U.S. First Ladies: More Than the Women Behind the Men
A Behind-the-Scenes Lecture Presented by Dr. Diana B. Carlin
Sunday afternoon October 26th, 2025, via Zoom at 2:30 pm
Since Martha Washington was greeted by her husband in New Jersey and was escorted to the nation’s first capital in New York on the presidential yacht with a multi-gun salute and cheers, the presidency has been a partnership between the president and his spouse. Because the U.S. President is both Head of Government and Head of State, the head of state responsibilities to perform rituals and engage in social activities often requires the help of a spouse or surrogate. For over 200 years, presidential spouses have served the country through ‘soft power’ using social functions to bring people together and to even create a bipartisan environment. But they have done much more, especially since Eleanor Roosevelt took the role in new directions.
Presidential wives were not always called First Ladies of the United States (FLOTUS) and they were not always able to use their influence publicly, but they exerted influence in other ways that shaped history. Little is taught in American History classes about the women who served their country in a role that is not legislated or constitutionally created, that has no rulebook and receives no monetary compensation. Until Rosalynn Carter, they didn’t even have official office space.
Dr. Diana B. Carlin, Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and co-author of Remember the FIRST Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women, will take you behind-the-scenes in the Washingtons’ President’s House and the White House and inform you how these women helped make history.
Register for this presentation here: https://tinyurl.com/296t52xw.
Theodore Talks take place via Zoom on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2:30 pm (CT). Can’t attend this Theodore Talk? Go ahead and register anyway; a link to the recording will be sent to you once the lecture and discussion is over. Closed captioning will be enabled.
Remember, Theodore Talks are always offered FREE in an effort to provide more value for your Mensa membership.
NOTE: This is the last Theodore Talk we’ve planned for 2025. There are no Theodore Talks in November or December as the fourth Sunday of the month often conflicts with holidays. However, we have finalized our list of 2026 speakers. The full list of Theodore Talks we’re planning for next year will be published in the January issue of the Mensa Bulletin, and will be posted to the National Events Calendar on the American Mensa website.
Questions? For more information, contact Brad Lucht.
