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Wit and Wisdom of America's First Ladies: A Book of Quotations
"The one thing I do not want," quipped Jacqueline Kennedy, "is to be called First Lady. It sounds like a saddle horse." This lively collection includes more than 350 revealing and thought-provoking remarks by White House wives, from Martha Washington ("I live a very dull life here, and know nothing that passes in town.") to Melania Trump ("Together, let's encourage children to dream big, think big, and do all they can to be best in everything that they do.")
Humorous and heartfelt reflections include Abigail Adams's thoughts on partnership ("No man ever prospered in the world without the consent and cooperation of his wife."); Dolley Madison's attitude toward gossip ("It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business."); and Eleanor Roosevelt's comment on accountability ("It is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do.").
Humorous and heartfelt reflections include Abigail Adams's thoughts on partnership ("No man ever prospered in the world without the consent and cooperation of his wife."); Dolley Madison's attitude toward gossip ("It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business."); and Eleanor Roosevelt's comment on accountability ("It is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do.").
- GenresNonfiction
64 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 19, 2014
It was okay. But with all due respect, some of these women were annoying. Others completely admirable, none of them too happy while in office.
Truth be told, America and it's presidents were never much interesting to me. Yes, some great things happened in America, but it's leaders most of the time are not so interesting.
Yet, I wanted the female POV on the white house and the presidential job. And they were informative. But not much more.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc
Truth be told, America and it's presidents were never much interesting to me. Yes, some great things happened in America, but it's leaders most of the time are not so interesting.
Yet, I wanted the female POV on the white house and the presidential job. And they were informative. But not much more.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc
June 7, 2019
Loved it! What a legacy these women have left!
January 5, 2015
A few years back, I got to go to the Smithsonian American History museum. One of the fascinating things I saw was a display of all the inaugural gowns worn by the first ladies. Due to the fragile nature of the fabric, the dresses were displayed on dress dummies in dim light and appeared to be floating in the dark. In the hushed room, a young boy loudly exclaimed, "Mama! They ain't got no heads!"
With a few exceptions, when we think of the first ladies, I'm not sure we credit them with the intelligence and stamina it surely takes to represent our country. 'Wit and Wisdom of America's First Ladies' sets out to change that over it's short length, and I believe it succeeds. Every woman who was a First Lady in the White House is given and introduction page and a series of quotes attributed to them. This is done in chronological order. You can see the types of things that occupied the First Lady's mind during that time. War, poverty, assassination, illiteracy, and the environment are just a few of the topics that show up in this book.
I enjoyed it immensely. We hear more about the Presidents than their wives, but I was engaged through this entire book. I really liked this chance to get to meet these ladies.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this interesting ebook.
With a few exceptions, when we think of the first ladies, I'm not sure we credit them with the intelligence and stamina it surely takes to represent our country. 'Wit and Wisdom of America's First Ladies' sets out to change that over it's short length, and I believe it succeeds. Every woman who was a First Lady in the White House is given and introduction page and a series of quotes attributed to them. This is done in chronological order. You can see the types of things that occupied the First Lady's mind during that time. War, poverty, assassination, illiteracy, and the environment are just a few of the topics that show up in this book.
I enjoyed it immensely. We hear more about the Presidents than their wives, but I was engaged through this entire book. I really liked this chance to get to meet these ladies.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this interesting ebook.
December 4, 2014
Has interesting facts and quotations from the presidents' wives. It introduced some light on the wives that not is seen normally. The wives are usually overlooked. This is a refreshing change.
Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
March 20, 2016
Had some great quotes and some interesting little facts. I do wish that it had been a bit more evenly balanced - some first ladies had lots of quotes and some had none. This would definitely be a fun book for someone that is very interested in US politics.
September 26, 2014
This was an interesting read. There were a lot of quotes that I had never heard but some first ladies where just down right boring. All and all a good book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews