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Betty Boyd Carolis engrossing and informative First Ladies is both a captivating read and an essential resource for anyone interested in the role of Americas First Ladies. This expanded and updated fourth edition includes Laura Bushs tenure, Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential bid, and an in-depth look at Michelle Obama, one of the most charismatic and appealing First Ladies in recent history. Covering all forty-one women from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama and including the daughters, daughters-in-law, and sisters of presidents who sometimes served as First Ladies, Caroli explores each womans background, marriage, and accomplishments and failures in office. This remarkably diverse lot included Abigail Adams, whose remember the ladies became a twentieth-century feminist refrain Jane Pierce, who prayed her husband would lose the election Helen Taft, who insisted on living in the White House, although her husband would have preferred a judgeship Eleanor Roosevelt, who epitomized the politically involved First Lady and Pat Nixon, who perfected what some have called the robot image They ranged in age from early 20s to late 60s some received superb educations for their time, while others had little or no schooling.