First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents' Wives and Their Power

In this first part in a projected two-volume history of the first ladyship we're shown the unique role of the presidents' wives and the heritage of certain customs indigenous only to that role. Ending with Jacqueline Kennedy, this installment focuses on the degrees of power wielded by those women, some (such as Edith Wilson and Eleanor Roosevelt) evidently missing it when their incumbency ended. The author makes history entertaining by intertwining different eras, examining the post-public lives of the women, underscoring a feeling of ``sorority'' and dwelling intensely on those first ladies who prominently represented their times. Anthony, former speech writer for Nancy Reagan, provides a comprehensive, instructive view of women who, though unelected, render service to their country in diverse ways. Photos not seen by PW. BOMC alternate. (Sept.)