Faith of Our Mothers: The Stories of Presidential Mothers from Mary Washington to Barbara Bush

Clearly Dr. Gullan has a brilliant grasp on delivering touching biographical accounts.Books like these make history relevant to young and old!

Harold Gullan's well-researched provides us with an entertaining look at the First Mothers. He has grouped them not in straight chronological fashion but instead by categories such as "Maternal Ambition" and "Continuity and Change."The mothers since around 1900 are more fully fleshed out, since more material is available about them than about the women of previous times, with the exception of Abigail Adams. The wide correspondence of John Q. Adams' mother provides us with a detailed picture of her life and times. Whether they were hard-working, hands-on moms like Hannah Nixon on the West Coast, or wealthy like Rose Kennedy and Sarah Roosevelt on the East Coast who employed nannies to change diapers, all the First Mothers loved and supported their sons, influenced and inspired them. Some adhered to the values of the Puritan faith of early America, and its characteristics of simple living, cheerfulness, and service. Others, like two southerners, Virginia Kelley and Lillian Carter, were free spirited individuals. Can you grow up to be president if your mom cooks for the family only on Sunday and relies on others to fill in during the week? Ask Jimmy Carter! "Remember the ladies," Abigail Adams advised her husband. Kudoes to Harold Gullan for following her suggestion and giving us "Faith of our Mothers."

What a delightful book. It is well written and intersting. By looking at each Presidential mother the reader will many times have a better understanding of the son. The author doesn't sugar coat anything.Many of these women were incredibly galant, good or bold but others were poor or ineffectual mothers. The author mentions gently, that Franklin Pierce's mother had a drinking problem--and so did Franklin and talks candidly about the smothering domineering ways of FDR's mother. I very much enjoyed it. Kimberley Lindsay Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men

What a perfect book for these difficult times. This book is filled with inspirational and insightful stories about the mothers of our nation's presidents. I'd highly recommend it as a Christmas gift!