The Presidential Companion: Readings on the First Ladies (review)

In her foreword to these essays, Melanne Verveer, former chief of staff to first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, suggests that close study of American first ladies provides "a distinct lens with which to view history" (xiv). Building on that view, the editors identify two themes that pervade the book: "The first is that the first ladies are politically and socially influential in and beyond the White House. The second examines the partnership found in the presidency" (xv). Exploring those themes, the book provides a general introduction to first ladies and related topics. In particular, the essays consider how first ladies have enacted or augmented aspects of the role. Together, the essays consider the evolution of the role of first lady, although the editors insist, rightly, that the evolution has been episodic rather than continuous.

The book has six sections. Following the introduction, the section "Founding and Development of the First Lady" includes chapters on Martha Washington, who created the role; Dolley Madison, who had a profound influence on both the politics of her day and the evolution of the role of the first lady; and Betty Ford, whose candor and political activism challenged established role boundaries. As diverse as these three women were personally, each contributed to the development of the first lady as a force in national life. While Washington created parameters for the role, Madison demonstrated the first lady's power to influence, often indirectly, political life. In her candid discussion of personal problems and her strong political views that often differed from those of her husband, Ford demonstrated that the first lady can be an individual in her own right.

The section "Social and Behind-the-Scenes Influence" highlights some lesser-known first ladies as well as the controversial Edith Wilson. The discussion of Sarah Polk, Margaret Taylor, Abigail Fillmore, and Jane Pierce is aptly titled "True Women." Although they were important to their husbands' political careers, they established "a 'traditional' approach to the office, that of the publicly passive and seemingly nonpolitical first lady" (76). Responding to the gender stereotypes of their era, each woman nonetheless emphasized aspects of the role that corresponded to her own predilections. A reluctant first lady, Bess Truman believed "a woman's place in public is to sit beside her husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight" (127). In sharp contrast, Edith Wilson, always protective of her husband, assumed unusual power after his stroke. Dubbed "Lady President" and "Regent," Wilson vigilantly protected her husband's health and his image as an effective president. After his death, she established his legacy by overseeing the collecting of his letters and the writing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography.

"Political and Policy Influence" begins with Eleanor Roosevelt, who dramatically changed the role. Another chapter highlights the congressional testimony of Lady Bird Johnson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosalyn Carter, and Hillary Clinton, in part exploring why Roosevelt and Clinton were heavily criticized for these activities while Carter was not. The foreign policy efforts of Rosalyn Carter and Hillary Clinton are the subject of the next chapter. The final chapter of this section considers the evolution that led to the establishment of a professional office and the integration of the first lady's staff with the White House staff.

"Modern First Ladyship" includes additional chapters on Clinton and Ford. The chapter on Ford highlights her struggle with breast cancer, while that on Clinton concerns her challenges as first lady and how she learned from them. Two chapters explore the private/public tensions in the role of the first lady, noting the complexities and contradictions inherent in the role.

The concluding section draws general observations from the essays. For example, the editors conclude that the relationship a first lady enjoys with her husband determines the level of her influence. Further, they urge the need for the development of a new model for first ladies, "a more independent/integrative model conditioned...