From Mrs. Washington to Mrs. McCain, Obama
By Emily
Bill Harris, author of “The First Ladies Book: The Stories of the Women of the White House from Martha Washington to Laura Bush,” spoke with amNewYork this past week on this election cycle’s possible first ladies He offered a historical perspective on the role and how Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain figure in. Here are more excerpts from the interview:
What's the history of women campaigning for their candidate husbands?
“In 1880, Grover Cleveland ran for president for his second term. He was about 50 years old, and Frances Cleveland was 22. She was immensely popular. The story went around that he had bought her baby carriage when she was born. … He had known her all his life.”
How did she help his campaign?
“The press fell in love with her because she was beautiful and she was young. … The Democrats put her picture on the campaign posters. … She didn’t really campaign but her picture on the posters.”
No one did the same for presidents before her?
“It’s hard to imagine Martha Washington ever out campaigning for her husband. He was such a hero that people take out their hate for him on her. She was attacked more than he was.”
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