Tag Archives: First Ladies history

Woodrow Wilson. Dr. Grayson. Edith. And Golf.

For Medicinal Purposes At his inaugural luncheon at the White House, the new President Woodrow Wilson had occasion to meet naval physician Dr. Cary Grayson, and invited him to become his personal physician. A few days later, when Grayson gave … Continue reading

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U.S. Grant and the Wildflowers

Ulysses S. Grant was a true case of still waters running deep. The Young Romantic Hiram Ulysses Grant (his name at birth) was an amalgam of both his parents: the tenacity of his father and the taciturnity of his mother. … Continue reading

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William Howard Taft and the Supreme Court Building

While two Presidents served in the Legislative Branch post-presidentially (JQ Adams and Andrew Johnson), only one ex-POTUS served in the Judiciary. Cincinnati Patrician Politician William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was Cincinnati-born to a prosperous Ohio transplanted family with a strong Republican … Continue reading

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Archie Roosevelt’s Christmas Surprise

Christmas a la Roosevelt Few White House families were as robust and open for fun as Theodore Roosevelt, his wife, six children and a slew of pets. Nevertheless, very few stories, articles or even anecdotes are about how the TR’s … Continue reading

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Margaret Taylor: Army Wife

“She was just as much a soldier as I was.” – Zachary Taylor Margaret Mackall Smith …long forgotten by history, Margaret Smith was a Mackall on her mother’s side. They were a prominent Maryland family, whose distaff members were said … Continue reading

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Dusting Off Franklin Pierce

The Basic Pierce Facts Franklin Pierce (1804-69), Democrat from New Hampshire, was a dark horse nominee, elected President in 1852. It took 49 Ballots to put him on the ballot, which was an exhausting exercise for the convention attendees. Few … Continue reading

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Abigail Adams and The Misdirected Tea

Tea was expensive. Very expensive!! The Colonists and Tea By the time of the Boston Tea Party, tea itself was one of the most expensive commodities traded between Great Britain and her American colonies. It was more than just a … Continue reading

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John Quincy and Louisa Adams: The Rouge Story

John Quincy Adams was twenty-nine when he married. His bride was twenty-three. Bride and Groom By the time John Quincy Adams was eighteen and ready to enter Harvard, he was already the most cosmopolitan young man in the country. As … Continue reading

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Aaron Burr and the Madisons

Despite historical innuendos, Aaron Burr was not a suitor for Dolley Payne’s hand. The Promising Burr Aaron Burr (1756-1836) had a childhood mix of tragedy and blessings. His NJ family was reasonably prosperous; his grandfather was the well-known Puritan preacher … Continue reading

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Ida McKinley’s Inaugural Trousseau

Every First Lady is entitled to some new clothes for the inauguration! Clothes Make the Woman… Of course it helps if you are good looking. It helps even more, if you have money. Martha Washington in her late fifties was … Continue reading

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