First Ladies, Gender &
American Politics
with Robert David “KC” Johnson / In Person
We live in an era with a female Vice President and Speaker of the House; where women chair four Senate committees. But for much of the last century, the Office of the First Lady housed the highest-profile women in American politics. Though the position doesn’t exist in the Constitution, the term has been widely used since the late 19th century. This seminar will explore the growth of the office by examining the lives of the most significant First Ladies, while also examining how the office has changed over time.
While focusing on the Office of the First Lady, each session also will include commentary on the growing political power of women in the period under discussion. The final 10-15 minutes of each session will feature a discussion of contemporary events.
6 In-Person Sessions
Wednesdays
Sept 22 – Dec 8, 2021
10:30am – 11:45am EST
OR
2:00pm – 3:15pm EST
$475
Session 1: SEPT 22
Establishing Political Independence: Edith Wilson & Eleanor Roosevelt
Session 2: OCT 6
Jackie Kennedy & Lady Bird Johnson
Session 3: OCT 20
The Office in Transition
Session 4: NOV 3
Redefining the Office
Session 5: NOV 17
Political Partners:
Laura Bush & Michelle Obama
Session 6: DEC 8
A More Traditional Role?
Melania Trump, Dr. Jill Biden
Meet the moderator

Robert David “KC” Johnson
Robert “KC” Johnson is a Professor of History at Brooklyn College and the City University of New York Graduate Center. In 2007-2008, he taught at Tel Aviv University as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities.
Professor Johnson received his B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard and his M.A. from the University of Chicago. His books include Congress and the Cold War, which was published by Cambridge University Press and won the D.B. Hardeman Prize. He has written widely on 20th and 21st century U.S. political, diplomatic, and legal affairs. Learn more.