Presiding Ladies of the White House: containing biographical appreciations together with a short history of the Executive mansion and a treatise on its etiquette and customsWoolfall, Lila G. A.
History
Presiding Ladies of the White House: containing biographical appreciations together with a short history of the Executive mansion and a treatise on its etiquette and customs
Woolfall, Lila G. A.
United States -- Biography; White House (Washington, D.C.); Women -- Biography
Eliza McCardle, of Tennessee, married in 1826 Andrew Johnson, a
tailor, eighteen years old, whose early education she superintended
perseveringly until his learning exceeded her own. Her character was
simple, true and unostentatious, the duties of wife and mother being
always conscientiously fulfilled. Her health being undermined by
suffering during the Rebellion, she was a confirmed invalid when called
to the White House, therefore Mrs. Patterson, her eldest daughter,
became hostess. She presided with simple elegance, ease, grace and
remarkable tact during her father’s stormy administration. Their home
life was delightful, and when they left Washington the whole family was
much regretted socially and by all retainers, as their popularity was
widespread. Mrs. Johnson’s influence over her husband was always very
marked, and throughout his life she was his greatest helper and adviser.
She survived him only six months.
[Illustration: _ELIZA McCARDLE JOHNSON_
_Copyright 1903, by Bureau of National Literature & Art._]
Julia Dent Grant
EIGHTEENTH PRESIDING LADY
1869-1877
Julia Dent, in 1844, became engaged to Lieut. Grant. The Mexican
war separated them, but they married in 1848. Years of failure and
poverty followed, but her faith in his ability survived, and when his
military prowess made him famous, she shared his triumphs. Later, as
the President’s wife, she was most hospitable, entertaining extensively
in private as well as in public life, making Grant’s administrations,
socially, very notable. When his term expired, General and Mrs. Grant
journeyed around the world and met with a continuous ovation. A special
feature of it was the dinner given to Mrs. Grant by the wife of China’s
Viceroy, which was the first of its kind. During her husband’s last
illness she was his constant nurse, and was always an adored mother. Her
remains, with those of her husband, share the famous mausoleum, built as
a memorial to him, on Riverside Drive, New York City, the site of which
she herself chose.
[Illustration: _JULIA DENT GRANT_
_Copyright 1903, by Bureau of National Literature & Art._]
Lucy Ware Webb Hayes
NINETEENTH PRESIDING LADY
1877-1881
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account