Rating The First Ladies: The Women Who Influenced the Presidency

by John B. Roberts II

- Laura Bush's profile will be updated for this edition. - New ratings of the first ladies based on the 2003 Siena College Research Institute Poll. - The First Ladies National Historic Site is in Canton, Ohio. - The author is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Presidents, Politics

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few months ago I realized I owned several books about the first ladies. This book was outstanding and I plan to read more because it is a fascinating subject. CNN must think so too because they are currently airing a special series on the "recent" first ladies. It is so strange that our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, rated number one in most polls, was married to the first lady who is universally rated as the worst first lady. This book included the ranking of the first ladies by The Siena Research Institute.

It is interesting but sad that so many of these women had children who died, it was representative of the times though. My favorite of these ladies is Eleanor Roosevelt. I loved her even before reading this book because she was ahead of her time and was very brave. Another first lady who was really great was Dolley Madison. Most people know the story of her taking the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of President Washington out of the White House before the British stormed it during the War of 1812 but there is much more to know about Dolley. I will stop now and work on my "First Ladies and Daughters" Pinterest board!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me years to read this book. I was also reading a biography of each first Lady as I was reading the chapter about her in this book. The book is well done and portrays our first ladies quite well.

[Amy Kuhnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about all the First Ladies and how they helped shaped or hurt the White House when their husbands were presidents. The book goes into detail about the personal lives of the First Ladies and you get to see the First Ladies in a new light.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick read, unique perspectives, quite interesting

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick read for the bedside

[Georgette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't seem very balanced and had too many factual errors.