Wunderry Plus subscribers can binge new seasons of American history tellers early and

ad free right now. Join Wundery Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. The Imagine it's March 2008, a brisk winter evening in Chicago. You're at home in your living room with your husband, and he's determined to become the President of the United States, but working to secure the Democratic nomination has been an uphill battle.

He's just returned from campaigning in Indiana, and you're happy to have his company

before he flies out again in the morning. You've taken a leave of absence from your

demanding job at the University of Chicago Medical Center and you're spending more time with your two young

daughters. But the latest campaign controversy has brought more uncertainty this week.

Your long-time pastor is under fire for contentious comments he made about the United States

and the September 11th attacks and your husband's critics have seized on the

remarks. After a full day of frantic meetings you you're finally alone with your husband, and you motion

for him to join you on the sofa.

We have to do something about this.

Your husband takes a seat beside you and rubs his face with his hands.

It's frustrating.

He's our pastor, not our political advisor.

But it would seem that denouncing his statements publicly wasn't enough for some folks.

It was a good start, but based on what he said, people are questioning your patriotism and

commitment to unity.

Anyone who's read my books knows that the last thing I want is more division between Americans.

Everyone hasn't read your books, and right now people are asking themselves if you're the best candidate for

Commander-in-Chief of the United States. You know I've wanted to speak about race in

our country for a long time. So you have to give a speech. It's the perfect opportunity to talk

about the reality of potentially having a black family in the White House for the

...