America’s First Ladies: 250 Years of Influence
Featuring:
[Moderator] Sabrina Schaeffer, Vice President, Public Affairs, R Street Institute
Anita McBride, Executive-in-Residence, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University; Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush
Whether by song, poem, or sheer determination, most of us memorized the U.S. presidents in grade school. But how much time did we spend learning about the women in the East Wing and the part they played in shaping the nation?
As part of our series highlighting America’s 250th anniversary, the R Street Institute welcomes Anita McBride for a timely conversation about the enduring influence of our First Ladies.
Drawing from her book Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women, McBride will reflect on how First Ladies from Martha Washington and Dolley Madison to Lady Bird Johnson and beyond have navigated evolving expectations, advanced public policy priorities, and reflected the changing role of women in American democracy.
By placing the stories of First Ladies within the broader sweep of American history, this America 250 Conversation invites reflection on leadership, civic responsibility, and the informal but powerful institutions that help shape our nation today.
Refreshments will be provided.