First Ladies: An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives

by Margaret Truman

Whether they envision their role as protector, partner, advisor, or scold, First Ladies find themselves in a job that is impossible to define, and just as difficult to perform. Now Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry Truman and an acclaimed novelist and biographer in her own right, explores the fascinating position of First Lady throughout history and up to the present day.

With her unique perspective as the daughter of a First Lady, Ms. Truman reveals the truth behind some of the most misunderstood and forgotten First Ladies of our history, as well as the most famous and beloved. In recounting the charm and courage of Dolley Madison, the brazen ambition of Florence Harding, the calm, good sense of Grace Coolidge, the genius of Eleanor Roosevelt, the mysterious femininity of Jackie Kennedy, and the fierce protectiveness of Nancy Reagan, among others, Margaret Truman has assembled an honest yet affectionate portrait of our nation's First Ladies--one that freely acknowledges their virtues and their flaws.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, American History, Presidents, Politics, Historical

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 1995

About the author

Mary Margaret Truman Daniel was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman. While her father was president during the years 1945 to 1953, Margaret regularly accompanied him on campaign trips, such as the 1948 countrywide whistle-stop campaign lasting several weeks. She also appeared at important White House and political events during those years, being a favorite with the media.
After graduating from George Washington University in 1946, she embarked on a career as a coloratura soprano, beginning with a concert appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. She appeared in concerts with orchestras throughout the United States and in recitals throughout the U.S. through 1956. She made recordings for RCA Victor, and made television appearances on programs like What's My Line? and The Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1957, one year after her marriage, Truman abandoned her singing career to pursue a career as a journalist and radio personality, when she became the co-host of the program Weekday with Mike Wallace. She also wrote articles as an independent journalist, for a variety of publications in the 1960s and 1970s. She later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries, and a number of works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman.
She was married to journalist Clifton Daniel, managing editor of The New York Times. The couple had four sons, and were prominent New York socialites who often hosted events for the New York elite.

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this non fiction about the first lady's of the white house from the start to 1995. So it's a bit dated haha. But I liked the playful tone in this book and it did really feel like Margaret Truman cared for the women and history she wrote about. It's not perfect and could maybe been better if it where more in a time line and not jumping that much but then again it might not have feelt as playful.

[Linda Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all of Margaret Truman's mysteries but not her nonfiction. This book reads like a novel. Not only was it well researched but it is highly entertaining with intimate stories and insights into the various First Ladies's personalities.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I own and a re-read for me.

I always find this book filled with information and very interesting facts!!

[Laurie Rapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, my mom refers to this book every other time I talk to her.
She is a huge Margaret Truman fan and a history buff.

Have to say thus far my top Ladies are Dollie Madison, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford and Grace Coolidge...though I did skip one Lady - Barbara (for obvious reasons - sorry mom I just couldn't do it)

Really was a fascinating read...some First Ladies were just plain crazy, while others were amazing. I highly recommend it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well researched book that unfortunately jumped around as she tried to categorize the First Ladies. She didn't hide her opinion and the language was dated. It was fun to read about personal experience and the overall message is being First Lady has always been messy and difficult and they have always had power and influence. Many of these women including the author or now gone reading this was a reminder that politics has always been messy and there is always a human toll.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the most frustrating "history" books I've ever read. It is not in chronological order (God only knows why) so if your history/dates memory is a little off (as mine is) this is going to wreak havoc on your (already questionable) timeline. The narrative is very dated in tone and quite often Truman's comments seem rather sexist.

The focus, of course, is on the the First Ladies' re-decorating of the white house and fashion sense. More than once Truman indicates that these woman must first and foremost be "wives" in a not very modern ideological sense. These comments are not put into context of the era but seem to be merely Truman's own opinion. Her commentary on Presidential marital indiscretions are very "what a bad boy he was" and "oh his wife put up with it so gallantly" but the ONE apparent First Lady flirt Truman slaps down for behaving in an inappropriate manner as a President's wife. Grrr.

Truman inserts herself and her family into the text inappropriately. "When I met..." "I remember when..." "Mother was friends with..." which, as if it hadn't already happened, lessens the idea that one is reading a historical account of the First Ladies and increases the feeling that this is a memoir and hobby research project of a former child of the White House.

I can't recommend this as an insightful historical read but if you like gossip columns you'll probably love this book.

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book on the First Ladies, and given the author, we do find many personal anecdotes on the ones of the 20th century. And many of these First Ladies have a wonderful longevity. Ms. Truman is equally funny and vibrant with the First Ladies before the 20th century.

How different they all were. One could vaguely divide them into apolitical and political. Margaret’s mother would fall into the latter category and of course Eleanor Roosevelt would be at the far end of the fully involved politically.

I suppose she seems somewhat overly generous in her evaluation of Jackie Kennedy – but this can be over-looked because of her tormented life. I detected some hostility to Eleanor as I think she stands well above any of the First Ladies. This is definitely an entertaining read from an opinionated author who has a good and personal understanding of the history involved.

[Fran Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book by the daughter of a White House Wife. Margaret Truman has written an enjoyable book about First Ladies. Easy and enjoyable reading.

[Brent Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret Truman, daughter of Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman, was born on February 17, 1924 in Independence, Missouri and died on January 29, 2008 in Chicago.

The Presidential Daughters book, “First Ladies”, is of course opinionated and takes the view that the importance of the women themselves are secondary.

Compare this impression with a quote from an article “Daughter Knows Bess that was in the Washington Post: "Mother told her secretary, 'I don't give a damn what they want to know,' and the secretary translated that to 'She hasn't made up her mind yet,' " Margaret Truman says.

For the book protecting the President is her message of importance saying.  ``While I am heartily in favor of women achieving maximum opportunities and power, I doubt that the First Lady is the ideal symbolic vehicle for this ascent.''

With this yardstick it is not surprising to see Nancy Reagan presented in the book as the type of first lady that Margaret admires. The criticism that Nancy Reagan received in Ron Reagan’s first term due to her decision to replace the White House china, which had been paid for by private donations, doesn’t seem very heavy weight by today’s standards but Margaret likely would feel ok about it being bold enough.

Another First Lady that Margaret referred to as the “almost perfect First Lady” was Lady Bird Johnson. With the praise for these two First Ladies it is really no surprise to find Margaret take a shot at Jacqueline Kennedy saying she had a ``visceral repugnance for average Americans.''

 Eleanor Roosevelt even though very accomplished on a personal level was judged by Margaret against what she termed as Eleanor’s ``tragic limitations'' as a wife.

What is clear from the book is that First Ladies find themselves in a job that is impossible to define, and just as difficult to perform. Margaret Truman brings her unique perspective and tries to reveal the truth behind some of the most misunderstood and forgotten First Ladies. For more about this book see www.connectedeventsmatter.com

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it take to be a First Lady? There is no job description. How do these women juggle all the aspects of this job?
Margaret Truman knew about being a First Lady as her mother was one. She stood in for her mother at times. Plus she met and knew many of these women.
This is not a biographical sketch of First Ladies. It is looking at the position of First Lady and how different women from different backgrounds living in different times with different Presidents tackled this job. This not an enviable job for most women and the book goes into the pitfalls and problems these women encountered as well as their successes.
This is a fascinating book as it looks at aspects of a presidency from a very different viewpoint. It is easy reading as it mentions many historical tidbits that never appear in history books. No biography of these ladies really delves into how being First Lady affected and, often, changed them. This also compares how the different aspects were handled by different women. Surprisingly, even different approaches could achieve the same goals.
This is an interesting, fascinating, thought provoking book well worth the time to read it.

[Bill Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book in my parents collection. It being somewhat dated I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not. But I have read a lot of presidential history and some about the First Ladies so I had to give it a try.

I was not at all disappointed. It took me just a little bit to truly get into it but once I did I enjoyed it. It was written in a very readable, almost conversational manner. It talks a lot about the meetings the author had with most of or all of the living former First Ladies. They reveal a very fascinating and personal side to many of these women.

I also didn’t mind that the book was not done chronologically. The order Margaret Truman used seemed to flow nicely from one First Lady to another. Perhaps the only issue I had with this book is that President Truman’s daughter seemed to embrace some of the more malicious rumors about some of our former presidents.

[Sly Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Rarely do you hear very much about the wives of Presidents. You hear the usual about Mary Lincoln's downward spiral after Abe was assassinated. The glamour and class of Jacqueline Kennedy and Hillary's shame and embarrassment in the midst of Bill and Monica.
This book is a comprehensive history of the first ladies, who much to my surprise made bigger contributions to the country than their sometimes hapless husband's.
Some were in it for the power and prestige, some didn't want to be there at all, while other used it as a vehicle to use their position to actually give back to their country.
Either way, good, bad or ugly these were fascinating and strong women. I have come to admire and respect them all in a different way.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew?! Truman's 'First Ladies' shows just how much the U.S. gained from the accomplishments - some noteworthy, other trivia-worthy - of every wife of the President. One First Lady's - Ellen Wilson - accomplishment stays with me after finishing Truman's book. Her "Alley Bill" demonstrates how, in 1914, a personal conviction overcame an accepted injustice of the time. If Truman's 'First Ladies' is a lens through which one can view the position of the First Lady and what impact she can bring to our country, it shows how an understanding and respect of our history is critical to keeping us strong. #knowourhistory ... #respect ...

[Katie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read about First Ladies and this was a fun book because President Truman's daughter was the author and she has some great insight and connections. I learned quite a few new things and had a few surprises. I did struggle a bit with her writing style at first. She seemed to have difficulty knowing how to refer to her own family. I also wished she would have just covered all the first ladies in order. It was interesting though to see how she connected them and wove them together throughout the book.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truman's closeness with her mother's own First Lady experience makes for very interesting "up close and personal" historic reportage.
If she had been able to extend the same kind of sympathy to each of her subjects, this could have been a fascinating historical collection. How does any woman fit her own strengths, weaknesses, foibles into this stunningly public role? Any First Lady could be be quite as deserving of sympathy as Bess Truman of sympathy and recognition--
but Margaret Truman's regard is uneven, ranging from respectful to downright dismissive.

[Dobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at American First Ladies, from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton. I enjoyed the short vignettes that gave an insight into the values and expectations of the times. It was especially intriguing to see how each woman approached the role.

The layout of the book—one First Lady study per chapter—made it easy to read a chapter or two while waiting at appointments, etc.

I was sorry to reach the end, but now I'm eager to find more in-depth information about each of these historically important women who helped to shape our country.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love to learn about past US Presidents and First Ladies so of course I enjoyed this book. Truman groups them into categories of sorts as she highlights particular women. I am more linear I guess, as I would have preferred a more chronological approach. Nevertheless, her insider's view was certainly a plus here. It ends with the Clinton administration before the Lewinsky affair came to light. I would have appreciated her take on that. Anyway, worth a read if you nerd out on this kind of thing like I do!

[Jdetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find Margaret Truman fascinating, and I'm so glad she wrote this book. Looking back at the first ladies in American history, Truman brings a first hand knowledge of what it's like to live in the White House, and a personal knowledge of 100 years of first ladies, having met many of them between Grover Cleveland's widow and Hillary Clinton. This book is her attempt to sort them out, to try and find the things that united and divided them, and even when I didn't agree with her conclusions, I found her insights truly interesting.

[Kristine Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The role of the First Lady is not defined by the constitution. It has been up to each First Lady to define her role, whether it is behind the scenes or as an active political partner. This interesting book was written by someone who knows the role of a first lady intimately. Margaret Truman, daughter of Bess and Harry Truman, not only witnessed the role as filled by her own mother but also knew many of the First Ladies she interviewed for this fascinating look at one of the most important yet invisible "cabinet" positions.

[Annette Hamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so enjoyable that it made me want to start it over again immediately after finishing it. I appreciated Margaret Truman’s tone, honesty, and efforts to be understanding and impartial when considering the unsung and often unappreciated efforts of America’s First Ladies. Even though she concentrated on the wives, I also learned about some Presidents that I knew virtually nothing about, such as Taft and Cleveland. You could really tell that Margaret Truman enjoyed learning and writing about these admirable women. Definitely recommend.

[Joelle Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joelle Reads Her Bookcase #34

It's factual, not gossipy, and has a theme: being partners, a protector, and love.

I appreciated that it wasn't a juicy and speculative tell all.

It ends with Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton's first term, and the fact that Michelle Obama is missing from this list is not lost when you read about the many incredible first ladies who have occupied that role before.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this was an interesting book about the First Ladies. I had previously read a book written by another author about the First Ladies about 20 to 30 years ago. This book provided some new information that I didn't know about some of the women. I was a bit confused, because Margaret Truman did not write this in the chronological order of the First Ladies. I think it would have been a bit less confusing if she wrote the story in chronological order.

[Kaye Sivori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative book. As a non-fiction I would have preferred a chronological depiction. I felt the authors categorizing or grouping the First Ladies along with inserting her own opinion was her attempt to make the book more of a historical novel, for that reason I rated it lower.

[Kevin Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a well written and researched book. The author, Margaret Truman is the daughter of Harry and Bess Truman.

That gave her knowledge just from being in the Whitehouse. It also allowed her to meet First Ladies and former First Ladies.

Though her research you get to learn about many of the First Ladies before, during, and after their time in the Whitehouse.

[Ceste Stanly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although its pretty clear she is a bit biased toward a specific political party, it is still a great read. I especially enjoyed the fact that she not only lived in the White House, but also would host stuff w/ her dad. She also personally interviewed & knew many First Ladies. Can't wait to read more by Margaret Truman, esp the books she wrote about her parents

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so nice to read the perspective of a woman who has lived in the White House and understands First Families in a way the public cannot. It was so neat to read of her personal experiences meeting many of the First Ladies she writes about. A great read.

[Julie Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was about many of the First Ladies (although not all of them). A little too much repetition for my taste, though I did enjoy the book. The differences in their relationships with their husbands surprised me.

[Elizabeth Swift · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book written to go down as a classic, it just provides a look into how the different First Ladies came across while in the White House, what they were like, how they approached a job that has little definition. It was fun to read.

[Brenda OBrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this nonfiction book really interesting, and I learned a lot about the good and bad married lives of our past Presidents and their wives up through the Clinton era. Lots of cheating has gone on in the White House, starting way back to our founding fathers.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the lives of these women. I really wish I could know what Margaret Truman would write after the Clinton presidency...