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Modern First Ladies
Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Creating the Modern First Lady
Few first ladies have enjoyed a better reputation among historians than Edith Kermit Roosevelt. Aristocratic and sophisticated, tasteful and discreet, she managed the White House with a sure hand. Her admirers say that she never slipped in carrying out her duties as hostess, mother, and adviser to her husband.
Lewis Gould's path-breaking study, however, presents a more complex and interesting figure than the somewhat secularized saint Edith Roosevelt has become in the literature on first ladies. While many who knew her found her inspiring and gracious, family members also recalled a more astringent and sometimes nasty personality. Gould looks beneath the surface of her life to examine the intricate legacy of her tenure from 1901 to 1909.
The narrative in this book thus uncovers much new about Edith Roosevelt. Far from being averse to activism, Edith Roosevelt served as a celebrity sponsor at a New York musical benefit and also intervened in a high-profile custody dispute. Gould traces her role in the failed marriage of a United States senator, her efforts to secure the ambassador from Great Britain that she wanted, and the growing tension between her and Helen Taft in 1908-1909. Her commitment to bringing classical music artists to the White House, along with other popular performers, receives the fullest attention to date.
Gould also casts a skeptical eye over the area where Edith Roosevelt's standing has been strongest, her role as a mother. He looks at how she and her husband performed as parents and dissents from the accustomed judgment that all was well with the way the Roosevelt offspring developed. Most important of all, Gould reveals the first lady's deep animus toward African Americans and their place in American society. She believed "that any mixture of races is an unmitigated evil." The impact of her bigotry on Theodore Roosevelt's racial policies must now be an element in any future discussion of that sensitive subject.
On balance, Gould finds that Edith Roosevelt played an important and creative part in how the institution of the first lady developed during the twentieth century. His sprightly retelling of her White House years will likely provoke controversy and debate. All those interested in how the role of the presidential wife has evolved will find in this stimulating book a major contribution to the literature on a fascinating president. It also brings to life a first lady whose legacy must now be seen in a more nuanced and challenging light.
Lewis Gould's path-breaking study, however, presents a more complex and interesting figure than the somewhat secularized saint Edith Roosevelt has become in the literature on first ladies. While many who knew her found her inspiring and gracious, family members also recalled a more astringent and sometimes nasty personality. Gould looks beneath the surface of her life to examine the intricate legacy of her tenure from 1901 to 1909.
The narrative in this book thus uncovers much new about Edith Roosevelt. Far from being averse to activism, Edith Roosevelt served as a celebrity sponsor at a New York musical benefit and also intervened in a high-profile custody dispute. Gould traces her role in the failed marriage of a United States senator, her efforts to secure the ambassador from Great Britain that she wanted, and the growing tension between her and Helen Taft in 1908-1909. Her commitment to bringing classical music artists to the White House, along with other popular performers, receives the fullest attention to date.
Gould also casts a skeptical eye over the area where Edith Roosevelt's standing has been strongest, her role as a mother. He looks at how she and her husband performed as parents and dissents from the accustomed judgment that all was well with the way the Roosevelt offspring developed. Most important of all, Gould reveals the first lady's deep animus toward African Americans and their place in American society. She believed "that any mixture of races is an unmitigated evil." The impact of her bigotry on Theodore Roosevelt's racial policies must now be an element in any future discussion of that sensitive subject.
On balance, Gould finds that Edith Roosevelt played an important and creative part in how the institution of the first lady developed during the twentieth century. His sprightly retelling of her White House years will likely provoke controversy and debate. All those interested in how the role of the presidential wife has evolved will find in this stimulating book a major contribution to the literature on a fascinating president. It also brings to life a first lady whose legacy must now be seen in a more nuanced and challenging light.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
171 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2013
About the author
Lewis L. Gould
60 books13 followersLewis Ludlow Gould is Eugene C. Barker Professor Emeritus in American History at the University of Texas in Austin. Gould earned an A.B. from Brown University in 1961, and an M.A. (1962) and Ph.D. (1966) from Yale University.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 17, 2013
Before reading this book, I knew NOTHING about this First Lady. I knew that Theodore Roosevelt married, had a daughter, became a widower, and then married, 'someone else'. Edith Kermit Roosevelt is that 'someone else'. The love, respect, and passion that existed between these people is warming. However, it is Edith's actions and influence as First Lady that I find most intriguing.
Edith was First Lady for nearly eight years. In that time, she managed to redefine the formerly insipid position of First Lady into one of culture and importance. She displayed impressive organizational skills in managing both their private residence and their White House residence. Having five young children and one step-child, staying on top of all this was surely not an easy task. Also, she saw the need for the President to have a place for relaxation, far from the stress of Washington. Toward this goal, she set up a modest getaway near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, which provided that rest, much as Camp David does for the President today.
Additionally, she changed the position of social secretary into one of importance, eventually elevating that position to White House Staff level. This is an improvement that has prevailed and has become invaluable to the First Ladies that followed. She lent her name to charitable causes and was a key contributing factor in many political appointments.
Her racial intolerance, while not especially unique for the era, was a bit of a surprise. In so many other aspects of her life, she was gracious and elegant. I like that this book has given me what I consider a great insight to who Edith Roosevelt truly was as a wife, a mother, confidante, and First Lady of our country.
Edith was First Lady for nearly eight years. In that time, she managed to redefine the formerly insipid position of First Lady into one of culture and importance. She displayed impressive organizational skills in managing both their private residence and their White House residence. Having five young children and one step-child, staying on top of all this was surely not an easy task. Also, she saw the need for the President to have a place for relaxation, far from the stress of Washington. Toward this goal, she set up a modest getaway near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, which provided that rest, much as Camp David does for the President today.
Additionally, she changed the position of social secretary into one of importance, eventually elevating that position to White House Staff level. This is an improvement that has prevailed and has become invaluable to the First Ladies that followed. She lent her name to charitable causes and was a key contributing factor in many political appointments.
Her racial intolerance, while not especially unique for the era, was a bit of a surprise. In so many other aspects of her life, she was gracious and elegant. I like that this book has given me what I consider a great insight to who Edith Roosevelt truly was as a wife, a mother, confidante, and First Lady of our country.
February 10, 2014
I've been watching First Ladies on CSpan & this book fleshed out the bio of Edith R. nicely.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews