Meet the extraordinary men and women who inspire, amaze, and enthrall us. The people who have lived in the White House -- and those who were presidents and first ladies before the great home was built -- are a chain of personalities who embody the peaceful succession of power which defines the United States system of government. Did you know... James Buchanan was a bachelor, so Harriet Lane, his niece, served as the nation's official hostess? John Tyler had two first ladies? Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt were distant cousins? Both Barbara Bush and Laura Bush chose literacy as a focus of their work as first ladies? The clearly presented Key Events section on every page of Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies shows what happened and when during the time of each president's administration. Biography boxes report data on important dates, places, and people in the lives of our leaders. Finding out about the complex, colorful story of the powerful couples in American history has never been simpler -- or more fun -- with this fact-packed instant reference. Ages 9-12. |
