White house. American history tv features cspans original series, first ladies. Cspan produced in the series in cooperation with the White House Historical association. Through conversations, video tools, and questions from cspans audience, we tell the story of americas 45 first ladies. Next, helen taft. This is about 1. 5 hours. Helen taft was more ambitious by getting to the white house than her husband. Willing to get personally involved in politics to get elected. She overcame a serious illness to directly manage the white house, invite a Classical Musicians to perform, and supported concerts that mattered to her. Helen taft also has a visible legacy. Famouston, d. C. s japanese cherry trees, the ones that frame the title basin in bring visitors to washington every year. Good evening and welcome to first ladies, influence and image, the life of helen taft. He served from 19091913. Here to tell us about her life is her biographer. Is our musical first lady. You open the book making
Taft our musical first lady. You opened the book by making the case that of the 20th century first lady, shes the most obscure, but you say she deserves better from history. Tell me quickly why she deserves better than being obscure . Mr. Gould well, because she did some things that were, as youve mentioned in your opening, about that were very constructive, i mean, the cherry trees, bringing the Classical Music musicians to the white house, and, generally, trying to make washington the Cultural Center of the nation. That was her ambition. Now, it didnt work out because of medical reasons. But she had an agenda that would have made her rank with Eleanor Roosevelt or Lady Bird Johnson in terms of transforming washington had things gone the other way. Ms. Swain she also seemed to have an agenda to get her husband to the white house. Mr. Gould yes, the story is that she decided when she visited the white house in the hayeS Administration, hey, i want to do that as well. Its somewhat overd
From a relatively obscure stice in 1912 into a liberal icon that homes leaves the court. Host heast you say Robert Valentine was one of the most important people to get you the material you needed . Robert valentine has been lost to history and past commissioner of indian affairs. And in 1911, he was living in the house of truth which was on 19th street with his wife and infant daughter and his wife and daughter went home to new england to nurse the daughter ack to help. This is how the salon took shape. The reason why valentine is twofold. He was the houses visionary. He sort of set the agenda of the house and secondly, as you alluded his correspondence was incredibly important because valentines writing on a daily basis about the comings and goings. And a remarkable woman who i thank in my acknowledgements was friend of valentines daughter and granddaughter. And his papers were in a barn in rescueduntil this woman them, preserved them and donated them to the Massachusetts Historical
From a relatively obscure stice in 1912 into a liberal icon that homes leaves the court. Host heast you say Robert Valentine was one of the most important people to get you the material you needed . Robert valentine has been lost to history and past commissioner of indian affairs. And in 1911, he was living in the house of truth which was on 19th street with his wife and infant daughter and his wife and daughter went home to new england to nurse the daughter ack to help. This is how the salon took shape. The reason why valentine is twofold. He was the houses visionary. He sort of set the agenda of the house and secondly, as you alluded his correspondence was incredibly important because valentines writing on a daily basis about the comings and goings. And a remarkable woman who i thank in my acknowledgements was friend of valentines daughter and granddaughter. And his papers were in a barn in rescueduntil this woman them, preserved them and donated them to the Massachusetts Historical
From a relatively obscure stice in 1912 into a liberal icon that homes leaves the court. Host heast you say Robert Valentine was one of the most important people to get you the material you needed . Robert valentine has been lost to history and past commissioner of indian affairs. And in 1911, he was living in the house of truth which was on 19th street with his wife and infant daughter and his wife and daughter went home to new england to nurse the daughter ack to help. This is how the salon took shape. The reason why valentine is twofold. He was the houses visionary. He sort of set the agenda of the house and secondly, as you alluded his correspondence was incredibly important because valentines writing on a daily basis about the comings and goings. And a remarkable woman who i thank in my acknowledgements was friend of valentines daughter and granddaughter. And his papers were in a barn in rescueduntil this woman them, preserved them and donated them to the Massachusetts Historical