I am so sorry I spent money on this book. What a dopey premise - that one can compare and contrast these women. There is almost nothing at all known about Margaret Taylor, Jane Pierce, Abigail Fillmore, Eliza Johnson, Eliza Monroe. The papers of women like Ida McKinley and Bess Truman have been destroyed by their families. There are no biographies at all of most of the First Ladies. So how in the world can these women be fairly judged when contrasted with modern activist women like Lady Bird, Hillary and Betty Ford? I saw none of this addressed in the text at all. This is ahistorical and does much damage. Also, the role of women is different. And there are no specific duties of a First Lady like there are for a President - so they are all different. You cannot compare First Ladies. This book should not have been written. Just a bunch of candy.