First Ladies : A Biographical Dictionary

First Ladies covers all the women who have held this esteemed ""office"" since the founding of the United States, including current First Lady Laura Bush. An in-depth introductory essay traces the history of the first lady, including changes in the idea of what a president's wife should do and be, and how those perceptions have been affected by society's changing ideas about women and by the first ladies' varying degrees of interest in developing and wielding influence on a national scale. The book also offers intriguing vital statistics, such as presidents who had no wives during their presidencies, wives who devoted themselves to purely domestic duties, and wives who died during their husbands' terms in office. Appendixes listing White House hostesses, first lady ""firsts,"" and first ladies' reflections; a general bibliography; and an index round out this comprehensive survey of these important women. Arranged chronologically by term of presidency, each biographical entry includes: A detailed biography with an emphasis on life during the presidency; A chronology; Suggestions for further reading about that first lady.