The Presidents' Wives : Reassessing the Office of First Lady

Robert Watson's groundbreaking study on the presidents' wives proved that the first lady can be an influential force in presidential politics and is a subject worthy of scholarly attention. Now, this fully revised second edition incorporates the first ladyships of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama in each chapter. The new edition also includes a decade-and-a-half of new research on public opinion, the growth and political development of the East Wing, and the issue of first lady character. Contents Illustrations 1 The President's Partner 2 The Unknown Institution of the White House 3 History of the First Lady 4 Official Duties 5 Approaches to the Office 6 Public Opinion and the First Lady 7 Rating the Presidential Spouses 8 The Future of the Office Appendix: Profiles of the First Ladies Bibliography Index About the Book