Reference News Network on March 7** "New York Times" White House correspondent Katie Rogers recently published a new book "American Women: From Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden to See the Transformation of Modern First Ladies", which attracted ** attention.
The New York Times** published a book review by Joanna Scarts discussing the role of the "modern first lady."
In an election year that is likely to be bitterly divisive, Americans have come to a rare consensus that the first lady looks good, the article said.
Neither beloved by Michelle Obama nor vilified by Hillary Clinton, Biden has managed to dodge much of the right-wing criticism of liberal women. This is good news for her, but bad news for biographers, which undoubtedly explains why Katie Rogers' new book, American Women: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden, interweaves the story of Jill Biden with the rise of the modern first lady, starting with Hillary Clinton.
However, the stark differences between these women make it difficult to definitively assert what a modern first lady really looks like, what she stands for, and what a future first lady – after Biden and Trump – might look like.
Role change and reinvention.
Rogers, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, writes with a light narrative and offers a rigorous and unbiased critique of her subjects. The book "Women in America" draws on published memoirs and biographies, as well as interviews with more than 125 people, including Jill Biden, her colleagues, and past and present White House staffers.
The book reviews earlier first ladies of the United States and delves into how the role of first ladies has been reshaped since Hillary Clinton. Instead of following a simplistic chronological narrative, Rogers intersperses the story of Jill Biden with chapters describing his predecessors: Hillary Clinton's "ambitions," Laura Bush's "traditions," Michelle Obama's "expectations," and Melania Trump's "reluctance." She argues that Jill Biden's image of all these characteristics is too broad to overlook the nuances.
Part of the problem, Rogers acknowledged, is that the Bidens have played so many important roles in public life that it's hard to tell the difference between who is real and who is rumored. In stark contrast to Michelle Obama and Melania Trump, Jill Biden married into politics and has been drawn into political life for nearly half a century.
There are two aspects to her story that shatter the common perception of female political spouses. The first is her marital status, which caused great trauma to the family when Biden**'s first wife and one-year-old daughter died in a car accident before she married Biden. The tragedy left Biden deeply emotionally traumatized, and it also gave Jill Biden a strong desire to protect. Rogers quotes a quote from Jill Biden's memoirs: "I remember every offense that happened to my loved ones. ”
Another important part of the story is Jill Biden's decision to retain his position as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College during his tenure as first lady. Rogers detailed the White House's compulsion to facilitate her continued teaching, which also included some heartwarming anecdotes heard from her former students. But apart from attacks from a handful of right-wingers, Rogers did not find much evidence that Americans had strong objections to the first lady's retention of the teaching position.
While Rogers argues that the decision represents a shift in people's perception of the first lady, the more persuasive argument seems to be that the teaching profession — even in college, with a doctorate in education — is more feminine, less paid and less valued, and Americans don't see it as incompatible with her concurrent role as first lady.
What is even more intriguing about the future of the role of "First Lady" is Rogers' conversation with Douglas Emhoff, the "second gentleman" of the United States, and how he approached this unprecedented position. In order to support his wife, Kamala Harris, Emhoff also gave up his career as a lawyer. Although he prides himself on supporting a woman of great power and declares himself a progressive man, his day-to-day duties follow the traditional pattern.
This reminds us that we have not yet found a way for ** couples to remain equal in marriage. If the ** position continues to combine political power, quasi-royal status, and celebrity effect, perhaps this will not be possible. Whatever happens this November, those who want to see a real shift in the role of the first lady and what she can do may have to wait a little longer.
The Cold War in the White House".
The Australian also recently published a book review, quoting the content of the book "American Women" about "Melania Trump vs. 'Princess' Ivanka: The Cold War in the White House".
Melania Trump has been engaged in a power struggle with stepdaughter Ivanka during her four years in the White House, with the two vying for influence and attention.
Melania did not immediately move into the White House after Trump's inauguration, and it was Ivanka who assumed the responsibilities of first lady at first, which sparked a cold war between the two women.
The relationship between Melania and Ivanka has been the focus of speculation during Trump's tenure. Trump himself has fuelled the rumors, telling reporters at the beginning of his presidency that his eldest daughter has been appointed as a senior White House adviser and will "help [Melania)" carry out her duties. Rogers writes that Ivanka wasted no time. While Melania remained in New York for her son, Barron, for the full school year, her stepdaughter made plans to renovate the East Wing of the White House and took over the first lady's office.
Rogers writes that Ivanka actually plans to remove the role of first lady and transform the official residence into "serving the entire First Family, not just the First Lady." Melania fought back against attempts to marginalize her, calling her opponent "Princess".
Rogers said the two women avoided each other but still "secretly competed for attention." American Women claims that while Melania shirks the traditional public duties of many first ladies, the Slovenian-born cares deeply about what the public thinks of her.
In 2018, while visiting detained migrant children at the border, Melania wore a jacket with an incomprehensible slogan emblazoned on the back: "I really don't care, what about you?" ”
Rogers claimed that the message, which had sparked days of gossip, was addressed to Ivanka. Melania said she wore the dress for "my critics and leftists."
Melania and Ivanka have been absent from the campaign as Trump tries to retake the White House in November's ** election, causing widespread concern. The ex** and his wife were last seen together at the funeral of Melania's mother, Amalia Knyavs, in January, but the two left in separate cars after the funeral. (Compiled by Yang Xuelei and Guo Jun).