Molly Meijer Wertheimer Book order

Based on the volume Inventing a Voice, the more concise Leading Ladies of the White House follows the lives and communication of some of the most notable twentieth-century first ladies. Exploring their speaking, writing, media coverage and interactions, and visual rhetoric, the book includes Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Laura Bush. Featuring an introduction on the public persona of a president's spouse and a chapter on the first lady as a site of "American womanhood," Leading Ladies of the White House captures these high-profile women's reflections on public expectations and perceived restrictions on their communication.

As a politician, the way you communicate is as crucial as your actions. Political success hinges on achievements, style, presentation, speeches, and debates, and Dole exemplifies this. After serving under six presidents, she gained recognition as a prominent Republican figure following her impactful 1996 GOP convention speech. In 1999, she campaigned for the presidency for six months before withdrawing due to funding issues, and in 2002, she was elected U.S. Senator from North Carolina. This biography highlights how Dole has advanced her political career and causes through her exceptional public speaking skills. Her career includes roles in two cabinets—Secretary of Transportation under Reagan and Secretary of Labor under Bush—and a presidency at the American Red Cross. The authors extensively quote her speeches and interviews, providing context for her personal and political decisions shaped by her upbringing and the era she navigated. Dole's journey—from Southern belle to Harvard Law student, from political spouse to presidential candidate and senator—is compelling. Her ability to counter criticism offers valuable lessons for women in politics and politicians of all backgrounds.