Inspired by Another First Lady’s Story
Not long after reading Lisa Hill’s Betty Ford, I selected another “First Lady” book, First Lady from Plains by Rosalynn Carter, wife of President Jimmy Carter. It was interesting to read about the Carters in subsequence after the Fords (Carter succeeded Ford), since they knew and worked alongside and against one another.
Although an informative read, I found First Lady from Plains to be a little dry and less engaging.
Where the Book Struggled
Because it was an autobiography written shortly after her time at the White House concluded (published in the 1980s), it was clear there were still fresh feelings associated with their politics and they were finding their footing post-presidency.
- Example: Rosalynn was quite plain how much she disagreed with the results of the election between her husband and Ronald Reagan. I appreciated her candor, but it definitely had a different feel to it than reading about the situations decades later (like in the Betty Ford biography). It came across (to me) as less respectful and professional.
A Product of Its Time
Some of the writing showed its age. There were phrases that – at the time of her writing – were not considered offensive; however, we would shy away from using them today.
- Example: Although Rosalynn championed mental illness and sought to rid it of stigma and provide appropriate help and resources to the cause, reading the phrase “mentally retarded” repeatedly had me wincing some. It’s not how we address that issue today, and it was a touch distracting for me as the reader, even though I understood and respected her intent.
Unnecessary Campaign Detail
The third thing I particularly didn’t like was how bogged down Rosalynn got with election details, particularly with campaigning. Polling numbers and other similar content were boring to read. As a reader forty years later, I’m not particularly interested in what the polls said at the time. I would’ve preferred a more succinct summary.
- Another Example: The same thing occurred with the presidency itself. She focused on little details about the White House or about specific political situations that could’ve been more effective to the reader if presented on a broader scale.
What Stood Out in First Lady from Plains
Those things aside, I enjoyed the book.
- I enjoyed reading about Rosalynn and Jimmy’s upbringings in Plains, Georgia and the way life was lived in that little town.
- I loved reading about their marriage and family and how they navigated politics, from governor of GA to president of the USA. Their fight for civil rights was admirable and moving.
- Reading from her perspective about Jimmy’s summit with the leaders of Egypt and Israel and trying to bring the American hostages home from Iran was particularly interesting.
- As always, learning the inner workings of life in the governor’s mansion or in the White House was fascinating, and each memoir I’ve read from the different administrations over the years is unique in how they approached their lives there.
- Again, I commend Rosalynn’s honesty and vulnerability in her memoir. I was moved by the Carters’ love for each other, their family, their country, and their desire to do their best for America and the people.
If You Like Political Memoirs, Check These Out!
Some of my favorite (American) political memoirs over the years include:
- Betty Ford: First Lady, Women’s Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer (Lisa McCubbin, 2018)
- Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies (J.B. West, 2016)
- The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House (Kate Anderson Bower, 2016)
- First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies (Kate Anderson Bower, 2016)
Final Thoughts & Content Rating
If you like politics and history, this is definitely a good book to pick up, but there may be some excessive details to wade through.
Content Rating: None
Copyright Rosalynn Carter and Houghton Mifflin. Image from Amazon.