Stories of Powerful Unelected Women

America’s First Ladies

Image: First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Ladybird Johnson, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rosalyn Carter, Betty Ford, and Barbara Bush sit together at the National Garden Gala, ‘A Tribute to America’s First Ladies. This picture was taken one week before the death of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Created May 11, 1994. By Barbara Kinney on ⁠Wikimedia⁠. Public Domain.

Did you know that Betty Ford in 1975 described Roe v. Wade as a “great, great decision” during an interview on the 60 Minutes news program?

At the time, her husband — a Republican — was the President of the United States!

The News:

Rosalynn Carter passed away on Nov. 19, 2023, at age 96.

History Behind News:

Did you know, that on Inauguration Day 1889, which was held on March 4 (a practice that continued until 1937), Frances Cleveland told the White House staff to take care of the furniture and ornaments because she and her husband, the defeated Pres. Cleveland, would be back in 4 years!

In 1892, former Pres. Cleveland beat Pres. Harrison and he and Ms. Cleveland did indeed return to the White House on March 4, 1893.

Several stories about the Clevelands have resonance with our current political climate, as Mr. Trump prepares for his reelection race against Pres. Biden in 2024. I talk about those stories in this podcast.

About This Episode:

In this episode, Dr. Katherine Jellison and I discuss the following:

• Was Ms. Carter America’s 49th First Lady? Or 50th? Or…