Radical political and social changes, together with the development of radio and television, have dramatically altered the role of the President's wife since the early years of this century. Gutin's book examines the public and private personas of twelve presidential wives in the context of those changes. Focusing on the First Lady's public communications, the author looks at the roles that each of these women has filled, from ceremonial figure and White House hostess to presidential surrogate, campaigner, and independent advocate for special causes.

Although several presidential wives...