Dear First Lady: Letters to the White House - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1426200870 ISBN 13: 9781426200878

Publisher: National Geographic, 2008

Synopsis

Following on the success of their recent collaboration Dear Mr. President, Dwight Young and Margaret Johnson join forces once again to produce this charming collection of correspondence to and from First Ladies during their time in office. A wonderful gift book for any American, Dear First Lady reminds us that ours is a great government "of the people, by the people, and for the people," which entitles us to make our views known to our leaders. Although some of these missives were written by the famous or the infamous, most are from ordinary Americans who wished to connect with their First Lady. Amusing, appealling, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, the letters appear as full-size facsimiles wherever possible so readers can see for themselves the substance and style of these intriguing exchanges.

Dwight Young annotates each letter with biographical and historical stories that illuminate the context and provide broader insights into the public and private lives of presidents’ wives. Richly illustrated with archival photography and images, Dear First Lady paints a fascinating portrait of American culture and a behind-the-scenes look inside the White House.

With presidential history a perennial best-seller, and interest in First Ladies growing as these influential women make ever more prominent contributions to the society and public policy, this rich volume holds limitless gift potential.

About this title

About the Author

Dwight Young is the author of Alternatives to Sprawl, Saving American’s Treasures, and the bestselling Dear Mr. President: Letters to the Oval Office from the Files of the National Archives. He is perhaps best known as the author of the regular "Back Page" feature of Preservation magazine. He has been actively involved in historic preservation for more than 25 years.

Margaret Johnson is an illustrations researcher based in Washington, D.C. She was honored with an Emmy Award nomination in 2006 for her work on the PBS documentary American Experience: Victory in the Pacific. Her books include Dear Mr. President; An American Idea: The Making of the National Parks; Songcatchers; and Battlegrounds: Geography and the History of Warfare.

Reviews

Grade 5–9—Young and Johnson provide a glimpse into America's political and social history through letters received and written by the presidents' wives. Images of original correspondences appear opposite narratives that provide accessible historical context. Additional drawings and photographs enhance the visual experience. The letters range in content from politically significant to personally insightful. Dolley Madison describes her famed 1814 flight from the White House during the War of 1812 and dramatic rescue of Washington's portrait to her sister. Queen Victoria comforts Mary Todd Lincoln after her husband's assassination. Jane Pierce writes elaborate messages to her dead son, revealing the fragility of her grief-stricken mind. Sometimes, the letters provide an opportunity to notice contradictions present in these famous women. Eleanor Roosevelt denounces the racial discrimination practiced by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and on the next page makes excuses for the policy of Japanese Internment. What emerges is not only a portrait of the privilege and power of these women, but also a palpable sense of their humanity. A few of the letters are neither politically nor personally significant and one wonders why they were included. The occasional triviality of the subject matter, as well as the book's lack of index, make it an enjoyable example of anecdotal history rather than a source for serious research. While the original documents give the book an appealing primary-source quality, the handwritten words are often hard to decipher. The authors provide transcriptions for selected letters at the back of the book. A vibrant, but not vital, addition to most collections.—Emma Burkhart, formerly at The Winsor School, Boston, MA
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Edition details

• Publisher: National Geographic
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1426200870
• ISBN 13: 9781426200878
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208
• Editor: Young Dwight, Johnson Margaret