An important starting point for anyone interested in researching the history of First Ladies or understanding how the Office of First Lady and its duties and traditions evolved over the years. Highly recommended. Robert Watson, one of the leading presidency scholars of his generation, returns his attention to the office of first lady. This book is captivating . full of attention to historical detail and conceptually clear. Watson's synthesis of biographical detail and analytical approaches is much appreciated. More important, he demonstrates the utility of using the first ladyship as a lens on US political development.