Syllabus: AMERICA'S FIRST LADIES -Spring 2023

AMERICA’S FIRST LADIES

SPRING2023

ProfessorMelissaHarris-Perry

MayaAngelouPresidentialChair

DepartmentofPoliticsandInternationalAffairs

DepartmentofWomenandGenderStudies

WEDNESDAYS 3:30-6:00PM

ThisseminarexploresAmericanFirstLadiesaspoliticalandsocialactors.Ourprimary questionis,whatdoesAmericanhistoryandpoliticslooklikewhentoldthroughthestoriesof womenwithgreataccesstopowerbutwithlittleformalpoweroftheirown?Wewilltracethe evolutionoftheroleofFirstLadyandexplorehowindividualwomenwhohaveplayedthis rolehaveunderstooditandadaptedit. Studentsareexpectedtoreadassignedmaterials thoroughlyandbepreparedforextensive,detailedconversationaboutkeythemesandideas. Thiscoursehasasubstantialwritingcomponent.

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

LEARNINGOBJECTIVES:

StudentswillcriticallyengageawiderangeofscholarlyandliterarytextsaddressingthelivesofAmericaʼs FirstLadies.Thesearetextsbothwrittenaboutandwrittenbythesewomen.Studentswilldevelopskillsof criticalassessmentofprimaryandsecondary historical documentsasawindowtounderstandingAmerican politics.

Studentswillbecomefamiliarwithbroadthemesandapproachestosocialscientific,historical,literary,and pedagogicalstudyofAmericaʼsFirstLadies.

Studentswillbeintroducedtomultiplecontestedideasforunderstandingtheconnectionsbetweenpersonal identitiesandthe politicalworld.

StudentswilldevelopfamiliaritywithhistoryandscholarshiponAmericanFirstLadies.

Studentswilldevelopskillsofcriticalanalysisandscholarlyreflection.

Studentswillgaincompetencywithcollegelevelanalysis,speaking,andwriting.

Studentsmayfindit easiertofollowthecourseplanthroughthecourseCanvasSite.Thisversionof oursyllabuscontainsthesameinformation Toassistwithorganizationandlegibility,itisorganizedin “modules”Thisisalotofinformation!Studentsdonotneedtomemorizeallofthis Studentswill receivereminders,nudges,andexplanationsandhavemanyopportunitiestoaskquestions

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

COURSE OUTLINE/ MODULES

ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR

MELISSAHARRIS-PERRY

MayaAngelouPresidentialChair

DepartmentofPoliticsandInternationalAffairs

Women, Gender,andSexualityStudies

FounderandPresident,AnnaJuliaCooperCenter HostandManagingEditor,TheTakeaway

She,Her,Hers

VIRTUALOFFICEHOURS

Weekly:Tuesdays 3:00PM-5:00PMET orbyAppointment

Studentsmustmakeanappointmentfora meeting,whetherduring officehoursoratanothertime

EMAILPOLICY

ProfessorHarris-Perrytypicallyrespondstoallnecessaryandappropriateemailsdirectlyrelatedto coursematterswithinthreebusinessdays.ProfessorHarris-Perrydoesnotrespondtounsolicited studentemailsfromFridayat3:00PMuntilMondayat12:00PMunlessspecificallydesignated.Please beawarethatProfessorHarris-Perrywillprovideregularupdatestothesyllabusandvariouscourse materialsonCANVAS.

PROTIPSABOUTPROFMHP

● Howtoaddressme:ProfessorHarris-Perry,ProfessorMHP,ProfMHP,Profareallacceptable. “Melissa”isnot.

● Igetalotofemail...Ifyoudon'tgetanimmediateresponse,donottakeitpersonally.Iwill respondassoonasIcan.

● Ifyougetstuckaboutsmallorbigissues,pleaseaskforhelp!

Ilove/adore/writeabout Beyonce FeelfreetoillustrateanycommunicationswithappropriateBeyonce GIFS

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

CLASS MEETINGS

● AsofJanuary 2023 thisclassisscheduledtomeet in-person,face-to-faceformat.

● Classmeetsonceaweek. WEDNESDAYS3:30-6:00PM

● Allstudents areexpectedtoarrivepromptlyandtostayuntiltheendofclass.

● Ifitisnecessarytoshitoremotelearningasaresultofpolicychangesbytheuniversityorasa resultofillnessorotherunexpectedchallenges,yourprofessorwillclearlycommunicateall changesincoursescheduleandexpectations.

● Thiscoursemeetsonlyonceaweek.Attendanceiscrucial.MissingmorethanTHREE(3) unexcusedclassesduringthesemesterwillresultina⅓gradereductionfromthefinalgrade forthecourse.

PROTIPSFORATTENDINGCLASSMEETINGS

● Dothereadingandbeprepared.

● Askquestions.

● Feelfreetodisagree,raiseconcerns,andofferalternateperspectives.

● Remember:yourownexperienceisaGREATplacetogeneratehypotheses,butalousyplaceto testthem. Evidencebasedanalysisiskeyforproductivediscussions.

● Makeuseoftheweeklyofficehourswheneveryouhavequestionsthatcannotbereadily addressedduringclassorviaemail.

HealthandWellbeing

Wecontinuetolivewiththelongtermconsequencesofamultiyearglobalpandemic No assignment,meeting,discussion,oranyotheraspectofthisclassismoreimportantthanour individualandcollectivephysical,mental,andemotionalhealth

Pleaseprioritizeyourhealthandthehealthofothers.Ifanyassignments,meetingsorexpectations ofclassarelikelytonegativelyimpactyourhealthpleasediscussalternativeswithProfMHP.

PROTIPSforHEALTHandWELLBEING

● Drinkmorewaterthanyouthinkyouneed.

● Whenpossible,takeanap.(Ifpossible,avoidnappingduringclass,but youknowsometimesithappens!)

● Itʼsalongclass Wewilltakeashortbreakineachclass,butalwaysfeelfreeto standup,leaveclassbriefly,orusetherestroom Beconsiderateofothers andwork toensureyoudonotdistracttheoveralllearningenvironment

● Doyouneedabitmoresupport?TheCounselingCenterisagreatplacetostart

● Alwaysfeelfreetomakeanofficehoursappointmentifyoufallbehindorjustwant todiscussideasorconcernsrelatedtoclass

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

CLASS POLICIES

LateAssignmentPolicy

AllstudentshaveONEFREELATEPASS tobeusedonanyassignmentsexceptthefinal paper.ThismeansanyONE(1)assignmentcanbeturnedinupto48hourslatewithno questionsaskedandnonegativeconsequencesforthegrade.AertheFREEPASSis used, anyassignmentsubmittedlatewillbesubjecttothelateassignmentpolicy.

Assignmentssubmittedlatewilllose1/3lettergradeforanylatesubmissionwithinthefirst 48hours.Eachadditional24hoursresultsinanother1/3lettergradereduction.Exceptions tothispolicywillonlybemadeforemergenciesorhealthchallengesthataredocumented byaphysician,universityadministrator,orotherreasonablesource.

Ifanystudentorstudentʼsfamilymembersbecomeillduringthesemester, thelate assignmentpolicywillbeadjustedappropriatelytoaccommodateconcerns.

AttendancePolicies

Missingmorethanthree(3)unexcusedclasssessionsduringthesemesterwillresultin1/3 lettergradereductionfromthefinalgradeofthecourse.However,studentscanbeexcused foravarietyofvalidconcerns.

AcademicIntegrity

Plagiarismisaseriousviolationofethicalconductandacademicintegrity Plagiarismneednotbe intentional.Allcasesofplagiarism–thetheofwords,ideas,sources,andconclusionswhether fromwritten,audio,oral,ordigitalmaterials–isunacceptable.

Atthesametime,learningandcompletingassignmentsonlinecanmakeitdifficulttodiscern preciselyhowtoensureyouruseofsources,information,images,andideasisappropriate.Please seetheCanvassiteforaprimeraboutAcademicIntegrityandpropercitationpracticesonline.Andif youarestuckorconfused,ask!

ExpectationsforClassroomConduct

Wewilleachdoourverybesttobepresent,prepared,andengaged

Weacknowledgethatracism,sexism,heterosexism,classism,ableism,andotherformsof interpersonalandinstitutionalizedformsofinequalityexistinsociety.Thisdoesnotmeanweall agreeonthecauses,consequences,orsolutionsfortheseformsofinequality.Itdoesmeanwe agreetodoourbesttobetterunderstandthem,refrainfromrepeatingmisinformation,andrefrain frompersonalattack.

Nostudentisexpectedtohavealltheanswers.Mistakesandquestionsarewelcomedinthespiritof cooperativelearning.

Wewillworktocreateanatmospherewhere:

Wekeepanopenmindandlisten; Everyoneisvaluedandrespected; Everyonecanworkandlearn; Everyoneengagesinthethoughtfulpresentationofideas,sharesthefloor,andcancriticallyassess eachotherʼsideas;

Noindividualisridiculedordemeanedforsharingpersonalexperiencesandideas; Personalexperiencessharedinthecontextoftheclassroomremainconfidentialunlessotherwise agreed;

Noindividualisexpectedtobearepresentativespokespersonforagivengroupofpeoplebecause thereisintra-groupdiversityofskills,beliefs,attitudesandbehaviors

DisabilityandAccommodations

StudentswithdisabilitiesrequiringaccommodationsshouldcontactProfessorHarris-Perryto ensureappropriateaccommodationsareavailable.Becertaintoalsoconnectwiththe Centerfor Learning,Access,andStudentSuccessatWakeForest.

TutoringandWritingAssistance

WakeForestofferstrainedpeertutorsandeffectivewritingandassignmentassistancethroughThe WritingCenter@WakeForestUniversity.Thisisagreatresourceifyouneedassistancewithcourse assignments.

REQUIRED BOOKS AND ARTICLES

Most assignedreadingsareavailablethroughlinksonourCanvassite

Youwillneedtopurchaseorrentthebookslistedbelow. Youarewelcometohavethese textsinprintorebookformat. PleaseletProfMHP knowifyouneedassistanceacquiring thesebooks

1. Schwartz,MarieJenkins.TiesThatBound:FoundingFirstLadiesandSlaves.Chicago: TheUniversityofChicagoPress,2017.

2. AnnetteGordon-Reed,ThomasJeffersonandSallyHemings:AnAmerican Controversy

3. RebeccaBoggsRobertsUntoldPowerTheFascinatingRiseandComplexLegacyof FirstLadyEdithWilsonPenguinRandomHouse.2023(Thisbookisnotavailableuntil March)

ASSIGNMENTS, ASSESSMENTS, GRADE SCALE

Studentsearnpointsforvariousassignmentsandactivitiesthroughoutthesemester Pointstranslate intothefollowinggradingscale NOTE:ProfMHPreservestherighttomakechangestopoint allocationsandscalewithreasonablenotice

COURSEENGAGEMENT:Allstudentsareexpectedtobeactivelyengagedinthecourse. Courseengagementwillbemeasuredbyweeklyattendanceandparticipationandbyactive leadershipofclassdiscussionduringoneweek.

ClassDiscussionLeadership

Duringmostweeksofthesemester onestudent (inafewcases twostudents)areresponsiblefor:

● formulatingdiscussionquestions,

● postingthemtoCANVAS by8pmonTuesdayevening beforeclass,

● andleadingtheclassindiscussion.

Studentsareencouraged,butnotrequired,touseslides,video, andotherresourcesduringtheclasspresentation

Allstudentsareexpectedtoregularlyattendclass,tocomplete readingassignmentsandtoparticipateinameaningfulway.

THREE PAPERS(75%)

EachstudentwillcompleteTHREE(3)shortpapers.Eachpaperistobe4-6pageslong.

ShortPapers

EachstudentwillcompleteTHREE(3)shortpapers.Eachpaperis tobe4-6pageslong. Thepapershouldnotbesimplyasummary ofwhatwehavereadinclass Insteadeachpapershouldcritically andanalyticallyengagethestoryoftheFirstLadyorFirstLadiesit explores TheshortpapershouldtellabitabouttheFirstLadyʼs biography,herhistoricalepoch,andthetoneandqualityofher roleasFirstLady You*must*developanoriginalthesisofsome kindineachpaperandprovideevidencefromthereadingsto supportyourthesis.

25%perpaper Duedatesand gradingrubricareon thecoursecanvas site

FINALESSAY(15%)

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION PERCENTofFINAL GRADE FinalEssay Allstudentswillwritea finalexam.Thisisa take-homeessayexam.Theexamwillbe

comprehensiveandwillaskyoutocompareand contrasttwoormore oftheFirstLadieswehave

EXTRACREDIT:ProfessorHarris-Perrywillmakeavarietyofexperiencesavailableforstudentsto engageissuesandideasraisedthroughoutthecourse.Toearnextracreditstudentswillsubmitbrief reflectionsinresponsetotheseexperiences.

ProfMHPwillmakeseveral optionsavailableforin-person andvirtualextracredit throughoutthesemester.

GUIDELINESFOREXTRACREDIT REFLECTION

Writeanessayofabout100words.Theessayshouldbe organizedintothreemainparts.Youneednotberigidin yourresponse,usethesepromptsasaguide.However,the bestresponseswillexplicitlyaddressthethreemain themesofsummary,connectiontocoursereadings,and reflectiononpersonallearningoutcomes

Briefsummary/descriptionoftheevent/speaker/ film/readingetc.

Connecttheexperiencetotheassignedreadingsof thecourse.Whatbroadthemesandspecific examplesfromtheassignedreadingsarerelevant andtiedtothisexperience? Useclearcitations. Linkthelessons/arguments/themes/claimsofthe authorsinourcoursetotheevent/experience.Did yourexperiencereinforceorcontradicttheclaims madeintheassignedtexts?Howwouldyou adjudicatecontradictions?Whyarethese connectionsvaluable?

Reflectonyourownlearningoutcomes Doyou believesomethingdifferentthanyoubelieved beforetheevent?Areyoumorecertainofyour existingbeliefs?Areyousurprised,distressed,or excitedbysomeaspectoftheexperience?What lastinglessonswillyoulikelycarrywithyou?Was theexperiencevaluable?Howmightyouconnectit tootherlearningexperiencesyouhavehad?

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1INTRODUCTION -JANUARY11

LogintotheCanvassiteforthecourse. Lookaroundtofamiliarizeyourselfwiththeupcomingcontent, expectations,andtools.

READWatson,RobertP “ʻSourceMaterialʼ:TowardtheStudyoftheFirstLady:TheStateofScholarship” PresidentialStudiesQuarterly33,no 2(2003):423–41

EXPLORE informationabouttheFirstLadiesNationalHistoricSiteonline

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

Whatcanyouexpectfromthiscourse? Whatwillthiscourseexpectfromyou?

WhystudyFirstLadies?

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. RESPONDTODISCUSSIONBOARDPROMPT:WhichFirstLadyorLadie)mostinspireyour curiosity?

2. SignuponCanvasforaweektoleadclass.

MODULE 2: FOUNDING FIRST LADIES

MODULE2

2.1AbigailAdams, January18

2.2DolleyMadison, January25

PastelportraitofAbigailSmithAdams(1744-1818) PaintedbyBenjaminBlyth(1746-1787?)circa1766, shortlyaershemarriedJohnAdams

PortraitofDolleyPayneMadisonbyGilbertStuartin1804

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

2.1 Abigail Adams - Founding First Ladies

PRIMARYSOURCES

READAbigailAdamsofficialWhiteHousepage

READAbigailAdamstoJohnAdams,31March1776

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READ Chapter1:SettingPrecedents(pages1-13)fromFirstLadies:FromMarthaWashingtonto MichelleObama

BIOGRAPHYANDANALYSIS

READChapters 4, 9, and25fromHolton,Woody.2009AbigailAdams.FreePress:NewYork,NY.

READCrane,ElaineForman.“PoliticalDialogueandtheSpringofAbigailʼsDiscontent.”TheWilliam andMaryQuarterly56,no.4(1999):745–74.

READCrane,ElaineForman.(2013).AbigailAdamsandFeminism.InACompaniontoJohnAdams andJohnQuincyAdams,D.Waldstreicher(Ed.).

READWinner,ViolaHopkins.“AbigailAdamsandʻTheRageofFashion.”Dress28.1(2001):64–76.

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. HowdoesAdamshelptodefine/shapetheroleofFirstLady?

2. IsAdamsafeminist?

3. HowdoesAdamswieldpower/influence?

4. WhatdoesAdams teachusabouttheconstraintsandpossibilitiesfacing18thandearly 19thcenturywomen?

2.2 Dolley Madison - Founding First Ladies

PRIMARYSOURCES

READDolleyMadisonofficialWhiteHousepage

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

Chapter1:SettingPrecedents(pages13-18) FirstLadies:FromMarthaWashingtontoMichelle Obama

ThomasFleming.WhenDolleyMadisonTookCommandoftheWhiteHouse.Smithsonian Magazine.March2010

BIOGRAPHYandANALYSIS

PART3MADISONin Schwartz,MarieJenkins.TiesThatBound:FoundingFirstLadiesand Slaves.Chicago:TheUniversityofChicagoPress,2017.(pages247-348)

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. WhatisthelegendofDolleyMadison?

2. WhataresomeofthepointsofdisjuncturebetweenthemythofMadisonandtheanalysis inTiesthatBound?

3. HowdidDolleyMadisongeneratelegitimacyandcreatean“Americanway”ofengaging publiclife?

4. WhatdoesMadison teachusabouttheconstraintsandpossibilitiesfacing18thandearly 19thcenturywomen?

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

MODULE 3: FIRST LADIES DURING PARTISAN CHANGE

3.1 JacquelineKennedy/LadyBirdJohnson

3.2 NancyReagan

Jackie Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, October 29th, 1960. FROM BETTMAN/ GETTY IMAGES.

DIRCK HALSTEAD/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/ GETTY IMAGES

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

3.1

PRIMARYSOURCES

READJacquelineKennedyofficialWhiteHousepage

READ“LadyBird”JohnsonofficialWhiteHousepage

LISTENCSPANpodcast,FirstLadiesintheirOwnWords:LadyBirdJohnson

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READChapter8:TheTurbulentSixties from FirstLadies:FromMarthaWashingtontoMichelle Obama

READ PAGES109-118from FirstWomen:TheGraceandPowerofAmericaʼsModernFirstLadies READTheStoryofJackieKennedyOnassisandLadyBirdJohnson.ExcerptfromLadyBird Johnson:HidinginPlainSightasrepublishedinVanityFair2021

BIOGRAPHYandANALYSIS

Schwalbe,CarolB.“JacquelineKennedyandColdWarPropaganda.”Journalofbroadcasting& electronicmedia49,no.1(2005):111–127.

FirstLadyasCatalyst:LadyBirdJohnsonandHighwayBeautificationinthe1960s LewisL Gould EnvironmentalReview:ER,Vol 10,No 2(Summer,1986),pp 76-92

Beil,GailK.“FourMarshallitesʼRolesinthePassageoftheCivilRightsActof1964.”The SouthwesternHistoricalQuarterly106,no.1(2002):1–29.

JacquelineKennedy:TheRhetoricalConstructionofCamelotbyElizabethJ.Nataliefrom InventingaVoice:TheRhetoricofAmericanFirstLadiesoftheTwentiethCentury

LadyBirdJohnson:TheMakingofaPublicFirstLadywithPrivateInfluencebyDianaB.Carlifrom InventingaVoice:TheRhetoricofAmericanFirstLadiesoftheTwentiethCentury.

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. HowdidKennedyandJohnsonnavigatechangingexpectationsofwomanhood?

2. Howarethesewomenminimized/mischaracterizedinmainstreampopularunderstanding oftheirtimeintheWhiteHouse?

3. Whatdothey teachusabouttheconstraintsandpossibilitiesfacingwomeninthe mid-twentiethcentury?

Jacqueline Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson

PRIMARYSOURCES

READNancyReaganofficialWhiteHousepage

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READ2016 NewYorkTimes2016Obituary

LISTENC-SPANpodcast FirstLadiesinTheirOwnWords:NancyReagan(about40min)

BIOGRAPHYandANALYSIS

READ Chapters2,3,4ofBenze,James.NancyReaganontheWhiteHouseStage

READBENZE,JAMESG.“NancyReagan:ChinaDollorDragonLady?”PresidentialStudiesQuarterly 20,no.4(1990):777–90

READ Stimpson,CatharineR.“NancyReaganWearsaHat:FeminismandItsCulturalConsensus.” CriticalInquiry14,no.2(1988):223–43

READMosendz,Polly, NancyReaganʼsHIV-AIDSLegacy TeenVogue.MARCH9,2016

READ ButlerNattingerA,HoffmannRG,Howell-PelzA,GoodwinJS.EffectofNancyReagan's MastectomyonChoiceofSurgeryforBreastCancerbyUSWomen.JAMA.1998;279(10):762–766.

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. WhatmadeNancyReagancontroversialduringhertimeasFirstLadyandwhatdothose controversiesrevealaboutAmericanpoliticsandsocietyinthe1980s?

2. HowdidNancyReaganwieldpowerandinfluenceduringhertimeasFirstLadyandwhat doesittellusabouthowpoweroperateswithinAmericanpolitics?

3. WhatandtheconsistenciesanddisjuncturesincontemporaryunderstandingsofMrs. Reagan?

4. WhatdoesNancyReagan teachusabouttheconstraintsandpossibilitiesfacingwomenin themid-twentiethcentury?

3.2 Nancy Reagan

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

MODULE 4: INDEPENDENT FIRST LADIES

MODULE3FIRSTLADIESDURINGPARTISANCHANGE

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

4.1 EleanorRoosevelt

4.2 BettyFord

Eleanor Roosevelt by Yousuf Kars

Betty Ford by Peter Zambouros

PRIMARYSOURCES

READEleanorRooseveltofficialWhiteHousepage. EXPLOREEleanorRooseveltMyDayColumn

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

LISTENBBCDocumentarypodcast-EleanorRoosevelt (about30min)

BIOGRAPHYandANALYSIS

READReed,Jennifer.2016."QueeringEleanorRoosevelt."TheJournalofAmericanCulture39(1)(03):9-19.

READCohen,R.2017.Outoftheclosetandintohistory?:TheEleanorRoosevelt–LorenaHickokaffair. ReviewsinAmericanHistory,45(2),314-322.

READReviewof TheFirebrandandtheFirstLady:PortraitofaFriendshipbyPatriciaBell-ScottinThe BostonReview

WatchPatriciaBell-ScottspeakingaboutTheFirebrandandtheFirstLady:PortraitofaFriendshipby PatriciaBell-ScottinTheBostonReview(aboutonehour)

READLenart,Camelia."ATrustworthyCollaboration:EleanorRooseveltandMarthaGrahamʼsPioneering ofAmericanCulturalDiplomacy."EuropeanJournalofAmericanStudies12,no.1(Spring,2017)

READMarcellus,Jane.“ʻItʼsUptotheWomenʼ:EdwardBernays,EleanorRoosevelt,andFeminist ResistancetoShoppingforPatriotism.”Feministmediastudies12,no.3(2012):389–405.

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1.WhyisEleanorRooseveltmostfrequentlycitedasthenation'smostimportantFirstLady?

2.Howdidsheexpandthepossibilitiesinherentinthisrole?

3.WhatdifferencedoesitmaketoqueerEleanorRoosevelt?

4.HowshouldweunderstandherengagementwithmovementsforBlackAmericanhumanandcivil rights?

5.WhatdoesEleanorRooseveltteachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsonAmericanwomenin the20thcentury?

4.1 Eleanor Roosevelt -February 15

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

4.2 Betty Ford- February 22

PRIMARYSOURCES

READBettyFordofficialWhiteHousepage

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READNYTimesObituary2011

LISTENCSPANpodcastFirstLadiesinTheirOwnWords:BettyFord

BIOGRAPHYandANALYSIS

READ*BettyFord:ACertainComfortfromaCandidFirstLadybyNicholaD.Gutgold,LindaB.Hobgood, fromInventingaVoice:TheRhetoricofAmericaʼsFirstLadies

READ CompetingConceptionsoftheFirstLadyship:PublicResponsestoBettyFord's"60Minutes" Interview.PresidentialStudiesQuarterly,Vol.31,No.3(Sep.,2001),pp.397-414

READ BettyFordasFirstLady:AWomanforWomen LeesaTobin PresidentialStudiesQuarterly,Vol 20, No 4,ModernFirstLadiesWhiteHouseOrganization(FALL1990),pp 761-767

READGutin,M.G.(2016).BettyFord:“WhenOrdinaryBecomesExtraordinary”.InACompaniontoFirst Ladies,K.A.S.Sibley(Ed.).

READPart3ofBettyFord:FirstLady,Women'sAdvocate,Survivor,Trailblazer

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. Howdoesbeingan“accidental”FirstLadyshapehowBettyFordengagestherole?

2. HowdoesFordusepower,authority,andinfluence?

3. WhatarethewaysthatcandorandopennessreshapetheroleoftheFirstLady?

4. WhatdoesFordteachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsonAmericanwomeninthe20th century?

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

MODULE 5: ASYNCHRONOUS REVIEW

MODULE5:MARCH1

Nonewassignedmaterialsforthisweek.

CLASS

Noregularclassmeeting.

ReviewslidesandmaterialsProfMHPwillmakeavailableasreviewforthisweek.

Michelle Obama photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

MODULE 6: AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRST LADIES

6.1 SALLYHEMINGS March15

PRIMARYSOURCES

READ TheJeffersonHemingsReport

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READ/EXPLORE TheLifeofSallyHemings-Monticello

READ/EXPLORE MadisonHemingsFamily-Monticello

READSallyHemingsGetsHerOwnRoom-SmithsonianMagazine2017

BIOGRAPHYandANALYSIS

READ Selectionsfrom AnnetteGordon-Reed,ThomasJeffersonandSallyHemings:AnAmerican Controversy

READʻSheWasPartofThisFamilyʼ:JeffersonDescendantsReflectonSallyHemingsExhibit.New YorkTimes2018

READItʼsTimetoRecognizeHemingsasaFirstLady.BYEVELIAJONESOpEdLATimes2019

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. ShouldwestudySallyHemingsasaFirstLady?

2. Howdoesdoingsoaffectourunderstandingoftherole/position/title?

3. WhatdoesHemingsteachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsonAfricanAmerican andwhiteAmericanwomeninthe18thcentury?

6.2 MICHELLE OBAMA -March 22

PRIMARYSOURCES

READMichelleObama'sofficialWhiteHousepage.

LISTENCSPANpodcastFirstLadiesinTheirOwnWords:MichelleObama OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READChapter11,TurningPoints.FromFirstLadies:FromMarthaWashingtontoMichelleObama. BIOGRAPHYANDANALYSIS

READHandau,M.,&Simien,E.M.(2019).Thecultoffirstladyhood:Controllingimagesofwhite womanhoodintheroleofthefirstlady.Politics&Gender,15(3),484-513.

READBadas,AlexandKatelynE.Stauffer."MichelleObamaasaPoliticalSymbol:Race,Gender,andPublic OpinionTowardtheFirstLady."Politics&Gender15,no.3(09,2019):431-459.

READWinston-Proctor,CynthiaE “ʻItʼsSomethingtoOwnʼ:APsychobiographicalExplorationoftheLife StoryofMichelleLaVaughnRobinsonObama”Journalofpersonality91,no 1(2023):150–164

READKnuckey,Jonathan,andMyungheeKim “EvaluationsofMichelleObamaasFirstLady:TheRoleof RacialResentment:EVALUATIONSOFMICHELLEOBAMA”Presidentialstudiesquarterly46,no 2(2016):

READGriffin,FarahJasmine."AtLast...?:MichelleObama,Beyonce,Race&History."Daedalus,vol.140,no. 1,winter2011,pp.131+.

READJenniSimonandAbbyBrooks.“TheFirstCoveragesoftheFirstLady:E-racingtheMom-in-Chief'' WomenandLanguage40.Number1.2017/2018

READTheresaKulbagaandSpence,Leland.FitnessandthefeministFirstLady:Gender,race,andbodyin MichelleObamaʼsLetʼsMove!Campaign.WomenandLanguage40.Number1.2017/2018

READ“Michelle”Chapter7inSisterCitizen:Shame,Stereotypes,andBlackWomeninAmerica.Melissa Harris-Perry.2014.

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. Howdoesraceshapetheways MichelleObamaembodiedtheroleofFirstLady?

2. Whatdowelearnaboutcontemporarynotionsoffeminineidealsfromhowthemediaandthe publicrespondedtoMichelleObama?

4. HowdoesMichelleObamaaffectourunderstandingofwhatitmeanstobeaFirstLady?

5. WhatdoesObama teachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsonAfricanAmericanandwhite Americanwomeninthe21stcentury?

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

MODULE 7: PRESIDENTIAL FIRST LADIES

7.1 EdithWilson March29

7.2 HillaryClinton April5

EdithBollingGaltWilson,1913. LibraryofCongress

HillaryClintonacceptingDemocraticParty nominationforPresident2016.PHOTO: Andrew Harnik/AP

7.1 EDITH WILSON, March 29

PRIMARYSOURCES

READEdithWilsonofficialWhiteHousepage

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READChapter5,TheOfficeoftheFirstLady.FromFirstLadies:FromMarthaWashingtontoMichelle Obama.

BIOGRAPHYANDANALYSIS

READJudithWeaver.EdithBollingWilsonasFirstLady:AStudyinthePowerofPersonality, 1919-1920.PresidentialStudiesQuarterly.Volume15,Number1

READEdithBollingGaltWilsonActionsSpeakLouderthanWords,Chapter6ofInventingaVoice: theRhetoricofAmericanFirstLadies

LISTEN:EPISODES6,,7and8of EDITH!Podcast fromCrookedMedia.

SelectionsTBAfromUntoldPowerTheFascinatingRiseandComplexLegacyofFirstLadyEdith Wilson RebeccaBoggsRoberts.PenguinRandomHouse.2023

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. HowdidEdithWilsonexercisepower?

2. ShouldweconsiderWilsontobethefirstwomanpresident?

3. WhatdowelearnaboutthepotentialandthelimitationsoftheroleofFirstLadyfromtheways WilsonservedasFirstLady?

4. WhatdoesWilsonteachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsforAmericanwomeninthe20 century?

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

7.2 HILLARY CLINTON, April 5

PRIMARYSOURCES

READHIllaryClintonofficialWhiteHousepage

WATCH/READWomen'sRightsAreHumanRights.HillaryRodhamClinton

LISTENCSPANpodcastFirstLadiesinTheirOwnWords: HillaryClinton

OVERVIEW/CONTEXT

READChapter10,ANewGenerationintheWhiteHouse. FromFirstLadies:FromMartha WashingtontoMichelleObama.

BIOGRAPHYANDANALYSIS

READTemplin,C.(1999).HillaryClintonasThreattoGenderNorms:CartoonImagesoftheFirst Lady.JournalofCommunicationInquiry,23(1),20–36.

READBurrell,BarbaraC.“HillaryRodhamClintonasFirstLady:ThePeopleʼsPerspective.”The Socialsciencejournal(FortCollins)37,no.4(2000):529–546.

READOles-Acevedo,Denise."FixingtheHillaryfactor:ExaminingthetrajectoryofHillaryClintonʼs imagerepairfrompoliticalbumblertopoliticalpowerhouse."AmericanCommunicationJournal 14,no.1(2012):33-46.

READTraister,Rebecca BigGirlsDonʼtCry:theElectionThatChangedEverythingforAmerican Women NewYork,NY:FreePress,2010 CHAPTERS1,2,3

READTraister,Rebecca Thesurrealpost-electionlifeofthewomanwhowouldhavebeen president NewYorkMagazine 201

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. InwhatwayswasHillaryClintonatransformativeFirstLady?

2. DoesClintonʼsindependentpoliticalcareerasUSSenator,SecretaryofState,and PresidentialcandidatealterourunderstandingofherasaFirstLady?Ifso,how?

3. WhatdowelearnaboutthepotentialandthelimitationsoftheroleofFirstLadyfromthe waysCilintonwasreceivedbythemediaandthepublicduringhertimeasFirstLady?

4. WhatdoesClintonteachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsforAmericanwomen?

8.1MaryToddLincolnandMelaniaTrump

Photograph by Mathew Brady, 1861 2017MelaniaTrumpOfficialWhiteHousephotograph NOTEthisNYTImespieceaboutthephotohere.

PrimarySources

READ:MaryToddLincolnOfficialWhiteHousepage.

READ:MelaniaTrumpOfficialWhiteHousepage

BiographyandAnalysis

READJeanBaker.MaryToddLincoln:ManagingHome,HusbandandChildren.Journalof theAbrahamLincolnAssociation.Volume11.1990.

READLisaShawnHogan(2013)ExposingMaryLincoln:ElizabethKeckleyandtheRhetoric ofIntimateDisclosure,SouthernCommunicationJournal,78:5,405-426,

READJasonEmerson,TheMadnessofMaryLincoln

READPušnik,M.,&Jontes,D.(2022).Thenationasanimaginedcommodity:Branding ʻMelania.ʼEuropeanJournalofCulturalStudies,25(2),703–722.

KatharinaWiedlack(2019)In/visiblydifferent:MelaniaTrumpandtheotheringofEastern EuropeanwomeninUSculture,FeministMediaStudies,19:8,1063-1078,

ACriticalDiscourseAnalysisofthemediaportrayalofMelaniaTrumpasFirstLady.NOTE:Thisisa STUDENTRESEARCHPAPER Itisnotapeerreviewedjournalarticle

AlexWagner,MelaniaTrumpDerangementSyndromeTheAtlantic.2018

StevenJohnsonandLenaFeltonTheGenderTrapofBeingFirstLady.TheAtlantic.2018

GUIDINGQUESTIONS

1. HowarepublicrejectionsofbothMrs.LincolnandMrs.Trumpconnectedtothe politicsofadividednationduringtheirhusbandʼstimeinoffice?

2. HowdobothLincolnandTrumprepresentidentitiesrejectedbytheadministrations oftheirhusbands?

3. Howaremadness/insanityusedasgenderedwaysofunderstandingbothwomen? Whataretheconsequences?

4. Whatdothey teachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsforAmericanwomen?

8.1 Mary Todd Lincoln and Melania Trump, April 12

*CreatedbyMelissaHarris-PerryJanuary2023

MODULE 9: ASYNCHRONOUS REVIEW

MODULE9:April19

Nonewassignedmaterialsforthisweek.

CLASS

Noregularclassmeeting

ReviewslidesandmaterialsProfMHPwillmakeavailableasreviewforthisweek

10.1 LauraBushandJillBiden April25

LauraBushWhiteHousephotobyKrisannaJohnson

JillBidenWhiteHousephotoby Ralph Alswang

PrimarySources

READLauraBushofficialWhiteHousepage EXPLORELauraBushTwitteraccount

READDr.JillBidenWhiteHousepage EXPLOREDr.JillBidenTwitteraccount

Overview/Context

READChapter10,ANewGenerationintheWhiteHouse. FromFirstLadies:FromMartha WashingtontoMichelleObama.

READ“UsingtheMagicofWords”toEducateandAdvocate.FromInventingaVoice: The RhetoricofAmericaʼsFirstLadies

BiographyandAnalysis

READDubriwny,TashaN "FirstLadiesandFeminism:LauraBushasAdvocateforWomen'sand Children'sRights"Women'sStudiesinCommunication28,no 1(Spring,2005):84-114

READBeritvonderLippeandTarjaVäyrynenCo-optingfeministvoicesforthewaronterror:Laura BushmeetsNordicfeminism EuropeanJournalofWomen'sStudies201118:1,19-33

READFirstprofessor:JillBidentomakehistoryasafirstladywithadayjob.Politico.2020.

READ.JillBidenʼsformerstudentsdiscusstheFirstLady.TheWashingtonPost.

GuidingQuestions

1. Whatarethesimilaritiesanddeparturesintheways Bushand Bidenunderstand andperformtheroleofeducator?

2. Howdotheyeachuseinfluence,power,andauthoritytoaddressissuesof education?

3. Howdotheyeachembraceorrejectcontemporaryfeministframeworks?

4. Whatdothey teachusaboutthepossibilitiesandconstraintsforAmericanwomen?

10.1 Laura Bush and Jill Biden, April 25

MODULE 11: EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

GUIDELINESFOREXTRACREDIT REFLECTION

Writeanessayofabout100words Theessayshouldbeorganizedintothreemainparts Youneed notberigidinyourresponse,usethesepromptsasaguide However,thebestresponseswill explicitlyaddressthethreemainthemesofsummary,connectiontocoursereadings,andreflection onpersonallearningoutcomes.

Briefsummary/descriptionoftheevent/speaker/film/readingetc.

Connecttheexperiencetotheassignedreadingsofthecourse.Whatbroadthemesand specificexamplesfromtheassignedreadingsarerelevantandtiedtothisexperience? Use clearcitations.Linkthelessons/arguments/themes/claimsoftheauthorsinourcourseto theevent/experience.Didyourexperiencereinforceorcontradicttheclaimsmadeinthe assignedtexts?Howwouldyouadjudicatecontradictions?Whyaretheseconnections valuable?

Reflectonyourownlearningoutcomes Doyoubelievesomethingdifferentthanyou believedbeforetheevent?Areyoumorecertainofyourexistingbeliefs?Areyousurprised, distressed,orexcitedbysomeaspectoftheexperience?Whatlastinglessonswillyoulikely carrywithyou?Wastheexperiencevaluable?Howmightyouconnectittootherlearning experiencesyouhavehad?

WatchFilmandWriteResponse

John&AbigailAdams.FilmsOnDemand.2005.(Approx2hours)

WatchFilmandWriteResponse

DolleyMadison FilmsOnDemand 2010 (Approx2hours)

WatchFilmandWriteResponse

LisaMcCubbinandMikeFordonthelifeofformerFirstLadyBettyFord.

ExploreandWriteaResponse

Using variousreportedpiecesconnectedtoSallyHemingsintheNYTimes