not a Fan of Barack but this book was a good read and seemed to be one of the more HONEST things about him.

Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage
This selected biography includes individual incidents that Barack and Michelle endured and information already in the public domain.Clear, rare, and extraordinary, Barack's not racially poisoned.He was raised to believe "to be black was to be the beneficiary of a great inheritance, a special destiny."Michelle, raised in South Chicago by loving parents, was deeply rooted in the black community, or as Jeremiah Wright would say, "the hood."Regardless of geography, Barack and Michelle experienced rare childhoods and share similar minds.

They married, had the kids, and the arguing began. Barack's political ambitions grew cumbersome. They even considered divorce before a crisis changed their life. They worked together on many campaigns to change public policy.Who knew they would change history? ||President Barack Obama and the First Lady, Michelle, seemingly complement each other; obliviously work as a team, but they do not profess to have a perfect marriage.

//Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage// is a well-written, inspirational page-turner.

Reviewed by Vivian Dixon Sober

Informative and interesting
This book takes a look at what events and people have shaped both Barack and Michelle in who they are.They are portraid as real people who, in all reality, have a very ordinary marriage, yet an extraordinary focus as a couple.It helped me understand who they are and some of the choices they have made.

Interesting, quick read
I did find out new information about the Obama's in this book.I feel it gives the readers insight on their lives before marriage, during the early years and through the campaign.It doesn't sugar coat their personalities, which I like.If you like politics and history, you will like this book!

Much more than I knew
I've just finished immersing myself in Christopher Andersen's terrific new book "Barack and Michelle Portrait of an American Marriage. Before I started reading, I thought I knew an awful lot about the Obamas. Obviously not. We all know the broad outlines of the their story -- his exotic parentage and upbringing and her more familiar story of growing up bright and black in Chicago and facing bigotry at this country's most elite universities. I was especially interested in and impressed by the story of their early days. What has always impressed me about the Obamas is their elegant ease -- the way they connect with people seems genuine and a welcome departure from the usual stilted, artificial interaction we so often see between politicians, their spouses and voters. Andersen's book gives you insight into what molded the President and the First Lady as the author presents, piece by piece, the experiences, people and places that played a role in who they have become. This book should be required reading for everyone who wants to better understand the Obamas. I loved every page of it. ... Read more

Product Description
This biographical dictionary covers all who have held this esteemed "office," including current First Lady Laura Bush. An in-depth introductory essay traces the history of the first lady, including changes in the conception of what a president's wife should do and be, and how these perceptions have been affected by changes in society overall. The book also offers intriguing vital statistics, such as presidents who had no wives during their presidencies, wives who devoted themselves to purely domestic duties, and wives who died during their husbands' terms in office.

Arranged chronologically by term of presidency, each biographical entry includes a detailed biography with an emphasis on life during the presidency, a chronology, and suggestions for further reading about that first lady. ... Read more

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Meet Michelle Obama and all her predecessors in the first book that profiles every woman who has served as our nation's First Lady. In America's First Ladies: Power Players from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, Rae Lindsay reports behind-the-scenes details about the lives of these forty-plus un-elected, unpaid women who filled what many call the world s hardest job.

They range from the famous to the obscure, from the beloved to the unpopular, from the well-educated to those who could barely read. Some were elegant and gregarious entertainers; others endured grief and pain in private. Many served as their husbands' eyes, ears and voices. Some bloomed, while others wilted under the light of public scrutiny. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, Any woman who goes into public life has to have a hide like a rhinoceros.

When Michelle Obama took on the First Lady role she set some major precedents: not only is she the first black First Lady, but in addition, her great-great-grandfather was a slave. She has vowed to be "Mom-in-Chief" to her pre-teen daughters (the youngest children to live in the White House since Amy Carter), but her education and career experience will lead her to take on significant national projects as well. Barack Obama calls her his "rock," and, in this role, she most certainly will act as her husband's influential "eyes and ears."

In America's First Ladies, Rae Lindsay relates the major roles played by our Presidents wives or surrogates, as well as the First Lady foibles that impacted on presidential families and, sometimes, our country. Martha Washington was such a poor speller that often George wrote her letters for her. She also recycled muslin grain sacks as morning dresses. Abigail Adams often wrote three love letters a day to her husband; in one she urged him to remember the ladies, one of the first feminist statements.

Dolley Madison and Nancy Reagan fudged their true birth dates Eliza Johnson and Abigail Fillmore taught their husbands, Andrew Johnson and Millard Fillmore, to read. Mamie Eisenhower transformed much of the White House into Mamie Pink and often greeted her staff, in bed, wearing a Mamie Pink bedjacket. Julia Grant wanted an operation to fix her cross-eyes and wanted to live off campus in Georgetown; Ulysses S. Grant denied both these goals.

Eleanor Roosevelt absentmindedly served sweetbreads to FDR six days in a row, and gave away silver teaspoons to visitors as White House souvenirs. Mary Lincoln ordered $1,000 in mourning clothes over a year before Lincoln was assassinated;a shopaholic, during one spree she bought over 100 pairs of gloves. Jacqueline Kennedy was criticized for reportedly spending $60,000 on clothes, while Pat Nixon wore a respectable Republican cloth coat. Jane Pierce stayed upstairs at the White House writing letters to her dead sons during Franklin Pierce s term in office. Pat Nixon urged her husband to destroy all his tapes; his refusal led to Watergate and his resignation. Sarah Polk, Helen Taft, and Rosalynn Carter attended their husband s cabinet meetings. Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan relied on astrologers for clues about their husbands futures.

In America's First Ladies, Lindsay tells you about parties and problems, weddings and funerals...cows on the White House lawn and rats in the White House walls...and about the women who cared deeply about what was happening in their country, as well as those who couldn t care less. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wow! Interesting read.
There's tons of stuff in here about which I had no idea!Well put together and obviously well-researched.A great read from cover to cover.

A Great Read
Great book, very insightful and flows beautifully.Gives a good inside look at these fantastic ladies! ... Read more

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The wives of Woodrow Wilson were strikingly different from each other. Ellen Axson Wilson, quiet and intellectual, died after just a year and a half in the White House and is thought to have had little impact on history. Edith Bolling Wilson was flamboyant and confident but left a legacy of controversy. Yet, as Kristie Miller shows, each played a significant role in the White House.

Miller presents a rich and complex portrait of Wilson's wives, one that compels us to reconsider our understanding of both women. Ellen comes into clear focus as an artist and intellectual who dedicated her talents to an ambitious man whose success enabled her to have a significant influence on the institution of the first lady. Miller's assessment of Edith Wilson goes beyond previous flattering accounts and critical assessments. She examines a woman who overstepped her role by hiding her husband's serious illness to allow him to remain in office. But, Miller concludes, Edith was acting as she knew her husband would have wished.

Miller explains clearly how these women influenced Woodrow Wilson's life and career. But she keeps her focus on the women themselves, placing their concerns and emotions in the foreground. She presents a balanced appraisal of each woman's strengths and weaknesses. She argues for Ellen's influence not only on her husband but on subsequent first ladies. She strives for an understanding of the controversial Edith, who saw herself as Wilson's principal advisor and, some would argue, acted as shadow president after his stroke. Miller also helps us better appreciate the role of Mary Allen Hulbert Peck, whose role as Wilson's "playmate" complemented that of Ellen--but was intolerable to Edith.

Especially because Woodrow Wilson continues to be one of the most-studied American presidents, the task of recognizing and understanding the influence of his wives is an important one. Drawing extensively on the Woodrow Wilson papers and newly available material, Miller's book answers that call with a sensitive and compelling narrative of how private and public emotions interacted at a pivotal moment in the history of first ladies

This book is part of the Modern First Ladies series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Biography that Reads Like a Novel
I really enjoyed this crisply written portrait of two remarkable women, or should I say three, if one counts a possible mistress. Who knew that President Woodrow Wilson was such a ladies' man? Kristie Miller brings alive an important period in American history and helps to set the record straight on the second Mrs Wilson's role when Wilson became incapacitated in office. I particularly enjoyed the back stories of the struggle for civil rights for African Americans and women and the struggle with Congress over the League of Nations. How many biographies have you read lately that offer the (slightly guilty) pleasures of reading a good novel? This one does. ... Read more

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George was a leader even in his younger days. The boys looked up to him for his strength, skills, intelligence, and honesty. Events in his boyhood are recounted, even the cherry tree incident. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Review of George Washington:Young Leader (Childhood of Famous Americans)
George Washington: Young Leader is an interesting and readable text for children aged from third to thirteen, and perhaps older children with reading differences.It could be read toyounger children by adults to give them an interest in following George Washington as they come across him in social studies classes. I purchased this book from Amazon.com.

Great book for young readers
I remember reading this book back in 1975 when I was in elementary school.I absolutely loved this series by Augusta Stevenson on famous Americans.This George Washington book was actually written in 1942 and has had several printings including this 90s version repackaged and newly illustrated for todays elementary reader.I really question the historical facts and details in this series but I will encourage my 3 children to read it simply because it is very entertaining and it helps develop vocabulary.

This is a fictionalized-biography.
Note that this book is a fictionalized-biography about the childhood of George Washington.Only about the last 20 (of 192) pages is about Washington becoming an officer and president.What this story does is show children what it was like to be a child during this time period. I think it does a fine job of that.My six-year-old son enjoyed having this book read aloud to him.Children 8-10 could easily read it on their own.My son and I had to discuss parts of the book that he didn't have any knowledge of: trades (what is a ferryman, surveyor, tailor, blacksmith, cooper, tanner?), the language used in reference to slavery (Negro is not a word we use anymore), the injustice of slavery, the cruelty of a ship captain to his sailors, why the Indians didn't want to sell their land, and a brief mention of scalping.I don't think I will read it to my daughter at age six since she is more tender-hearted.My son particularly enjoyed the boys at play: the pole-rafting contest, pretending to be soldiers, and hiding the school master's wig.This book accomplished what it set out to do- to give kids a brief look at what is was like to be a child in the eighteenth century.This book is not what you're looking for if you want historical facts on the adult life of George Washington.

George Washington Young Leader
This book is interesting from a child's perspective.However the vocabulary and many of the concepts were a little too advanced for my twelve year old students to grasp.I was disappointed that the focus of the book was only on the youthful George Washinton.Since nothing much isknown about his childhood, the author took a great deal of liberty infleshing out the story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An edible history lesson!
I was really surprised when I saw how uncomplicated the recipes are in this book.The First Ladies weren't professional chefs, but they knew how to prepare delicious meals for their families.I'm having fun experimenting with the dishes, and I've found several that I'll definitely make again and again.(I think that Betty Ford's strawberry mousse is where good strawberries go when they die.)My daughter and I used this book to create a buffet lunch for our local military recruiters for Presidents' Day.The recruiters said it was awesome to eat like presidents, and they raved about everything.Some of them took leftovers home so they could have the same thing for dinner, and that was after having seconds at lunchtime!I can't give any higher recommendation than that.

Great for history buff and food nuts
The book details the favorite foods of the presidents along with giving their entertaining styles and china patterns.Ok, you won't catch me making a kidney pie but there are recipes I have made just to "taste the era" so to speak.It's a fun book especial on Presidents Day! ... Read more

Product Description
Before the historic presidential election of 2008, LIFE Books published a best-selling volume entitled The American Journey of Barack Obama. In researching that book, the editors came to be deeply impressed not only by the exotic story of the candidate himself but also by the life and personality of the woman who would, if Obama were to prevail, enter the White House at his side. Michelle Robinson, the daughter of a Chicago municipal worker-and, in fact, a woman with slavery represented in her family tree-had risen to be educated in the Ivy League and was already embarked upon a successful legal career back in theWindy City before she ever met Barack Obama.Once she did, these two bright, charismatic young people influenced each other and rose together in Chicago politics. The rest, as they say, is history.

As the nation came to know Michelle Obama, the nation fell for her-and for Malia and Sasha as well (plus now, of course, Bo). The same has happened on the world stage, where it has been observed that Michelle, with her vivacity and sense of style, has sometimes eclipsed her husband in the way that Jackie Kennedy outshone JFK back in the early 1960s.

Meantime, Michelle has been out and about in Washington, working at the food bank, tending the garden, shepherding the kids. That, too, is part of the story-and all of it is here, in words and vibrant pictures, in LIFE's Michelle Obama: A Portrait of the First Lady. This is Michelle's story, from her girlhood to her current crucial role. It is not the story of the President's wife. It is the complete, illustrated biography of one of the most intriguing and captivating women in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Life Michelle Obama:A Portrait of the First Lady
This book is super.The color and the messaging are great.Also, the quick turn around time from my order to my receipt of the book was excellent.Amazon.com you are the BEST!

Yvonne J. Morse
National Distinguished Principal Retired ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Jumpers for Goalposts
Behind every successful man is a good woman, and in that respect football is no different than any other walk of life. Every player who pulled on the Royal Blue of Everton Football Club was somebody's hero and in the heat of battle, it was hard to imagine them as anything other than just that. But when the final whistle blew and the fans dispersed to discuss the merits of the match, the players threw their kits into the laundry room and went home to resume their roles of husband, provider and father.



Spanning the decades from the early 1930's to the late 70's, Real Footballers' Wives provides a unique insight into the lives of Everton's heroes from the women who loved them. The wives were the cornerstones of their success both on and off the pitch. Steadfast and loyal, their unsung contribution is woven into the history of this great club, but until now their stories remained untold.



These magnificent women who made many sacrifices for their husbands' glory now tell their personal, touching and unique recollections that would otherwise have been lost in the mists of time.



Featuring: Nancy Young, Maureen Harvey, Pat Labone, Trish Lyons, Rosemary Hurst, Celia Morrissey, Ann West, Norma Vernon, Brenda Thomas, Pat Gabriel, Annette Scott, Carole Dobson, Janet Royle, Eileen Stevens, Marina Kay, Irene Lee, Maureen Temple and grande dame, Dolly Sagar (born 1909).

Real Footballers Wives
This is a book, not for just Evertonians, but for anyone, be they football fan or not; who lived through the sixties and seventies. It is well written, Becky Tallentire manages to write professionally, but still let the words and feelings of the subjects to shine through. ... Read more

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This comprehensive book explores the lives of the remarkable women who made the White House their home. It includes biographies of all the first ladies, along with a portrait or photograph of each. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Solidly Packed with Fact and Pictures
This book passes the jealousy test: I am jealous that I did not write it. It is crammed with facts about all the first ladies from Martha to Laura. Each woman is pictured (usually in color) with a one or 1 1/2 page discussion of their life and times. What amazed me was the large number of first ladies with major health problems including strokes, seizures (Elizabeth Monroe fell into a fireplace during a seizure, causing herself serious injury and William McKinley would put his handkerchief over his wife Ida's face when she had an attack at state dinners), and yes there was malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and psychotic depressions (Mrs. Lincoln clearly was bipolar with her spending sprees alternating with her gloom). For a first lady to spend years in her room writing letters to her dead son doesn't seem right. But I am not going to tell you who that was. You'll have to read the book. Vignette: Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison didn't go to the inauguration of her husband because she felt the weather was too bad. President Harrison, age 78 at the time, refused a carriage ride home saying that he was an old soldier and would ride back on his horse. He got pneumonia and died soon thereafter proving the wife had better judgment that he did. I liked the way Martha Washington would camp with George and act as his personal secretary during the Revolutionary war and, following her example, so did Julia Grant camp with Ulysses during the Civil war. Would we let women in the tents of their men during a military campaign now? The past is a different country. They do things differently there. If you like short and sweet biography about lives well lived, take a look at The First Ladies of the White House.

informative
this is a nice book on all the first ladies,not one of the best ones available but nice just the same. The details give you a brief summary of what life was like for them before, during and after there husbands term(s)in office. Some of the older photographs are the sameones that have appeared in other history books but the brief description of the contrubtion these women made to this country makes this book a little gem.

First Ladies of the White House
This shows that women are power in their own ways.It also shows pictures of her, him, and the family.It aslo show some rooms, hitorical information of that time. It gives this the idea of what happened then, and it shows the administration, dob and dod.The wierd thng about it is 80% are done in paintings, even the time when we had photographs!!!Also there is a picture that is repeted the background of another picture, too!( and they were painted 20 years apart!)It even gives the election results of the 43rd pres. election.I would rate this book 5 stars.

SAM ... Read more

Product Description
For most first ladies, their years in the White House are their sole claim to fame. For one--Hillary Rodham Clinton--that tenure was just another step in a remarkable political career. Neither a "hit job" nor a facile tribute, Gil Troy's lively and refreshingly nonsensational new book provides a revealing look at arguably the most polarizing first lady in history and undoubtedly the most prominent American woman of our time.

Troy, named by History News Network as one of America's Top 15 Young Historians, measures Clinton's historical footprint, tracing her activities during the turbulent decade that brought her to national prominence and examining her influence as a key player in her husband's administration. Covering her attempts to overhaul health care and redefine the first lady as co-president while she tried to cope with her husband's scandals and impeachment, he recounts how Hillary's rocky road had a mixed impact on the office, even as her ambitions illuminated the role's potential.

As the first feminist first lady, Hillary Clinton faced dilemmas typical of modern American women as she tried to be both a family-oriented, devoted wife and a career-focused, independent woman. Troy shows how she did her best to navigate this divide and breaks new ground in taking her seriously as a thinker. Delving into Hillary's speeches and writings, he uncovers a surprisingly more moderate, even conservative worldview. In fact, he finds some of her positions--such as her outspoken views on abortion--to be authentic expressions of a genuine Puritan/Methodist centrism rather than a mere political ploy.

Offering a mix of praise and censure that elevates to a more sophisticated level debates about her controversial career and presidential aspirations, Troy's book will enlighten and intrigue Hillary's passionate critics and staunch defenders alike. It will renew discussions of where she stands in the continuum of modern first ladies--and of where history will ultimately take her. Many of the book's key themes are effectively underscored by an entertainingly narrated photo essay, with provocative images drawn from the Clinton Presidential Library.

This book is part of the Modern First Ladies series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Awesome new biography of our future president
Gil Troy's book is well researched and written. It is full of interesting insight and wit. Buy and read it today. Support quality historical writing! ... Read more

Product Description
Dark ringlets of curls and a pretty oval face reflecting integrity and charm were the endearing features of Sarah Childress Polk wife and First Lady of President James K Polk who served from 1844 to 1848 during America's era of expansionist Manifest Destiny. She was one of the first truly politically important First Ladies of America because she acted as her husband's main political adviser, close confidante and personal secretary, and was blessed with a sound acumen and moral uprightness. Both in her domestic charm and political acumen, Sarah Childress Polk became a role model for future First Ladies to follow both in strength of character and political performance. ... Read more

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120 full-color and b&w illus. 9 1/4 x 12 3/4. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

So Much Potential, Such Weak Outcome
This well-illustrated book falls short in terms of accuracy and lame editorial remarks, like this one about Reagan's fight with Alzheimer's:"The public responded sympathetically to this courageous admission and wished the Reagans well."I mean, I know what the author is trying to say, but it sounds like she is trying to wrap up the Reagan chapter and can't think of anything better to say.Up until his funeral, the man remained a controversial figure, and was frequently the butt of mean-spirited remarks, even related to his tragic final illness.

She describes the Clintons:"searching to find a way to shape and renew the nation in a continuing progression toward the promise of the future."What does that mean?What President DIDN'T have the same goal?

There are gross errors, like the picture of Benjamin Harrison, which is not him, but a by-stander in the same picture.It is missing information on the date of death of Louisa Adams, in the little factoid box on the margins.

Speaking of the factoid boxes, they are hard to follow, using a different format for First Ladies than what is used for the Presidents.

Basically, what this book needs is a little editing and proofreading.It may be said that it was written for maybe mid-late elementary children, but please make sure it has no errors, especially if that were the case!

I would recommend another picture book of the same topic. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Little Known Facts
This slim volume gives brief biographies of all the wives and women who stood by Presidents and helped them in invaluable ways to have memorable Administrations.

A Captivating Look at our First Ladies
I bought this book with its companion book, "The Presidents of the United States of America" and loved both of them.This gives a very interesting look into the lives of the past and current First Ladies, from childhood until death.There is a 2-page spread on each First Lady with a good sized portrait or photograph to accompany each one, almost all being in color.I was disappointed with the portrait chosen for Jackie Kennedy, which didn't do her justice, but all the rest are lovely.A very entertaining read for children or adults about the many wives, sisters, neices, and daughters of our presidents who resided as "First Lady" of the White House.I couldn't put it down! ... Read more

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Wife of one president and mother of another, Barbara Bush was an outspoken first lady who looked more like her constituents than did her predecessors. A White House resident for only four years, she nevertheless became and remains one of the most admired women in the world.

This new look at Barbara Bush draws on recently opened records at the Bush library, the first lady's many speeches, interviews with the first lady's staff, and an exclusive interview with Mrs. Bush to impart a new appreciation for this beloved former first lady. And while other biographies--and her own memoir--have hinted at seeming contradictions in the Barbara Bush persona, Myra Gutin looks squarely at her White House years to set the record straight and show that she was more than "America's Grandmother" in faux pearls.

Gutin's portrait reveals a woman who was more of a success as first lady than her husband was as president--who in many ways was the public face of the George H. W. Bush administration. And while she wasn't an innovator as presidential wife, Gutin shows how the "Silver Fox" used her rich experience in politics to master the public relations side of first ladyship with as much skill as any White House spouse.

Gutin argues that Barbara was more politically astute than George--even though she denied any input into policymaking and maintained an apolitical image. In fact, she played an integral role in campaigning, fund-raising, and other activities that often blurred the line between the humanitarian and the political. Piercing through the first lady's public persona, Gutin reveals Barbara's backstage political skills in action--along with her closely held views on social issues like gun control and abortion.

From behind the façade of an ideal American family, Gutin also includes frank accounts of George H. W. Bush's alleged adultery and of the death of the Bushes' daughter Robin. In addition, she lends new insight into Barbara's relationship with her mother, her role as entertainer, and her role in wartime.

Gutin gives us a vibrant woman who lent warmth to her husband's cool image and whose legacy lives in the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literary and several best-selling books. It is a richly textured narrative that depicts a woman of loyalty, candor, and common sense, who knew when and how to apply those qualities in the service of her husband.

This book is part of the Modern First Ladies series. ... Read more

Product Description
The great-granddaughter of a slave, Michelle Obama made history when she became the first African-American first lady of the United States. She is a hardworking wife, mother, Harvard graduate, and community volunteer who brings grace and style to a new era in the White House. From her childhood in Chicago to her days in the White House, this photo-biography celebrates the events in Michelle Obama s life during her journey into history. Kids will also enjoy some fun photos of Michelle riding a bike with her daughter and doing the hula hoop! ... Read more