Tag Archives: First Ladies

Nellie Taft and the Philippine Band

Helen Herron Taft’s happiest years were in the Philippines. The Manila Years In 1900 Helen Herron Taft (1861-1943), married and mother of three, traveled to Manila, where she spent the next few years. Her husband of 15 years had been … Continue reading

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FDR 1941: The Christmas Houseguest

On December 6, 1941, the US was an isolationist country. That changed on December 7. The Storm Clouds War had been looming throughout Europe for nearly a decade. Japan had been making belligerent noises in Asia for more than a … Continue reading

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Abraham Lincoln and the Christmas Turkey

All the Lincolns were very fond of animals. The Lincoln Family Pets In the mid-1850s, the Lincoln Family of Springfield, IL had a dog named Fido. He was likely what people would call a mutt, or a mixed breed, but … Continue reading

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The Great White Jail

“The White House is the finest prison in the world.” Harry S Truman. The White House Paradox The White House, or the Executive Mansion, is undoubtedly the finest residence the country has to offer the President of the United States, … Continue reading

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Martha and Abigail: Habits of Friendship…

Martha Washington and Abigail Adams are arguably the most prominent women of the last quarter of the 18th century. An Unlikely Friendship The likelihood that Martha Washington (1731-1802) would even meet Abigail Adams (1744-1818) would have been considered remote in … Continue reading

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George Washington and the Purloined Packet

Delivering the Mail Written communication i.e. letters, documents, newspapers, etc., was not nearly as common in early colonial times as it would become in later generations. First of all, literacy. A large percentage of people could not read or write. … Continue reading

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Ike & Mamie ‘52: The Bathrobe Story

In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the most famous man in the country – maybe the world. Ike: Non-War Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) was called Ike from boyhood. Growing up in Abilene, Kansas, he did farm chores, household chores, schoolwork, … Continue reading

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Lucretia Garfield: The 6-Month FLOTUS

Crete Lucretia “Crete” Rudolph Garfield (1832-1918) was a well educated young woman. She was sent first to the Geauga Eclectic (similar to a prep school), followed by attending Hiram College, today part of Case-Western Reserve in Ohio. She had known … Continue reading

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The Lincolns: A Tale of Two Stepmothers

Among the many commonalities between Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd was the sad memory of being motherless at an early age. Abraham Lincoln: Semi-orphaned at Nine Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of the milk sickness, said to be from poisonous grasses … Continue reading

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George Washington: Disposing of Stuff

The Retired General George Washington (who preferred his military title of “General” once retired from the Presidency) was only 67 when he died in December, 1799 – a couple of weeks before the turn of the nineteenth century. No doubt … Continue reading

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