Author Archives: Feather Schwartz Foster

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About Feather Schwartz Foster

Feather Schwartz Foster is an author-historian who has made more than 500 appearances discussing presidential history. She teaches adult education at the Christopher Wren Association (affiliated with William and; Mary College), and adult Education programs at Christopher Newport University. She has been a guest on the C-SPAN "First Ladies" program. She has written five books.

Louisa Adams, Neglected First Lady

No one had a better resume for becoming a First Lady than Louisa Catherine Adams. Louisa: Englishwoman of High Standing Louisa Catherine Johnson was born in England and well educated in a convent school in Paris. Her American father had … Continue reading

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George and Martha Washington: Dinner for Two

When George Washington married Martha Custis, he was a well-known personage in Virginia. Col. And Mrs. Washington For fifteen years, George Washington, former Colonel of the Virginia militia, lived in gentrified society, which included a seat in the House of … Continue reading

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Warren Harding: Bloviator of Nostrums and the Founding Fathers

A few men have the gift of speechifying pontifically and saying little. Like Warren Harding, 29th President. Warren G. Harding: Newspaper Man Warren Harding was one of the most affable men in town. He was easy going, a bona fide … Continue reading

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Betsey Humphreys: Mary Lincoln’s Wicked Stepmother

When Mary Lincoln was seven, she and her five siblings lost their mother. The Todd Marriage…and Remarriage Robert Smith Todd (1791-1849) was 21 when he married Eliza Parker. Every indication was that it was a marriage of inclination. They liked … Continue reading

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Burying General Grant

When General Ulysses S. Grant died in 1885, it was not a surprise. He had been ill for more than a year, and everyone knew it. Double Barrels of Woe In 1880, after an embarrassing semi-attempt at a third presidential … Continue reading

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Herbert Hoover, Food Administrator

When World War I finally came to US shores, President Wilson summoned Herbert Hoover back home. The Hoovers: Ex-Pats For nearly twenty years, Mr. And Mrs. Herbert Hoover had lived abroad, in various and exotic locations. They didn’t even have … Continue reading

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Harry Truman’s Harried Christmas: 1945

The Sudden Presidency While political insiders had noticed Franklin D. Roosevelt’s physical decline, the country was in shock when their President – for twelve years and counting – died suddenly in Warm Springs, GA. His failing health had been generally … Continue reading

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Abigail Adams and the Inoculation Decision

Smallpox was an extremely contagious disease. The mortality rate was at least 30%. George Washington’s Decision Shortly after the battles of Lexington and Concord in mid-1775, George Washington, a former Colonel of the Virginia Militia and the highest ranking professional … Continue reading

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The Unexpected President: Chester Alan Arthur…..Life and Times: A Book Review

There are very few things that Chester Alan Arthur is “famous” for. One, is his mutton chop whiskers; the other is his statement that “I may be President of the United States, but my private life is my own business.” … Continue reading

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Buckey O’Neill, Captain of TR’s Rough Riders

Next to Theodore Roosevelt, Buckey O’Neill was the most famous Rough Rider. Buckey O’Neill: Not-So-Rough Riding No doubt about it, when Theodore Roosevelt assembled the voluntary cavalry corps nicknamed the Rough Riders, a wide assortment of men couldn’t wait to … Continue reading

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