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Presidential Anecdotes
Presidential Wives
As his previous books Presidential Anecdotes and Presidential Campaigns clearly proved, Paul F. Boller, Jr. has a remarkable eye for the telling detail that humanizes history and gives it life. In this new book, he brings that gift to bear on the women our Presidents married, and the result
is a biographical feast--at once funny and poignant, dramatic and illuminating, covering every First Lady from Martha Washington to Nancy Reagan.
In these vivid and entertaining pages, we encounter the trend-setter Dolley Madison's "unfortunate propensity to snuff-taking"--a propensity that soon had Washington's other women doing the same. We learn that Mary Todd Lincoln held such harsh opinions of some of her husband's appointments that
he felt compelled to tell her, "If I listened to you, I should soon be without a cabinet." We meet Edith Wilson in a Red Cross canteen after America's entry into World War I, dispensing candy and cigarettes to the doughboys departing for France. We find Eleanor Roosevelt on the night of FDR's
election to his first term, lamenting, "Now I'll have no identity," and then going on to become the greatest of all the "Woman Doers" to occupy the White House. And we hear Lady Bird Johnson's advice to her two young daughters prior to a State Dinner in honor of the President of "Read all
you can in the encyclopedia about the Sudan. And don't drink any of the wine at dinner."
In the manner of his earlier books, Boller devotes a chapter to each of his subjects, featuring an incisive biographical essay followed by a selection of revealing anecdotes. The book portrays a diverse group of women--shrinking violets, passionate partisans, spotlight-loving hostesses, and
devoted helpmeets who remained silent in public but actively advised their husbands in private. Once again, Boller delightfully demonstrates how much the institution of the presidency and all that surrounds it tells us about ourselves as a people and our life as a nation.
is a biographical feast--at once funny and poignant, dramatic and illuminating, covering every First Lady from Martha Washington to Nancy Reagan.
In these vivid and entertaining pages, we encounter the trend-setter Dolley Madison's "unfortunate propensity to snuff-taking"--a propensity that soon had Washington's other women doing the same. We learn that Mary Todd Lincoln held such harsh opinions of some of her husband's appointments that
he felt compelled to tell her, "If I listened to you, I should soon be without a cabinet." We meet Edith Wilson in a Red Cross canteen after America's entry into World War I, dispensing candy and cigarettes to the doughboys departing for France. We find Eleanor Roosevelt on the night of FDR's
election to his first term, lamenting, "Now I'll have no identity," and then going on to become the greatest of all the "Woman Doers" to occupy the White House. And we hear Lady Bird Johnson's advice to her two young daughters prior to a State Dinner in honor of the President of "Read all
you can in the encyclopedia about the Sudan. And don't drink any of the wine at dinner."
In the manner of his earlier books, Boller devotes a chapter to each of his subjects, featuring an incisive biographical essay followed by a selection of revealing anecdotes. The book portrays a diverse group of women--shrinking violets, passionate partisans, spotlight-loving hostesses, and
devoted helpmeets who remained silent in public but actively advised their husbands in private. Once again, Boller delightfully demonstrates how much the institution of the presidency and all that surrounds it tells us about ourselves as a people and our life as a nation.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 3, 2025
Holy moly this is a beast of a book, jam-packed with information, and thank goodness it only goes through the Reagan presidency!
Presidential Wives covers every first lady from Martha W. to Nancy, and a handful of other wives, to boot. Only James Buchanan is left out of the book, having never married, but you would think there could be a little something about his niece, who filled the ceremonial role. Sadly, there is little biographical material that survives for many of the early first ladies, since it was not unusual for them to erase themselves from the narrative (or for their husbands to do it for them).
Even when enough material exists, most of the first thirty tell a similar story, that of mother, wife, and hostess. Only in the mid-twentieth century do we begin to see first ladies not only with minds of their own but expressing themselves with those minds, having their own careers and interests, and finally influencing their husbands’ presidencies.
As such, the later chapters get longer to the point of being very detailed biographies, yet the truth is each of these women deserves their own volume. The author’s political persuasion may peek through from time to time, seen also in the extensive detail for Nancy and Ronald Reagan (but then again, they were in the White House when the book was published).
The editing misses also increase as the book progresses, not especially distracting but sloppy, nonetheless.
While respectful overall, the unfortunate structure identifies the first ladies’ husbands by their last name and themselves as “Mrs.” last name, forcing the reader to identify the woman in relation to the man, but it does follow the standard writing style. Even the title does that: Not “First Ladies,” but “Presidential wives.” Still, Boller skillfully presents both the traditional, dutiful wife and the modern go-getter as worthy of respect.
This one is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s American history from start to finish (1988).
Presidential Wives covers every first lady from Martha W. to Nancy, and a handful of other wives, to boot. Only James Buchanan is left out of the book, having never married, but you would think there could be a little something about his niece, who filled the ceremonial role. Sadly, there is little biographical material that survives for many of the early first ladies, since it was not unusual for them to erase themselves from the narrative (or for their husbands to do it for them).
Even when enough material exists, most of the first thirty tell a similar story, that of mother, wife, and hostess. Only in the mid-twentieth century do we begin to see first ladies not only with minds of their own but expressing themselves with those minds, having their own careers and interests, and finally influencing their husbands’ presidencies.
As such, the later chapters get longer to the point of being very detailed biographies, yet the truth is each of these women deserves their own volume. The author’s political persuasion may peek through from time to time, seen also in the extensive detail for Nancy and Ronald Reagan (but then again, they were in the White House when the book was published).
The editing misses also increase as the book progresses, not especially distracting but sloppy, nonetheless.
While respectful overall, the unfortunate structure identifies the first ladies’ husbands by their last name and themselves as “Mrs.” last name, forcing the reader to identify the woman in relation to the man, but it does follow the standard writing style. Even the title does that: Not “First Ladies,” but “Presidential wives.” Still, Boller skillfully presents both the traditional, dutiful wife and the modern go-getter as worthy of respect.
This one is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s American history from start to finish (1988).
October 5, 2025
This is JUST the kind of book on First Ladies I’ve been looking for!! Loved the format; very informational without being dull. The unofficial role of First Lady is so unique and it was cool to read about how each woman approached it. Helen Herron Taft was my favorite hands down, but Dolley Madison, Julia Dent Grant, Edith Wilson, Grace Coolidge, Lady Bird Johnson, and Betty Ford are up there for sure. I wouldn’t want to be a First Lady, but man—to have that kind of platform for good would be amazing. Also, it was thoroughly disappointing to read about how many Presidents were not faithful to their wives, and how many of those wives responded graciously and continued to support, and even defend, their husbands. That was a somewhat consistent theme throughout the book, and I really wish it weren’t. Other than that, LOVED THIS!!!
February 12, 2013
I found this book to be very interesting. It went into detail about each of the presidential wives, even if they were not alive during their husband's presidential terms. Some had scant information, but many had lots of stories and anecdotes.
I have two comments to make: 1) the book needs to be updated - it ends with Hilary Clinton; 2) there should be photos included. Obviously, they would have to be photos of paintings for the women further back, but it would have been so nice to see, where available, pictures of the wives around the time they met their husbands, and around the time their husbands were president. After reading some of the descriptions, I was desperate to see an image of some of the women.
A nice read where you can do a chapter and then put it down for later. Lots of facts I had never heard before.
Publication Date: February 25, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0195121422 | ISBN-13: 978-0195121421 | Edition: Revised
In Presidential Wives, Paul Boller brings his gift for telling detail to bear on the women our Presidents married, and the result is a biographical feat--at once funny and poignant, dramatic and illuminating, covering every First Lady from Martha Washington to Hillary Rodham Clinton. Boller devotes a full chapter to each of his subjects, featuring an incisive biographical essay followed by a selection of revealing anecdotes. Through his portrayal of such a diverse group of women, Boller sheds new light on how much the institution of the presidency tells us about ourselves and our life as a nation.
First published in 1988, this second edition has been revised to include updated information on people such as Nancy Reagan and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a new preface, and new chapters devoted to Barbara Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
I have two comments to make: 1) the book needs to be updated - it ends with Hilary Clinton; 2) there should be photos included. Obviously, they would have to be photos of paintings for the women further back, but it would have been so nice to see, where available, pictures of the wives around the time they met their husbands, and around the time their husbands were president. After reading some of the descriptions, I was desperate to see an image of some of the women.
A nice read where you can do a chapter and then put it down for later. Lots of facts I had never heard before.
Publication Date: February 25, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0195121422 | ISBN-13: 978-0195121421 | Edition: Revised
In Presidential Wives, Paul Boller brings his gift for telling detail to bear on the women our Presidents married, and the result is a biographical feat--at once funny and poignant, dramatic and illuminating, covering every First Lady from Martha Washington to Hillary Rodham Clinton. Boller devotes a full chapter to each of his subjects, featuring an incisive biographical essay followed by a selection of revealing anecdotes. Through his portrayal of such a diverse group of women, Boller sheds new light on how much the institution of the presidency tells us about ourselves and our life as a nation.
First published in 1988, this second edition has been revised to include updated information on people such as Nancy Reagan and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a new preface, and new chapters devoted to Barbara Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
July 9, 2015
This was an entertaining and informative book, giving the reader a quick look at the wives of all of the presidents up through Ronald Reagan. Note that it very specifically is biographies of "presidential wives", NOT "first ladies"; it includes bios even of those women who had been wives of presidents who had died before their husbands became president. (Interestingly, it does NOT have a bio of Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan's first wife. Perhaps this is because their marriage ended in divorce, rather than death.) But it includes Martha Jefferson, Alice Roosevelt and Ellen Wilson.
The bios, although generally fairly short, give an interesting glance at many women who little is generally known about -- some of them, their husbands are barely remembered by the vast majority of the populace -- and I would definitely consider this a worthwhile read for anyone with even a trace of curiosity about the subject.
The bios, although generally fairly short, give an interesting glance at many women who little is generally known about -- some of them, their husbands are barely remembered by the vast majority of the populace -- and I would definitely consider this a worthwhile read for anyone with even a trace of curiosity about the subject.
September 8, 2017
Great reference book. Recommend.
July 9, 2022
My version ended with Nancy Reagan. Don’t think I’ll look for the update. 🎶Stand by your man🎶
A much better book to read would be Margaret Truman’s First Ladies.
A much better book to read would be Margaret Truman’s First Ladies.
January 4, 2016
A friend borrowed my copy of this book about 15 years ago, and he's still borrowing it. I found this particular copy in a Friends of the Library used book sale, and snatched it up for a buck. I'm a sort of First Lady-aphile; I love First Lady stories and histories. Although this one is not as good as Carl Sferrazza Anthony's well written and well researched books on the same subjects, this is an easy and fun place to start in boning up on First Lady histories. Boller does a great job of bringing out something unique and interesting about each Lady, even some of the more obscure ones. I definitely have my favorite first ladies; I hope by the time you are done with this book, you will too.
May 29, 2012
A piece of tripe. I usually read about presidents, but picked this up for light reading at a used book store for next to nothing, which is what it is worth. Other than learning their names, I found this to be a sugar coated, Sunday best, pack of crap. It gave the blandest accounts and always erred on the side of conservativeness and propriety. I want to know the dirt and have learned the dirt by reading the accounts of their husbands' lives. The descriptions were consistently dry and lackluster. It was also depressing to read about the number of vivacious, educated and worldly women who did nothing with their lives in obedience to their "man" and to the social and cultural norms of their times. And up until Truman, most were little more that glorified baby makers. Skip this one.
August 2, 2009
One of my retirement goals is to read the American History through the president's wives story. This book provied a great overview of each of the presidents wives Martha Washington through Nancy Reagan.
A few interesting trivia highlights:
Abaigal Adams (1744 - 1818) started the annual Easter Egg Roll party. I had no idea the event started so early in American's history.
Abigail Fillmore (1799 - 1853) started the White House Library.
Dolly Madison (1768 - 1830) First Lady for a half- century. She was a part time hostess for Thomas Jefferson during his eight years of presidency and her husband James Maidson two terms.
A few interesting trivia highlights:
Abaigal Adams (1744 - 1818) started the annual Easter Egg Roll party. I had no idea the event started so early in American's history.
Abigail Fillmore (1799 - 1853) started the White House Library.
Dolly Madison (1768 - 1830) First Lady for a half- century. She was a part time hostess for Thomas Jefferson during his eight years of presidency and her husband James Maidson two terms.
May 21, 2008
This book is "an anecdotal history" of the wives of the US Presidents up to Nancy Reagan. Some women loved the lime-light, some hated it. Some pushed their husbands into the presidency, some didn't want them in politics at all. Some expected life in the White House to be like living in a palace, while others wanted to be as simple as living in a regular house. The most interesting thing I got from this book is how the various couples worked together and helped each other. Great insight into how a marriage partnership should work (or not in some cases).
February 9, 2016
I found this book a refreshing break from my presidential biography reading project. (I'm in the middle of a detailed history of Franklin Pierce so I haven't gotten far yet.) Rather than picking apart the politics of each president, this book highlights the personal life of the White House inhabitants. Yes, most of the First Ladies were "helpers" rather than unpaid presidential policy advisors but that role is a recent development. The earlier First Ladies shouldn't be expected to live up to today's standards.
August 11, 2013
1. Boring - for each wife that I read about, there was either nothing new/nothing that I didn't know before - or nothing that interested me.
2. Very poorly written.
I didn't read every entry. We're doing it for LIT book group, and we agreed to read a sampling. I advise anyone interested in reading about any presidential wife whom one thinks is worth reading about to read solid historical biographies, autobiographies or memoirs, or collected letters. (The letters of Abigail and John Adams, for example, are peerless.) The portions of this book were in no way useful to me.
2. Very poorly written.
I didn't read every entry. We're doing it for LIT book group, and we agreed to read a sampling. I advise anyone interested in reading about any presidential wife whom one thinks is worth reading about to read solid historical biographies, autobiographies or memoirs, or collected letters. (The letters of Abigail and John Adams, for example, are peerless.) The portions of this book were in no way useful to me.
March 21, 2008
I read the first edition of this book. It is the first of this sort that I am reading. I really enjoyed it.
A great majority of the book is taken from letters, personal accounts and journal entries. Each first lady gets a chapter. There are first ladies that I admire and others that I do not. This book has turned my thoughts to the history of politics in our country.
A truly facinating read. What a great find. It is a book to buy.
A great majority of the book is taken from letters, personal accounts and journal entries. Each first lady gets a chapter. There are first ladies that I admire and others that I do not. This book has turned my thoughts to the history of politics in our country.
A truly facinating read. What a great find. It is a book to buy.
February 5, 2016
One rarely thinks of them as anything but shadowy figures and yet they were persons, with minds and personalities, each and all. Few are known independantly with the exceptions of Eleanor Roosevelt who played her husband's ear and ambassador on many occasions in places in or out of US, and of course Jacqueline Kennedy who brought style to white house so much so French were charmed with her. This book tell about them and others.
November 27, 2016
Usually books like this have the potential to bore me, but this one did not. It was interesting learning about the presidents' wives in this format. Throughout the book I gained respect for some wives and lost respect for others. Dolley Madison and Eleanor Roosevelt are my personal favorites. Many of the other wives pale in comparison to Madison and Roosevelt.
July 26, 2012
I loved this book! It was fun to read all sorts of little quirky anecdotes about the First Ladies, and the general life stories of each woman and her husband were fascinating. I expecially enjoyed learning more about our less-famous First Ladies.
December 21, 2016
Lost then picked up again, this is a book you don't have to restart. My edition only went through Nancy Reagan, but I'd love to read new chapters in a more recent edition. Anecdotes really made these ladies seem more real and are carefully selected to show you another side of these famous women.
December 10, 2016
The book was written in the 1980's and ends with Nancy Reagan. It feels a bit dated in places, but appears to be well researched and documented. It was great to learn some basic information about each of the First Ladies since the majority of them have been mostly ignored by historians.
October 26, 2007
Enjoy presidential trivia.
June 19, 2008
The writer has done an excellent job in creating quick easy to read biographies of each of the Presidents wives. I really enjoyed learning about each of the personalities of the First Ladies.
December 13, 2008
This book was ok, the first ladies did tend to run together and I did skip some of the lesser known ones. I did like reading about Dolly Madison and Eleanor Roosevelt.
February 27, 2009
Funny and fascinating.
April 27, 2015
It took me many years, but I finally finished! This isn't a book you can curl up with, but it is readable and interesting.
May 3, 2014
Not so good as Presidential Anecdotes because there is, of course, much less material on some of these people, but quite a thumping read nonetheless. Made me realize how much I dislike JFK.
April 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It gave some insightful stories about each first lady that I wasn't aware of. I wish the author was able to create an updated version to include pieces of information about the last years of the women who have now passed away. An updated version would of course include the most recent women who have served.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews