First Lady as Campaigner

Catherine Allgor, editor of our new Dolley Madison title The Queen of America, has a piece on the CNN site that considers Ann Romney’s speech at this week’s Republican National Convention. If first ladies have traditionally fallen into one of two camps—quiet supporters or highly visible activists—Allgor suggests Ms. Romney’s speech might have fallen short by trying to have it both ways. UPDATE: Allgor has posted a second piece on the CNN site, a broader survey of the role of the first lady in presidential campaigns, from Eleanor Roosevelt to would-be first lady Elizabeth Dole (who famously grabbed the microphone and waded out into the audience) to Michelle Obama and Ann Romney at this year’s conventions.