About the book
My Dear President is a historic, heartfelt collection of letters between first ladies and presidents -- including many that have never been published -- that casts a warm, new light on our leaders at their most open-hearted and vulnerable.
\"I am very madly in love with you,\" wrote Lyndon Johnson to his future wife, Bird Taylor. James Madison sent off this plaintive line to his wife Dolley: \"Every thing around and within reminds me that you are absent.\" In this inspiring collection of correspondence between U.S. presidents and their wives are hundreds of unguarded moments of affection, strain, grief, and triumph, revealing as never before the private thoughts and working partnerships of our most public figures. Culled from the holdings of the Library of Congress and various presidential libraries and private collections, it is the most comprehensive compilation of its kind ever put together.
Gerard Gawalt, a curator of presidential papers at the Library of Congress for the past thirty years, has divided the book thematically into such topics as love, war, politics, travel, and sorrow. Each letter appears in its entirety, with the original spelling and grammar intact, and is set in historic context for a full sense of the moment that formed its backdrop. In most cases, exchanges are included, forming an enlightening dialogue between husband and wife. Throughout, historic photographs and artwork from the Library of Congress's collection enhance the text. Like its companion volume, First Daughters, My Dear President is bound to become a cherished gift for all those interested in American history for years to come.
Editions of My Dear President
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781579125523
- EBook
- ISBN 9781603763127
Read an Excerpt
My Dear President is a historic, heartfelt collection of letters between first ladies and presidents -- including many that have never been published -- that casts a warm, new light on our leaders at their most open-hearted and vulnerable.
\"I am very madly in love with you,\" wrote Lyndon Johnson to his future wife, Bird Taylor. James Madison sent off this plaintive line to his wife Dolley: \"Every thing around and within reminds me that you are absent.\" In this inspiring collection of correspondence between U.S. presidents and their wives are hundreds of unguarded moments of affection, strain, grief, and triumph, revealing as never before the private thoughts and working partnerships of our most public figures. Culled from the holdings of the Library of Congress and various presidential libraries and private collections, it is the most comprehensive compilation of its kind ever put together.
Gerard Gawalt, a curator of presidential papers at the Library of Congress for the past thirty years, has divided the book thematically into such topics as love, war, politics, travel, and sorrow. Each letter appears in its entirety, with the original spelling and grammar intact, and is set in historic context for a full sense of the moment that formed its backdrop. In most cases, exchanges are included, forming an enlightening dialogue between husband and wife. Throughout, historic photographs and artwork from the Library of Congress's collection enhance the text. Like its companion volume, First Daughters, My Dear President is bound to become a cherished gift for all those interested in American history for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is My Dear President about?
My Dear President is a historic, heartfelt collection of letters between first ladies and presidents -- including many that have never been published -- that casts a warm, new light on our leaders at their most open-hearted and vulnerable.
\"I am very madly in love with you,\" wrote Lyndon Johnson to his future wife, Bird Taylor. James Madison sent off this plaintive line to his wife Dolley: \"Every thing around and within reminds me that you are absent.\" In this inspiring collection of correspondence between U.S. presidents and their wives are hundreds of unguarded moments of affection, strain, grief, and triumph, revealing as never before the private thoughts and working partnerships of our most public figures. Culled from the holdings of the Library of Congress and various presidential libraries and private collections, it is the most comprehensive compilation of its kind ever put together.
Gerard Gawalt, a curator of presidential papers at the Library of Congress for the past thirty years, has divided the book thematically into such topics as love, war, politics, travel, and sorrow. Each letter appears in its entirety, with the original spelling and grammar intact, and is set in historic context for a full sense of the moment that formed its backdrop. In most cases, exchanges are included, forming an enlightening dialogue between husband and wife. Throughout, historic photographs and artwork from the Library of Congress's collection enhance the text. Like its companion volume, First Daughters, My Dear President is bound to become a cherished gift for all those interested in American history for years to come.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in My Dear President?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of My Dear President?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781579125523
Who is/are the Author/s of the book My Dear President?
Gerard W. Gawalt
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
My Dear President is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781579125523) and ebook(ISBN 9781603763127)
Where can I buy My Dear President online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy My Dear President from below
Where can I buy My Dear President?