Lou Henry Hoover

Recent interest in the wives of American Presidents has led to the rediscovery of many First Ladies whose public service and accomplishments had been forgotten. The prime example is Lou Henry Hoover, a vivacious woman with a thoroughly modern approach to life, an unquenchable zest for living, and a long-term dedication to public service that dated from the Spanish-American War. Lou Henry Hoover: A Prototype for First Ladies provides readers with their first in-depth examination of the adventure-filled life and numerous public services of this complex and fascinating First Lady. Readers will wonder how Lou Hoover could have become a forgotten First Lady when they discover references to her zest for living and extensive public service activities in contemporary newspaper accounts and letters. The reason for the obscure knowledge about this First Lady is there was no access to her papers, and historians also had tended to dismiss Mrs. Hoover as an aloof and uncaring First Lady who lacked purpose, mission, or audience. The fog began to lift when her personal and public papers became available to historians in 1985.