First Ladies | No Handbook | 6

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 31 July 2024

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There’s no job description for the role of First Lady of the United States. Betty Ford described it as being “much more than a 24-hour job.” First Ladies move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue along with the President and have to forge their own path. They are scrutinized for what they wear, what they say, and how they raise their children. Perhaps because of that, it tends to be a tight-knit sorority, regardless of political party. Today, Lindsay is joined by journalist Kate Andersen Brower. She’s the author of many books, including First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies, and she wrote the introduction to the American History Teller’s book, The Hidden History of the White House.

Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wunderry Plus subscribers can binge new seasons of American history tellers early and
0:05.1	ad free right now. Join Wundery Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. The Wonder. Imagine it's April 15th, 1945, and you're on a train rolling out of the station in Poughkeepsie, New York.
0:32.0	You're the Secretary of Labor and this morning
0:34.4	you attended the burial of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at his Hyde Park estate. You
0:39.6	stare out the window, images of somber faces, and a flag-draped coffin playing through your mind.
0:45.7	Pulling yourself from your thoughts, you turn your attention to the woman sitting across from
0:49.8	you, Bess Truman, the new First Lady of the United States.
0:54.0	She fidgets with a handkerchief in her lap.
0:56.7	You sigh and lean forward.
0:58.5	It was a shock to us all, and I'm sure, especially for you and Harry.
1:03.0	She nods, her red-rimmed eyes meeting your gaze.
1:07.0	I'm not cut out for the spotlight.
1:10.0	I never wanted this.
1:12.0	Harry's only been vice president for three months.
1:15.0	I never imagined he would suddenly become president.
1:19.0	I don't know anything about being the first lady.
1:22.0	Of course it must be overwhelming. I don't know anything about being the first lady.
1:22.8	Of course it must be overwhelming.
1:25.7	But I hear Eleanor plans to introduce you
1:27.8	to the White House reporters
1:29.4	before your first press conference.
1:31.8	That's a good start. Best bites her lip, anxiety flooding her face.
	...

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