First Lady: The Life of Lucy Webb Hayes

Synopsis

Lucy Webb Hayes, married to Rutherford B. Hayes, served as First Lady of the United States from 1877-81. This was an important transitional era in nineteenth-century American history, when the country was still recovering from the Civil War, and a new modern economic and social world was being born. Lucy was the first presidential wife to hold a college degree, and in this way was a role model for the "new woman." Still, as a married woman, she was expected to serve as White House hostess, manage her household, supervise family life, and be a loving and supportive wife. Lucy fulfilled all these roles admirably, with propriety and Christian morality, and was much praised in Washington DC and across the nation for her grace and charm. Where she may have failed the "new woman" was in supporting her husband's view of women's suffrage, which he thought entailed the exercise of political duties that were inconsistent with the demands of maternity. Lucy and her husband famously held a temperance policy for entertaining at the White House, which was a political as much as a moral decision. Historians have often falsely blamed Lucy for this stance, dubbing her "Lemonade Lucy." This comprehensive biography uncovers the truth about the intelligent, warm-hearted woman, adored and respected by her family, who was the ideal nineteenth-century political wife.

Copyright:

1984

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Book Size:

330 Pages

ISBN-13:

9780873382991

Publisher:

THE RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL CENTER FREMONT, OHIO

Date of Addition:

07/01/19

Copyrighted By:

The Kent State University Press and The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

Yes

Categories:

History, Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs, Politics and Government

Submitted By:

Larry Lumpkin

Proofread By:

Beverly Cory

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.