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Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What Your Teachers Never Told You About the Women of the White House
These collected biographies on the wacky secrets and scandals of the first ladies of the United States casts American history in a whole new light Whether she’s a leading lady, loyal spouse, or lightning rod for scandal, the First Lady of the United States has always been in the spotlight—and in 2017 that was truer than ever. This revised and expanded edition from Quirk’s best-selling Secret Lives series features outrageous and uncensored profiles of the women of the White House, from Martha Washington to Melania Trump, it comes complete with hundreds of little-known, politically incorrect, and downright wacko facts. Did you know • Dolley Madison loved to chew tobacco • Mary Todd Lincoln conducted séances on a regular basis • Eleanor Roosevelt and Ellen Wilson both carried guns • Jacqueline Kennedy spent $121,000 on her wardrobe in a single year • Betty Ford liked to chat on CB radios—her handle was “First Mama” With chapters on every woman who’s ever made it to the White House, Secret Lives of the First Ladies tackles all the tough questions that other history books are afraid to How many of these women owned slaves? Which ones were cheating on their husbands? And why was Eleanor Roosevelt serving hot dogs to the King and Queen of England? American history was never this much fun in school!
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
December 2, 2018
I received this book for free from the publisher (Quirk Books) in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! I love history, especially when it comes to topics that are not talked about much. So naturally, this book was right up on my alley.
This edition of the book features profiles of all the First Ladies, including the most recent one, Melania Trump. It gives a short biography about each First Lady and her time in the White House, as well as some fun facts and stories. There are also some fun illustrations (which I loved).
My biggest takeaway from this was that so many of the First Ladies had tragic lives. Many of them were upset and cried when their husbands became president. A lot of them had to endure a bunch of bad stuff (absent husbands, children dying, health problems, long travels, etc.) to help their husbands get to the White House. I had no idea that this was the reality for a majority of them. Their lives were not as glamorous as some may have thought.
Hardly anyone ever talks about the First Ladies (especially the earlier ones) so it was really insightful to learn more about them. They deserve more recognition than they get.
Overall, if you want a fun little history lesson on the First Ladies, then look no further, this book is for you!
I loved this book! I love history, especially when it comes to topics that are not talked about much. So naturally, this book was right up on my alley.
This edition of the book features profiles of all the First Ladies, including the most recent one, Melania Trump. It gives a short biography about each First Lady and her time in the White House, as well as some fun facts and stories. There are also some fun illustrations (which I loved).
My biggest takeaway from this was that so many of the First Ladies had tragic lives. Many of them were upset and cried when their husbands became president. A lot of them had to endure a bunch of bad stuff (absent husbands, children dying, health problems, long travels, etc.) to help their husbands get to the White House. I had no idea that this was the reality for a majority of them. Their lives were not as glamorous as some may have thought.
Hardly anyone ever talks about the First Ladies (especially the earlier ones) so it was really insightful to learn more about them. They deserve more recognition than they get.
Overall, if you want a fun little history lesson on the First Ladies, then look no further, this book is for you!
February 13, 2026
Well, Presidents' Day is soon upon us and I don't know how you celebrate it, but I try to read something about the US Presidents, such as a bio of one of them. This year, I'm doing something a little different--I'm reading about the First Ladies, the spouses of the presidents ( which means every president, except one, James Buchanan), from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama ( the book was published in 2009, the first year of the Obama presidency).
It should be no surprise but these women led interesting lives, even compelling ones, although they are in the history books primarily due to their husbands being Chief Executives. This has changed, especially since Eleanor Roosevelt, as many First Ladies have made contributions independent of their husbands. Eleanor, whom many historians and I myself consider to be the greatest First Lady, went on, after her husband's death, to serve as delegate to the United Nations and played an important role in getting the UN to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And, of course, Hillary Clinton became a Senator, then Secretary of State, and the first First Lady to run for President ( actually winning the popular vote, but not the all-important electoral vote).
There are a lot of facts about these ladies, many of which I've known since I was a child but there were some I did not know. Everyone knows the First Lady who was known as "Lemonade Lucy," right? This was Lucy Hayes, who refused to have alcohol in the White House. And everyone knows of the courage of Dolley Madison, who saved the portrait of George Washington ( and some documents) as the invading British approached during the War of 1812... although people are more likely now to think of her name in connection with cupcakes. People should know that Frances ( "Frank") Cleveland was the first First Lady to be married in the White House (and so far, the only one), and, at the age of 21 ( the youngest of all First Ladies). Grover Cleveland was twenty-seven years her senior; he had been known to her as "Uncle Cleve." Actually, Frank was the first media star of the First Ladies and, as she was extremely popular, she helped Cleveland to win re-election...
Some facts I did not know include--Abigail Fillmore was a bibliophile and started the White House library. Florence Harding was the first to fly in an airplane --and she insisted on a female pilot (and here I thought it was Eleanor Roosevelt who was first to fly). Helen Taft was the first to go surfing, on a trip to Hawaii ( has Michelle done that?). Abigail Adams--the first First Lady to occupy the White House--hung up the laundry in the East Room--wait, I knew that!
Lots of information, many remarkable women. Unfortunately, the worst of all First Ladies is the current one, as I write this ( 2026). The first porn star First Lady--how did we get here??
It should be no surprise but these women led interesting lives, even compelling ones, although they are in the history books primarily due to their husbands being Chief Executives. This has changed, especially since Eleanor Roosevelt, as many First Ladies have made contributions independent of their husbands. Eleanor, whom many historians and I myself consider to be the greatest First Lady, went on, after her husband's death, to serve as delegate to the United Nations and played an important role in getting the UN to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And, of course, Hillary Clinton became a Senator, then Secretary of State, and the first First Lady to run for President ( actually winning the popular vote, but not the all-important electoral vote).
There are a lot of facts about these ladies, many of which I've known since I was a child but there were some I did not know. Everyone knows the First Lady who was known as "Lemonade Lucy," right? This was Lucy Hayes, who refused to have alcohol in the White House. And everyone knows of the courage of Dolley Madison, who saved the portrait of George Washington ( and some documents) as the invading British approached during the War of 1812... although people are more likely now to think of her name in connection with cupcakes. People should know that Frances ( "Frank") Cleveland was the first First Lady to be married in the White House (and so far, the only one), and, at the age of 21 ( the youngest of all First Ladies). Grover Cleveland was twenty-seven years her senior; he had been known to her as "Uncle Cleve." Actually, Frank was the first media star of the First Ladies and, as she was extremely popular, she helped Cleveland to win re-election...
Some facts I did not know include--Abigail Fillmore was a bibliophile and started the White House library. Florence Harding was the first to fly in an airplane --and she insisted on a female pilot (and here I thought it was Eleanor Roosevelt who was first to fly). Helen Taft was the first to go surfing, on a trip to Hawaii ( has Michelle done that?). Abigail Adams--the first First Lady to occupy the White House--hung up the laundry in the East Room--wait, I knew that!
Lots of information, many remarkable women. Unfortunately, the worst of all First Ladies is the current one, as I write this ( 2026). The first porn star First Lady--how did we get here??
April 11, 2009
I'm giving this a five star since I'd really only thought this would end up being a good bathroom reader, if you know what I mean. Instead, I found myself rereading my favorite wives or referencing them in conversation. The short excerpts are perfect for a shorter attention span (or a bathroom reader, lol). All the extra insider details read like that favorite history teacher who gave you all the real scoop.
September 8, 2012
There isn't so much plot in this book as there is anecdote - and yet it still manages to capture attention and flow.
For instance - Martha Washington might have been involved in the death of her first husband's half-brother? It's just not the picture I had in my mind of our first First Lady.
And being as Grover Cleveland wasn't particularly prominent in my childhood education, I hadn't heard the details of his White House marriage.
Really, Grover? Your former ward? The daughter of your best friend? Proof that there were People of Wal Mart long before there was Wal Mart.
Because
Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What Your Teachers Never Told You About the Women of the White House is not a story, but a series of vignettes taking a gossipy look at the lives of the women behind the men leading the nation, it can be read in short bursts while waiting for kids at sports practices, at doctor's offices, or while waiting for the slow wheels of bureaucracy to... do anything. Leaving and coming back to the stories presents no hardship in how they are processed.
And Cormac O'Brien writes up gossip better than the Daily Mail, so the entertainment promised is delivered with exponents tacked onto the end. Delivered so well, in fact, that I immediately bought his Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents.
On a final note, I had no idea that Martin Van Buren neglected to even mention his wife in his memoirs. What a jerk.
For instance - Martha Washington might have been involved in the death of her first husband's half-brother? It's just not the picture I had in my mind of our first First Lady.
And being as Grover Cleveland wasn't particularly prominent in my childhood education, I hadn't heard the details of his White House marriage.
Really, Grover? Your former ward? The daughter of your best friend? Proof that there were People of Wal Mart long before there was Wal Mart.
Because
Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What Your Teachers Never Told You About the Women of the White House is not a story, but a series of vignettes taking a gossipy look at the lives of the women behind the men leading the nation, it can be read in short bursts while waiting for kids at sports practices, at doctor's offices, or while waiting for the slow wheels of bureaucracy to... do anything. Leaving and coming back to the stories presents no hardship in how they are processed.
And Cormac O'Brien writes up gossip better than the Daily Mail, so the entertainment promised is delivered with exponents tacked onto the end. Delivered so well, in fact, that I immediately bought his Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents.
On a final note, I had no idea that Martin Van Buren neglected to even mention his wife in his memoirs. What a jerk.
August 28, 2019
Well, that was fun.
My f-t-f book club is reading the lives of First Ladies, each participant picking one and reading about her, but, of course, I couldn't do that, so instead I decided to read about all of them (up to 2005, anyway, the book's copyright date).
I found I especially liked Mary Todd Lincoln (who doesn't?), Lou Henry Hoover (a geologist), Lady Bird Johnson (with such a bossy husband), Laura Bush (who knew she smoked until the 1990s?), as well as Abigail Fillmore (started a library at the White House) and Florence Harding (wife of the most corrupt president...though this title could be questioned today, perhaps).
What did the best of these First Ladies have in common? Ambitious for their husbands. Very bright. Right hand man of the president. Able to overlook flaws of the presidents and focus on their strengths. Multi-taskers. A strong sense of what was right.
A fun read. I may look for more of this series from Quirk Books.
My f-t-f book club is reading the lives of First Ladies, each participant picking one and reading about her, but, of course, I couldn't do that, so instead I decided to read about all of them (up to 2005, anyway, the book's copyright date).
I found I especially liked Mary Todd Lincoln (who doesn't?), Lou Henry Hoover (a geologist), Lady Bird Johnson (with such a bossy husband), Laura Bush (who knew she smoked until the 1990s?), as well as Abigail Fillmore (started a library at the White House) and Florence Harding (wife of the most corrupt president...though this title could be questioned today, perhaps).
What did the best of these First Ladies have in common? Ambitious for their husbands. Very bright. Right hand man of the president. Able to overlook flaws of the presidents and focus on their strengths. Multi-taskers. A strong sense of what was right.
A fun read. I may look for more of this series from Quirk Books.
July 9, 2020
This was different than the stories you get of presidents. This is from the woman side, you find out that a lot of will-be presidents married up for money or prestige. I’m sure love too. There were a lot of first ladies that didn’t want their husband going to the White House. There are more first ladies more troubled than you’ll believe but there are more ladies more talented than we ever knew. The women in the book were more interesting than their husbands.
Jason Rekulak was an editor of this book. He wrote a fantastic book called “Impossible Fortress.”
The writing was entertaining and there was a lot of information.
Jason Rekulak was an editor of this book. He wrote a fantastic book called “Impossible Fortress.”
The writing was entertaining and there was a lot of information.
November 6, 2017
This book contains the brief biographies and random trivia of the First Ladies starting with Martha Washington and ending with the current First Lady, Melania Trump. The biography of each woman is usually around 5-10 pages and includes a black and white illustration. Also included are page long descriptions of the other women who were married to the presidents but did not serve as a First Lady.
I thought this book provided a good look at the history of wives of presidents and how the role of First Lady has evolved over the years. I found it fascinating how so many of of the women didn't want their husbands to win the presidential election because it meant their lives would be turned upside down. The information is presented in a casual type format and provides enough information about each woman that you really feel by the end of each biography you really understood their true personality. While this book might not satisfy history buffs because each biography is brief, I do think casual fans of history will enjoy this book.
I won this book in a giveaway by Quirk Books but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I thought this book provided a good look at the history of wives of presidents and how the role of First Lady has evolved over the years. I found it fascinating how so many of of the women didn't want their husbands to win the presidential election because it meant their lives would be turned upside down. The information is presented in a casual type format and provides enough information about each woman that you really feel by the end of each biography you really understood their true personality. While this book might not satisfy history buffs because each biography is brief, I do think casual fans of history will enjoy this book.
I won this book in a giveaway by Quirk Books but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
February 11, 2021
We have had some interesting First Ladies in the White House. I can't wait to see what a First Gentleman can do.
November 16, 2021
No holds barred, across the centuries, American presidents’ lives are a shit-show. There’s no other explanation if you get even halfway through this book. Lord. Trump doesn’t even compare to the drunk and philandering assholes who were president and only bolstered up by their First Ladies, at least according to this book. It is simultaneously a fascinating and demoralizing read to learn of the sardonically summarized lives of America’s leading ladies.
After finishing this, I found some parts needlessly crass and insensitive for the sake of humor. At the same time, I appreciated the Spark Notes style review of first ladies’ loves that made me want to read more deeply about each of the First Ladies and their husbands. This book set out on an expansive and irreverent task, and I think it achieved both.
After finishing this, I found some parts needlessly crass and insensitive for the sake of humor. At the same time, I appreciated the Spark Notes style review of first ladies’ loves that made me want to read more deeply about each of the First Ladies and their husbands. This book set out on an expansive and irreverent task, and I think it achieved both.
June 27, 2021
Solid four stars. Read date of 2007 is an estimation, could be off by a couple of years.
This is O'Brien's companion book to Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, and it's a hoot. I even pick it up every now and then just to review a few of the tidbits because it's so much fun.
It's nice to see the first ladies get their day in the sun, for many of them deserve it. When asked why a movie had been made about his wife and not him, Gerald Ford simply replied "Because my wife is much more interesting!" This can be applied to several first couples, though that's not always a good thing for the people involved. Jane Pierce spent the entire presidency locked in her room penning letters to her dead son (I don't know if he ever got any of them), and forcing Frank to read the Bible to the White House staff and lead them in a hymn sing-along every day. She also cancelled the traditional Saturday Marine Corps Band concerts because Saturday nights were supposed to be a time for preparing for the sabbath. (Oh, those pious Pierces.) Uncle Frank dealt with this by getting drunk as much as possible and letting the country go to complete shit. So, while Aunt Jane was more interesting, she certainly wasn't a barrel of laughs. Then again, neither was Frank. (Frankly, that whole branch of the family sucks.) Jane wasn't the only one who was loony tunes, but I'll leave the rest out in hopes that you'll read this book.
I understand there's been an update which carries matters all the way up to Melania, but my book stops with Laura Bush. Personally, I'm grateful for this because I'm just fine not reading anything about Michelle. However, judging from the last entries in the book, O'Brien seems to lean right, so he probably doesn't gush over her the way everyone else seems to, and it might be okay. He doesn't shy away from poking at the modern Republican first ladies, but it seems lighter. That might be because they had a tendency to hover further in the background compared to their Democrat counterparts. And really, Hillary brought a lot of it on herself. Love her or hate her, she was a mover and a shaker. Laura didn't shake jack, and neither did her mother-in-law Barbara. And while Nancy Reagan made a few waves, she couldn't touch Hillary in that department. It reminds me of that old (bad) joke where Bill and Hillary stopped at a gas station after he had become president, and ran into Hillary's old boyfriend who was a gas jockey. After they left, Bill said "Aren't you glad you married me instead of him since I became president?" Hillary replied "But Bill, if I had married him, he would've been president." This isn't entirely accurate since Bill had political aspirations to be president, but I don't know if he would've pulled it off without his wife's help. However, the sentiment could certainly be applied to the Hardings. Warren didn't even really want to be president, but his wife Florence wanted it, and what "the duchess" said went, so she made him run, and... It looks like I'm starting to ruin the plot, and I said I wasn't going to do that, so I'll quit here.
As with its brother book about our presidents, this isn't meant to give you in-depth details about the first ladies; just a fun summary with the juiciest parts. If you like light bios and anecdotes which are well-written, and you have an interest in the subject matter, then this is the book for you.
This is O'Brien's companion book to Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, and it's a hoot. I even pick it up every now and then just to review a few of the tidbits because it's so much fun.
It's nice to see the first ladies get their day in the sun, for many of them deserve it. When asked why a movie had been made about his wife and not him, Gerald Ford simply replied "Because my wife is much more interesting!" This can be applied to several first couples, though that's not always a good thing for the people involved. Jane Pierce spent the entire presidency locked in her room penning letters to her dead son (I don't know if he ever got any of them), and forcing Frank to read the Bible to the White House staff and lead them in a hymn sing-along every day. She also cancelled the traditional Saturday Marine Corps Band concerts because Saturday nights were supposed to be a time for preparing for the sabbath. (Oh, those pious Pierces.) Uncle Frank dealt with this by getting drunk as much as possible and letting the country go to complete shit. So, while Aunt Jane was more interesting, she certainly wasn't a barrel of laughs. Then again, neither was Frank. (Frankly, that whole branch of the family sucks.) Jane wasn't the only one who was loony tunes, but I'll leave the rest out in hopes that you'll read this book.
I understand there's been an update which carries matters all the way up to Melania, but my book stops with Laura Bush. Personally, I'm grateful for this because I'm just fine not reading anything about Michelle. However, judging from the last entries in the book, O'Brien seems to lean right, so he probably doesn't gush over her the way everyone else seems to, and it might be okay. He doesn't shy away from poking at the modern Republican first ladies, but it seems lighter. That might be because they had a tendency to hover further in the background compared to their Democrat counterparts. And really, Hillary brought a lot of it on herself. Love her or hate her, she was a mover and a shaker. Laura didn't shake jack, and neither did her mother-in-law Barbara. And while Nancy Reagan made a few waves, she couldn't touch Hillary in that department. It reminds me of that old (bad) joke where Bill and Hillary stopped at a gas station after he had become president, and ran into Hillary's old boyfriend who was a gas jockey. After they left, Bill said "Aren't you glad you married me instead of him since I became president?" Hillary replied "But Bill, if I had married him, he would've been president." This isn't entirely accurate since Bill had political aspirations to be president, but I don't know if he would've pulled it off without his wife's help. However, the sentiment could certainly be applied to the Hardings. Warren didn't even really want to be president, but his wife Florence wanted it, and what "the duchess" said went, so she made him run, and... It looks like I'm starting to ruin the plot, and I said I wasn't going to do that, so I'll quit here.
As with its brother book about our presidents, this isn't meant to give you in-depth details about the first ladies; just a fun summary with the juiciest parts. If you like light bios and anecdotes which are well-written, and you have an interest in the subject matter, then this is the book for you.
March 29, 2025
This book starts off as a charming and delightful read that highlights the strength, intelligence, quirky characteristics, and humanity of the First Ladies in an unbiased and humorous manner. However, as the timeline enters the second half of the twentieth century, the author gradually abandons his neutral perspective for an increasingly obvious display of favoritism for one political party over the other. While I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the fascinating and incredible women that have lived (and died) in one of the most famous residences in the world, it was a shame the author could not rise above his own biases to fully adopt the open-mindedness and generous spirit that so many of these women stood for. I guess it was too much of me to hope that a book featuring politics could be written in an completely apolitical manner but the insistently blatant interjection of polarizing personal opinions in the bios of recent First Ladies makes one wonder if they might have accidentally picked up a copy of the book “Secret Lives of the First Ladies and Cormac O’Brien” instead.
January 25, 2025
<3 Eleanore Roosevelt & Michelle Obama <3
UGH I just admire them so much
UGH I just admire them so much
Read
January 6, 2019Well, I've finished this book finally.
O'Brien was doing well up until the modern ladies. The chapter on Michelle Obama was. . . not good, but then again the edition that I have was published in 2009 so I'm not sure that he had much to work with. Best I can tell anyone with a partisan leaning--and this is the age of Trump, so almost everyone has a partisan leaning--thinks this book leans to the side they don't support. We were doing just fine and pretty much down the middle until we hit Rosalyn Carter. For heaven's sake, why would you illustrate ANY first lady next to John Wayne Gacy? Especially not Rosalyn. Talk about her photo with the bastard sure, but THAT's your illustration? That's how you want to represent a woman who still volunteers with Habitat for Humanity?
Then there was the part where the author said Barbara Bush advanced the national dialogue on racism. Um, I have no recollection of that, senator--and feel free to give me some quotes if I missed it. Or his ending sentence on B. Bush: "Looks like leaving college to raise a family wasn't such a bad idea after all." Dude just got done telling me that Barbara suffered from depression and feelings of inadequacy when George Senior went to work with all of these women who were college educated! I mean, I was concerned about her mental health. Bad enough that she refused therapy, but now you're going to say that?!
Anyhoo, Mr. Man clearly prefers the Bushes over the Clintons and the Obamas and must not have much respect for the Carters, either. (See above) The whole "Whiteygate" nonscandal didn't even merit mention under Michelle Obama's section for sure--I was alive for that one, too. (I'm not touching the Hillary Clinton section. I would have to study her for 10 years to separate myth from fact at this point, and I don't have that kind of time. She definitely suffers from foot in mouth disease.)
The best part of the book includes sections from Frank Cleveland through Mamie Eisenhower. Those are the first ladies we don't know that much about. I mean, Mrs. Taft went surfing. Who knew?
And, up until modern times, O'Brien manages to keep it pretty even. Lots of adulterers and more than a few power-hungry first ladies. I guess one has to be full of oneself to want the job, am I right? If you're looking for a book of quick anecdotes, then I suppose you might as well go ahead. Understand that you're going to learn--if you didn't already know--that John Q. Adams was a total prick as was LBJ and Calvin Coolidge at the very least.
I'll freely admit that I tend toward the liberal side, so keep that in mind. Oh, and if you can't stand things like "Martha Washington was left with two brats" then skip it. A few of the reviews indicate that some folks can't handle a flippant tone. This was not a problem with me in and of itself.
O'Brien was doing well up until the modern ladies. The chapter on Michelle Obama was. . . not good, but then again the edition that I have was published in 2009 so I'm not sure that he had much to work with. Best I can tell anyone with a partisan leaning--and this is the age of Trump, so almost everyone has a partisan leaning--thinks this book leans to the side they don't support. We were doing just fine and pretty much down the middle until we hit Rosalyn Carter. For heaven's sake, why would you illustrate ANY first lady next to John Wayne Gacy? Especially not Rosalyn. Talk about her photo with the bastard sure, but THAT's your illustration? That's how you want to represent a woman who still volunteers with Habitat for Humanity?
Then there was the part where the author said Barbara Bush advanced the national dialogue on racism. Um, I have no recollection of that, senator--and feel free to give me some quotes if I missed it. Or his ending sentence on B. Bush: "Looks like leaving college to raise a family wasn't such a bad idea after all." Dude just got done telling me that Barbara suffered from depression and feelings of inadequacy when George Senior went to work with all of these women who were college educated! I mean, I was concerned about her mental health. Bad enough that she refused therapy, but now you're going to say that?!
Anyhoo, Mr. Man clearly prefers the Bushes over the Clintons and the Obamas and must not have much respect for the Carters, either. (See above) The whole "Whiteygate" nonscandal didn't even merit mention under Michelle Obama's section for sure--I was alive for that one, too. (I'm not touching the Hillary Clinton section. I would have to study her for 10 years to separate myth from fact at this point, and I don't have that kind of time. She definitely suffers from foot in mouth disease.)
The best part of the book includes sections from Frank Cleveland through Mamie Eisenhower. Those are the first ladies we don't know that much about. I mean, Mrs. Taft went surfing. Who knew?
And, up until modern times, O'Brien manages to keep it pretty even. Lots of adulterers and more than a few power-hungry first ladies. I guess one has to be full of oneself to want the job, am I right? If you're looking for a book of quick anecdotes, then I suppose you might as well go ahead. Understand that you're going to learn--if you didn't already know--that John Q. Adams was a total prick as was LBJ and Calvin Coolidge at the very least.
I'll freely admit that I tend toward the liberal side, so keep that in mind. Oh, and if you can't stand things like "Martha Washington was left with two brats" then skip it. A few of the reviews indicate that some folks can't handle a flippant tone. This was not a problem with me in and of itself.
September 29, 2018
*2.5 stars* It was OK. Entertaining, but something to read for fun as opposed to an educated analysis of these women. As the title suggests, don't expect David McCullough.
Pluses: the book repeatedly gives credit where credit is due, and emphasizes the difficulty of this often involuntary office, and points out that many of the women called to it were amazing individuals in their own right. It spends as much time on who they were outside of their husband (childhood, education, hobbies) as on their role in office. Each first spouse is given 2 -6 pages; so it's an an easy and quick read. If you are a casual reader of history, it is a fun introduction to the topic. It's nice to know that someone took the time to write about these women and in a positive way.
Minuses: has a bathroom reader/Don't Know Much About History feel....a first lady chewing tobacco! A first lady who rode a tractor growing up! It's entertaining, but experienced history readers will find it grating. Also - much of the information will not be new, unless you have never read about these administrations before. The chapters about the first ladies prior to Jackie Kennedy are the most engaging.
Pluses: the book repeatedly gives credit where credit is due, and emphasizes the difficulty of this often involuntary office, and points out that many of the women called to it were amazing individuals in their own right. It spends as much time on who they were outside of their husband (childhood, education, hobbies) as on their role in office. Each first spouse is given 2 -6 pages; so it's an an easy and quick read. If you are a casual reader of history, it is a fun introduction to the topic. It's nice to know that someone took the time to write about these women and in a positive way.
Minuses: has a bathroom reader/Don't Know Much About History feel....a first lady chewing tobacco! A first lady who rode a tractor growing up! It's entertaining, but experienced history readers will find it grating. Also - much of the information will not be new, unless you have never read about these administrations before. The chapters about the first ladies prior to Jackie Kennedy are the most engaging.
October 9, 2007
Fun, but lacking depth. Each First Lady gets a page or two - I think Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy might get three. It was nice to learn about some of the lesser known First Ladies, but nothing I feel the need to reread. It wouldn't make for a good reference, either, unless all you wanted was a very basic bio and a fun fact or two.
April 18, 2019
Despite the somewhat suggestive title, this is a light-hearted and mostly-positive series of biographies. Includes women who were married to future or former presidents but who did not serve in the White House.
July 30, 2012
This book contains little bios and stories of the president's wives. It is a light and fun way to learn a little unusual history.
October 28, 2025
DNF: Because of my fascination and interest in our first ladies, I was the target audience for this book, but i didn’t get past the first chapter about Martha Washington. It was the blasé fair way that the information was presented to the reader. It came across like the author doesn’t like the first ladies. Instead of saying she was left widowed with two children. He said she was left widowed with two brats. When she was upset with her husband, the author wrote that she bitched. When the author, casually implied that there was a chance, although unlikely that she was involved in a murder, I was out.
February 13, 2019
LOVED this book! Takes a very neutral political stance to the times and chocked full of interesting stories. Through this book I feel like I have so much more respect for First Ladies in the White House. Also, the illustrations rock hard.
February 17, 2018
Very informative, easy read, Difficult to remember all the facts about the first ladies.
I recommend this book. It does not seem to be political. Just facts without comments from the
author. It needs a timeline so the reader can place the events.
I recommend this book. It does not seem to be political. Just facts without comments from the
author. It needs a timeline so the reader can place the events.
February 9, 2008
This is a follow-up to O'Brien's previous book, Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, which, while a fascinating book, is a topic that has been covered many times. I have, in fact, two books on this topic, and they both illuminate the hidden idiosyncrasies, character flaws, shining moments of virtue and petty humanity of the 43 Commanders-in-Chief.
It was Abagail Adams who exhorted her husband to, "Remember the ladies," and it seems that O'Brien has done just that. He's given us a nice concise look at the women of the White House, and it's a hell of a read.
It's very easy to forget the First Ladies, and kind of pigeonhole them into the space that reads "President's wife," but to do so would be a great disservice to an amazing group of women. Political powerhouses such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Jocelyn Carter, Edith Wilson and Helen Taft go up against the populist idols such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Frances Cleveland, Mamie Eisenhower and Dolley Madison. And then there were the sick and the insane, like Mary Todd Lincoln, Jane Pierce, Elizabeth Monroe and Ida McKinley.
Their relationships with their husbands are also well-detailed, and also somewhat surprising. For all the Bill Clinton was a lecher, he was hardly the first. Hillary joined a group of long-suffering women who put up with blatant and repeated infidelities in and out of the White House. Some relationships were partnerships, like the Carters, the Hoovers and the Tafts. And some couples were just quietly devoted to each other, like the McKinleys and the Clevelands.
Check it out. There's a lot of new things to learn in this book, and a lot of inspiration to be had.
It was Abagail Adams who exhorted her husband to, "Remember the ladies," and it seems that O'Brien has done just that. He's given us a nice concise look at the women of the White House, and it's a hell of a read.
It's very easy to forget the First Ladies, and kind of pigeonhole them into the space that reads "President's wife," but to do so would be a great disservice to an amazing group of women. Political powerhouses such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Jocelyn Carter, Edith Wilson and Helen Taft go up against the populist idols such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Frances Cleveland, Mamie Eisenhower and Dolley Madison. And then there were the sick and the insane, like Mary Todd Lincoln, Jane Pierce, Elizabeth Monroe and Ida McKinley.
Their relationships with their husbands are also well-detailed, and also somewhat surprising. For all the Bill Clinton was a lecher, he was hardly the first. Hillary joined a group of long-suffering women who put up with blatant and repeated infidelities in and out of the White House. Some relationships were partnerships, like the Carters, the Hoovers and the Tafts. And some couples were just quietly devoted to each other, like the McKinleys and the Clevelands.
Check it out. There's a lot of new things to learn in this book, and a lot of inspiration to be had.
January 11, 2015
This is a great book for gathering trivia information but be forewarned the book mixes facts with gossip. I recently read “Upstairs at the White House” by J. B. West which is West’s memoirs as Chief Usher in charge of the East wing of the White House and the first ladies. West book is all facts. O’Brien’s book covers all of the first ladies to date. The first ladies are a position of marriage and she is not paid for any of her work. The effect the first ladies have on the nation is immense and should not be overlooked.
Some of the information is well known such as Abigail Adam’s letter to her husband John while he was working with the group writing the Constitution to “Remember the ladies”. The author says it was Helen Taft that saw to the planting of the cherry trees that was send as a gift from Japan. O’Brien also includes some little know facts such as the candy bar Baby Ruth was named after President Cleveland’s baby daughter.
O’Brien states some the Presidents and their wife’s were partnerships, like the Carters, The Hoovers and the Taft’s while other Presidential couples were just quietly devoted to each other, such as the McKinley’s, the Cleveland’s, and the Truman’s.
The book has made me want to learn more about some of the first ladies. I shall be off to the library looking for a good in-depth biography of a first lady. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Teresa DeBerry narrated the book. There is so much information in this book I am going to purchase a hard book edition.
Some of the information is well known such as Abigail Adam’s letter to her husband John while he was working with the group writing the Constitution to “Remember the ladies”. The author says it was Helen Taft that saw to the planting of the cherry trees that was send as a gift from Japan. O’Brien also includes some little know facts such as the candy bar Baby Ruth was named after President Cleveland’s baby daughter.
O’Brien states some the Presidents and their wife’s were partnerships, like the Carters, The Hoovers and the Taft’s while other Presidential couples were just quietly devoted to each other, such as the McKinley’s, the Cleveland’s, and the Truman’s.
The book has made me want to learn more about some of the first ladies. I shall be off to the library looking for a good in-depth biography of a first lady. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Teresa DeBerry narrated the book. There is so much information in this book I am going to purchase a hard book edition.
July 14, 2018
Interesting tidbits about our First Ladies (which is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1), but really horribly written overall. Gratuitous swearing, an immature writing style and a clear liberal bias sum up why I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about our First Ladies (all of whom are worthy of being read about).
This snippet from Julia Gardiner Tyler's chapter illustrates the immature writing style "Julia continued to bear children for her seemingly inexhaustible husband (John fathered his last of 15 children when he was seventy years old, for crying out loud)." Really?! Fathering children close to that age with a second (or third) wife wasn't that unusual for that time period given the number of women who died in childbirth (or from other causes). While an interesting tidbit (this is why there were 2 grandsons of John Tyler still living, at least until recently), no real need to be snarky or snide.
I have to wonder why the author neglects to mention the first two wives of Donald Trump while devoting at least several paragraphs to all the wives of the other presidents, regardless of whether they ever lived in the White House.
This snippet from Julia Gardiner Tyler's chapter illustrates the immature writing style "Julia continued to bear children for her seemingly inexhaustible husband (John fathered his last of 15 children when he was seventy years old, for crying out loud)." Really?! Fathering children close to that age with a second (or third) wife wasn't that unusual for that time period given the number of women who died in childbirth (or from other causes). While an interesting tidbit (this is why there were 2 grandsons of John Tyler still living, at least until recently), no real need to be snarky or snide.
I have to wonder why the author neglects to mention the first two wives of Donald Trump while devoting at least several paragraphs to all the wives of the other presidents, regardless of whether they ever lived in the White House.
February 5, 2022
How can I take this author seriously when they wrote nothing but speculations about First Lady Martha Washington and supposed scandals but writes Hilary Clinton in a angelic and positive light. How does he know what Martha Washington bitched about. Was he there? I got to Hilary and I couldn’t help but laugh at the audacity. The author should write a biography for Hilary Rodman Clinton and include a photo of her with wings and a halo on her head. I got this book as a mystery in a bag at my local library. They put books in paper bags and write interesting descriptions on them to make you want to find out what book it is. I got duped because it mentioned history. Glad I didn’t pay for it.
June 7, 2016
I loved this informative book about the First Ladies of the U.S. In 3-4 pages, you learn about the life of every first lady, how they met their spouse (future President), their legacy in the White House, a few "fun facts," along with their biography stats (DOB-DOD, Children Names, Years of FLOTUS and a famous quote).
It's a great way to cram a few hundred years of knowledge into a few hundred pages - I highly recommend!
It's a great way to cram a few hundred years of knowledge into a few hundred pages - I highly recommend!
May 25, 2023
I really enjoyed learning little snippets about all the first ladies. Each was short so that you got just enough information without getting super tedious. I didn't realize how many of them had absolutely no desire to be first ladies. The book talked about religion, children, and all sorts of trivia. It made me want to learn more about some of them, and not so much about others.
February 8, 2016
Probably more of a 3.5 stars book, but I liked most of it--at least the sections about all of the First Ladies pre-Kennedy. The modern First Lady sections were just flat out less interesting.
Still, the book was generally an easy and fun read. It was a little gossipy at times, but that may be the nature of the format.
Still, the book was generally an easy and fun read. It was a little gossipy at times, but that may be the nature of the format.
October 21, 2017
This book does not give information about these ladies that is secret or very interesting. Much of it could be found on google with a simple search. the author writes in a semi-comedic style which I did not enjoy. I would not recommend this book unless you want to learn the most basic information about the first ladies all in one place.
April 17, 2018
Interesting. One thing jumps out; all of the First Ladies were if not very well educated (and most were) were very bright and/or smart. All of them supported their husbands even if they did not agree with him. Nearly all seemed to really dislike the spotlite of publicity. I enjoyed this book, it was a quick, light two night read.
June 25, 2017
All about the Ladies
I truly enjoyed learning about our First Ladies. Some were born to the role, some pushed their husbands, others cried at the thought. But they all rose to the occasion and did their best.
I truly enjoyed learning about our First Ladies. Some were born to the role, some pushed their husbands, others cried at the thought. But they all rose to the occasion and did their best.
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