holywood model: ‘The Most Scrutinized Volunteers’: The Making of the Modern First Lady

Being a first lady is… complicated. <I>New York Times</I> White House correspondent Katie Rogers, author of <I>American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady</I>, calls the women who have served in the role

The causes they choose to embrace, what they wear, and how they perform publicly as a wife and mother are all dissected. Their freedoms: gone. Forget ever driving a car again; even opening a window in the White House to get some fresh air requires the Secret Service to clear the park below. First ladies have a host of responsibilities, both unofficial and required, and yet, they are not paid.

Of course, the role also comes with incredible power and privilege. First ladies are often more beloved than their spouses, trotted out to give nice speeches and rally voters, and they have an opportunity, should they choose, to bring a lot of attention to issues they care about.

Rogers digs into all of the above in her book, out today, which goes deep on Dr. Jill Biden's story as it charts the evolution of the modern first lady, from Hillary Clinton to present day in themed chapters ("ambition," "tradition," "expectation," and "reluctance"—I'll let you guess who is who). Here, Rogers discusses what the public wants from first ladies, the messages they send through their fashion choices, and the costs to their freedoms and families." title="Being a first lady is… complicated. New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers, author of American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, calls the women who have served in the role "the most scrutinized volunteers in American politics."

The causes they choose to embrace, what they wear, and how they perform publicly as a wife and mother are all dissected. Their freedoms: gone. Forget ever driving a car again; even opening a window in the White House to get some fresh air requires the Secret Service to clear the park below. First ladies have a host of responsibilities, both unofficial and required, and yet, they are not paid.

Of course, the role also comes with incredible power and privilege. First ladies are often more beloved than their spouses, trotted out to give nice speeches and rally voters, and they have an opportunity, should they choose, to bring a lot of attention to issues they care about.

Rogers digs into all of the above in her book, out today, which goes deep on Dr. Jill Biden's story as it charts the evolution of the modern first lady, from Hillary Clinton to present day in themed chapters ("ambition," "tradition," "expectation," and "reluctance"—I'll let you guess who is who). Here, Rogers discusses what the public wants from first ladies, the messages they send through their fashion choices, and the costs to their freedoms and families.">

'The Most Scrutinized Volunteers': The Making of the Modern First Lady

Being a first lady is… complicated. New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers, author of American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, calls the women who have served in the role "the most scrutinized volunteers in American politics."

The causes they choose to embrace, what they wear, and how they perform publicly as a wife and mother are all dissected. Their freedoms: gone. Forget ever driving a car again; even opening a window in the White House to get some fresh air requires the Secret Service to clear the park below. First ladies have a host of responsibilities, both unofficial and required, and yet, they are not paid.

Of course, the role also comes with incredible power and privilege. First ladies are often more beloved than their spouses, trotted out to give nice speeches and rally voters, and they have an opportunity, should they choose, to bring a lot of attention to issues they care about.

Rogers digs into all of the above in her book, out today, which goes deep on Dr. Jill Biden's story as it charts the evolution of the modern first lady, from Hillary Clinton to present day in themed chapters ("ambition," "tradition," "expectation," and "reluctance"—I'll let you guess who is who). Here, Rogers discusses what the public wants from first ladies, the messages they send through their fashion choices, and the costs to their freedoms and families.

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