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Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History
An engrossing look at twelve presidential marriages — from Edith and Woodrow Wilson to Laura and George W. Bush—that have profoundly affected America’s history.
“Insightful.... Colorful.... A shrewd and illuminating look at the juncture where the personal and the political overlap.” — The Wall Street Journal
Marton uncovers the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the ultimate power couples, showing how first ladies have used their privileged access to the president to influence staffing, promote causes, and engage directly in policy-making. Edith Wilson secretly ran the country after Woodrow’s debilitating stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt was FDR’s moral compass. And Laura Bush, initially shy of any public role, has proven to be the emotional ballast for her husband. Through extensive research and interviews, Marton reveals the substantial—yet often overlooked–legacy of presidential wives, providing insight into the evolution of women’s roles in the twentieth century and vividly depicting the synergy of these unique political partnerships.
“Insightful.... Colorful.... A shrewd and illuminating look at the juncture where the personal and the political overlap.” — The Wall Street Journal
Marton uncovers the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the ultimate power couples, showing how first ladies have used their privileged access to the president to influence staffing, promote causes, and engage directly in policy-making. Edith Wilson secretly ran the country after Woodrow’s debilitating stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt was FDR’s moral compass. And Laura Bush, initially shy of any public role, has proven to be the emotional ballast for her husband. Through extensive research and interviews, Marton reveals the substantial—yet often overlooked–legacy of presidential wives, providing insight into the evolution of women’s roles in the twentieth century and vividly depicting the synergy of these unique political partnerships.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
68 people are currently reading
882 people want to read
About the author
Kati Marton
18 books180 followersKati Marton is an award-winning former correspondent for NPR and ABC News. She is the author of eight books, the most recent of which is the New York Times-bestselling memoir Paris: A Love Story. Enemies of the People: My Family's Journey to America was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Her other works include The Great Escape: Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World, Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History, Wallenberg, A Death in Jerusalem, and a novel, An American Woman. Marton lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 5, 2021
I am so embarrassed to say that I took years to finish reading this book. I began reading it in college, got busy, and didn’t pick it up again for another 10 years!
I picked it up again on March 7, 2020, though, I didn’t finish reading it until a bit over a year later on April 28, 2021! You may ask why I didn’t give up on it and whether I even enjoyed it.
The answer is this: sometimes life happens and you have to take a break from the things you enjoy. Sometimes other books come into the picture and they’re faster reads that might not require as much of your undivided attention and that’s perfectly okay.
I couldn’t get this particular book out of my head and I truly enjoyed it. It was just a book that had so much information, I often ended up looking up the history and researching events. Finishing one chapter often took me hours since I went off and did my own research. This book was definitely an interesting read. It provided me with an opportunity to research and learn more about American history; helped me to further recognize the importance of being an informed voter; and allowed me to recognize the vital role the spouses of presidents play.
I picked it up again on March 7, 2020, though, I didn’t finish reading it until a bit over a year later on April 28, 2021! You may ask why I didn’t give up on it and whether I even enjoyed it.
The answer is this: sometimes life happens and you have to take a break from the things you enjoy. Sometimes other books come into the picture and they’re faster reads that might not require as much of your undivided attention and that’s perfectly okay.
I couldn’t get this particular book out of my head and I truly enjoyed it. It was just a book that had so much information, I often ended up looking up the history and researching events. Finishing one chapter often took me hours since I went off and did my own research. This book was definitely an interesting read. It provided me with an opportunity to research and learn more about American history; helped me to further recognize the importance of being an informed voter; and allowed me to recognize the vital role the spouses of presidents play.
August 27, 2008
A fascinating look at the private side of public life and how the stressers of the presidency united and/or divided the presidents and their wives. Even more interesting to me was the way each of the wives interpreted her role as first lady and how that fit or clashed with society's view of her role. Eleanor Roosevelt actively toured the country being her husbands eyes and ears. Pat Nixon shriveled up and withered away under the pressures and with the lack of support and attention from her husband. Hilary Clinton was criticised for taking an active and visible role in policy with the health care issue. And the wives did all this under intense public scrutiny and while many of the husbands were unfaithful! Amazing...
January 4, 2016
Pretty biased. I thought she made all the presidents look either weak and highly dependent on their wives, or like heartless, cruel philanderers. She also mentions more than one First Lady's "breakdown." I imagine it's incredibly hard to lead a normal life under the pressure of the White House, but did they all really have such dramatic mental breakdowns? My other quibble was that, in my opinion, the analysis didn't really show the impact that these marriages had on politics or government or American culture or what have you, so I was left wondering how these presidential marriages actually shaped our recent history. Just the same, it was an intriguing look into a topic that isn't easily probed or widely studied, and I love reading about First Ladies as well as First Couples.
April 19, 2009
Appropriate for Presidents’ Day weekend, this book is subtitled Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our Recent History. The book covered the 11 presidential marriages from the Hoovers through the Clintons, with an afterword on the George & Laura Bush. (The book was published in 2001.) I found the analysis very interesting – a lot that I didn’t know! However, for the most part, the more I read, the less respect I have for powerful men and women!
July 23, 2024
While this book was informative and engaging, the author’s political bias certainly shines through in every chapter…which I’m sure is difficult to avoid when writing a book covering so many various administrations. Despite this, the book is filled with facts and interesting insider stories.
April 27, 2015
If you take it for what it is, a gossipy, fast reading analysis on presidential marriages, it is enjoyable. The author was inaccurate on common knowledge information. She never mentioned the fact that Betty Ford was previously married and she stated that upon entering office, Richard Nixon had dinner with his daughters and their husbands. This is incorrect, since Tricia Nixon was married in the White House. It made you wonder what other information was incorrect.
December 5, 2008
There was something I absolutely loved about this book. I don't know if it felt like I was reading things that people really shouldn't know, or if it just brought a much more human light to our presidents. I completely agree with some of the other reviews that this book really made me want to look a little more into the history of our country.
April 3, 2013
Interesting to pick up and put down - begins with "fools for love" about Edith and Woodrow Wilson and the next is The Partnership That Changed the World" - Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt. I"ll keep you posted. So far I'm fascinated ...
October 27, 2013
Interesting background on the women who lived in the White House. The book focuses on Edith Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Roslyn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.
February 8, 2012
Very interesting. New perspective on history. So many first ladies lost parents early in life; did that lead them to marrying powerful men? Makes me want to read more about presidential history.
October 26, 2022
Marton covers First Ladies from Wilson to the start of Bush II. Each had different relationships, from equal partnership to clear avoidance. From Edith Wilson propping up her husband after his stroke, to “two for the price of one” Clinton, to an absentee First Lady like Nixon. While most of the First Ladies played a more traditional role, Eleanor Roosevelt was paid to write a weekly column and had a radio show; Marton reported that the First Lady made nearly as much money as her president husband with just the radio show. Imagine what would be said if a First Lady today had a show on Fox.
Comparisons were made between the couples. The book recounts how Eleanor was an idealist versus her husband’s pragmatist’s views. Image was important to both of the Kennedy’s – during his presidency and, to Jackie, even in his death. Lady Bird Johnson was as loyal as her husband was not. The author painted a picture of a working relationship between the Roosevelts, a loving relationship between the Trumans and Carters, and a distant relationship between the Kennedys. The author reports that moments of crisis brought the Kennedy’s closer.
Much in the book has been heavily covered. As one who reads too much history, most of this book was known, although important for any book on First Ladies. For example, the book reviews how President Truman discovered his wife, Bess, was destroying letters her husband wrote to her. “Think about history,” the president pleaded with his wife. She replied, “I am.” We will never know what was in his letters to her, although we do know what was in her letters to him since the husband who adored his wife kept his letters.
Hidden Power also highlights many stories about Betty Ford that were long known, but important. The author speaks about how First Lady had a nervous breakdown in the mid-1960’s, causing her busy husband to refocus some of his attention to her and home rather than his successful Congressional career. The book also covers how First Lady Ford revealed her breast cancer to America, highlighting the importance of yearly checkups. And, during a time when Roe v. Wade has been reversed after five decades, how Betty Ford applauded the decision, breaking with her party. Later, she revealed her drinking problems and continued to highlight the clinic named after her, helping so many Americans.
The competition between Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush was also fairly well covered. When the Bushes were in the White House, Nancy treated the next First Lady poorly. For example, in eight years, only twice were the Bushes invited up to the private quarters for dinner. Later when Barbara was the First Lady, she paid Nancy back with many public comments. The author reported that the “wrath” of Barbara was something people long remembered.
The author compared the various First Ladies – and presidents. She figures that President Franklin and President Kennedy both compartmentalized life, sharing different things with different advisors. Nixon and Kennedy both used their wives, with neither truly understanding the power their better halves could provide them politically. Stories about Kennedy’s many affairs and an interesting account on how Bush might have had an affair was reported. Marton gives accounts on how both First Lady Roosevelt and Reagan would work behind the scenes to clip the power of aides who might not have been best serving their husbands. While the two First Ladies did not like one another, both Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush cared deeply about their spouse’s legacy.
It was painful to read about how Nixon nearly avoided his smart wife and how Johnson treated his adoring wife with such disrespect. It was also surprising how controlling Carter was with his wife, despite their partnership. It was also difficult to read, once again, about the unusual partnership of the Clinton’s.
The book had drift, speaking about the presidents instead of the First Ladies, and not just their relationship with their wives. Martin spoke about how President Roosevelt loved his cocktail hour, for example, even though that shared experience didn’t relate to the power of the First Lady. This drift took place in most chapters, including covering President Carter more than his wife and how George Bush repeatedly put his party priorities ahead of his own to move ahead. The book missed some important elements of First Ladies, such as how Lady Bird Johnson might have used her close position to make the couple millionaires.
The book ends with a brief review of George and Laura Bush, incomplete was his term when the book was written. It did point out that, unlike many couples who lived in the White House, the two would never argue public policy. Instead they focused on their family when together.
Comparisons were made between the couples. The book recounts how Eleanor was an idealist versus her husband’s pragmatist’s views. Image was important to both of the Kennedy’s – during his presidency and, to Jackie, even in his death. Lady Bird Johnson was as loyal as her husband was not. The author painted a picture of a working relationship between the Roosevelts, a loving relationship between the Trumans and Carters, and a distant relationship between the Kennedys. The author reports that moments of crisis brought the Kennedy’s closer.
Much in the book has been heavily covered. As one who reads too much history, most of this book was known, although important for any book on First Ladies. For example, the book reviews how President Truman discovered his wife, Bess, was destroying letters her husband wrote to her. “Think about history,” the president pleaded with his wife. She replied, “I am.” We will never know what was in his letters to her, although we do know what was in her letters to him since the husband who adored his wife kept his letters.
Hidden Power also highlights many stories about Betty Ford that were long known, but important. The author speaks about how First Lady had a nervous breakdown in the mid-1960’s, causing her busy husband to refocus some of his attention to her and home rather than his successful Congressional career. The book also covers how First Lady Ford revealed her breast cancer to America, highlighting the importance of yearly checkups. And, during a time when Roe v. Wade has been reversed after five decades, how Betty Ford applauded the decision, breaking with her party. Later, she revealed her drinking problems and continued to highlight the clinic named after her, helping so many Americans.
The competition between Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush was also fairly well covered. When the Bushes were in the White House, Nancy treated the next First Lady poorly. For example, in eight years, only twice were the Bushes invited up to the private quarters for dinner. Later when Barbara was the First Lady, she paid Nancy back with many public comments. The author reported that the “wrath” of Barbara was something people long remembered.
The author compared the various First Ladies – and presidents. She figures that President Franklin and President Kennedy both compartmentalized life, sharing different things with different advisors. Nixon and Kennedy both used their wives, with neither truly understanding the power their better halves could provide them politically. Stories about Kennedy’s many affairs and an interesting account on how Bush might have had an affair was reported. Marton gives accounts on how both First Lady Roosevelt and Reagan would work behind the scenes to clip the power of aides who might not have been best serving their husbands. While the two First Ladies did not like one another, both Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush cared deeply about their spouse’s legacy.
It was painful to read about how Nixon nearly avoided his smart wife and how Johnson treated his adoring wife with such disrespect. It was also surprising how controlling Carter was with his wife, despite their partnership. It was also difficult to read, once again, about the unusual partnership of the Clinton’s.
The book had drift, speaking about the presidents instead of the First Ladies, and not just their relationship with their wives. Martin spoke about how President Roosevelt loved his cocktail hour, for example, even though that shared experience didn’t relate to the power of the First Lady. This drift took place in most chapters, including covering President Carter more than his wife and how George Bush repeatedly put his party priorities ahead of his own to move ahead. The book missed some important elements of First Ladies, such as how Lady Bird Johnson might have used her close position to make the couple millionaires.
The book ends with a brief review of George and Laura Bush, incomplete was his term when the book was written. It did point out that, unlike many couples who lived in the White House, the two would never argue public policy. Instead they focused on their family when together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2017
This book gave detailed analysis of the wives of our most recent presidents. How they helped, influenced and shaped their husbands presidency. The author gave quotes and examples to show the personality and relationships of these women. I found this book a fantastic, intellectually stimulating and riveting book. This book differed from other biographical books about presidents' wives by examining how they influenced their husbands presidency through their individual level of marital power. This book gave quotes and examples I have not read or heard of before. It examined how each wife presented themselves to the public versus how they really were behind the scenes. The author quotes President Truman as saying how important the wife is to her husband and this fact has yet to be fully acknowledged by the history.
February 28, 2018
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I assumed this would be a rather dry read, but it was anything but that. Kati Marton is a strong writer. She has written a few other nonfiction books, a novel, and has written for various publications such as The New Yorker, New York Times, Vanity Fair and others. There are 12 chapters centered around 12 select 20th century presidents. Some of the information was familiar to me, but there was enough that was new to me to keep my attention. Marton's writing is on quite a personal level, so the reader really feels for these women and their husbands who impacted the White House and some incredibly difficult decisions that were made.
This would be a good book discussion choice.
This would be a good book discussion choice.
February 3, 2021
This look at several of the presidential couples' marriages, beginning with Woodrow and Edith Wilson and ending with George and Laura Bush, was really quite fascinating. I don't have a very high opinion of many presidents after reading this, but I do have more respect for some of the first ladies.
I was sad that the book ended part way through the presidency of George W. It would have been interesting to see his marriage play out through the presidency and also to have a look at the two presidents who have followed him.
I was sad that the book ended part way through the presidency of George W. It would have been interesting to see his marriage play out through the presidency and also to have a look at the two presidents who have followed him.
December 11, 2023
Some chapters, especially the early ones, are written wonderfully. However, some like the Nixon chapter seemed extremely harsh in comparison. It's a great book, one inaccurate fact in the Ford chapter, but it's easy to overlook. Great book for a crash course for the 20th century, first ladies. The tone seems kinder to the earlier first ladies due to recent ones still being so fresh. Obviously, in my edition, the H.W. Bush chapter was incomplete. I wish I wasn't included due to it being written in an incomplete term (at least, I think so).
October 22, 2024
This is an interesting book but rather hard on the subjects. Presidents and First Ladies are not perfect and when you have a marriage that is under such close inspection, you're not going to always come off as an ideal partner. I found the criticism of the First Ladies a tad over the top. But....it's an interesting book and would be VERY interesting if it hadn't ended with GW and Laura Bush. I didn't realize how long this one had sat on the to be read shelf.
November 23, 2017
I learned a lot about history from this book, though not as much as I thought was needed to really understand the challenges each couple was facing during their presidential terms. I read it because my husband wants to be POTUS one day, so it helped to see that in many ways, these couples were real people with ordinary struggles.
February 27, 2018
A peripheral look into the women behind the men in the Oval Office; Marton selected some of the more interesting First Ladies of the twentieth century to populate these pages. And even though I knew much of what was detailed here, it was still fascinating to see these women within their marriages and in contrast to one another.
February 25, 2021
This was a very light overview of the presidents marriages and it’s great if you want to learn a few quick facts about their presidency and marriage. However if you’re looking for something more in depth definitely check out their biographies instead. With that said I enjoyed this book and felt like I learned a lot, especially about the presidents and wives I wouldn’t normally read about.
July 20, 2023
A very good book on first ladies and the influence on the presidents they were married to. Some very surprising facts and differences of first ladies from Edith Wilson to Laura Bush ( did not include Mamie Eisenhower because of her insignificant influence- I still wish it had been included ).
I also wish the book had been written later so it could have included the Obama's and the Trumps.
I also wish the book had been written later so it could have included the Obama's and the Trumps.
September 19, 2017
I read this book for an OLLI study group about selected First Ladies from the 20th century. It was a good overview of each presidential marriage, rather than just the first lady, as it is impossible to separate the stories of the Presidents and First Ladies.
October 7, 2017
I found myself fascinated with this book. Marton, the widow of Peter Jennings, does fantastic research but sure doesn't write like a dry historian. This was a great resource for a study group of presidential wives and most of us wound up reading it all, not just the 4 chapters we were assigned.
October 14, 2020
This is about the last five or six president's wives & their relationship with their husbands & influences they had with them while they were in office. Very interesting behind the scenes no matter which political party you belong too. I've recommenced it to many.
July 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It shows the true impact a wife has on the presidency. Try to take a nonpartisan approach when reading, and really get to know each woman and appreciate her contribution when reading this!
March 25, 2018
More like a synopsis of unknowing leadership and the shallowness of the marriages, press, and the “elite who ran DC”
July 23, 2018
Read for book club this month. It was a slow, intermittent read for me. Some chapters were much more interesting than others. Rounding up from 2.5 stars.
May 26, 2020
Maybe if this was the first book I had read about First Ladies I would have been more impressed. It didn't seem to add anything new, which was disappointing given the title.
April 30, 2021
This is must read. I love this author. Her humor and writing style have a wonderful elegance.
August 24, 2021
I have added this to my First Ladies biography collection. Interesting view of these women.
September 20, 2021
Very readable, very entertaining and very informative. An excellent book if you like your politics enlivened with a little gossipy entertainment and a lot of interesting information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews