Helen tapped was more ambitious about getting to the white house than her husband, William Howard taft, and was willing to get personally in bald in politics to get him elected. As first lady, she overcame a serious illness directly mounted the white house. Invited top Classical Musicians to perform their, and support it causes that matter to her. Helen tap also has one of the most physical legacies of our first ladies. Washington d. C. s famous japanese cherry trees, the ones that frame the tidal basin in the Nations Capital and brings tens of thousands of visitors to washington every year. Good evening, and welcome to first ladies. Influence and image. The life of hell and taft, her husband served in the white house from 1909 to 1913. Here to tell us about her life and her legacy is her biographer lewis gold. His biography of her is helen taft, our musical first lady. You open the book by making the case that of the 20th century first lady, shes the most obscure but you say she deser
White house. American history tv features cspans original series, first ladies. Cspan produced in the series in cooperation with the White House Historical association. Through conversations, video tools, and questions from cspans audience, we tell the story of americas 45 first ladies. Next, helen taft. This is about 1. 5 hours. Helen taft was more ambitious by getting to the white house than her husband. Willing to get personally involved in politics to get elected. She overcame a serious illness to directly manage the white house, invite a Classical Musicians to perform, and supported concerts that mattered to her. Helen taft also has a visible legacy. Famouston, d. C. s japanese cherry trees, the ones that frame the title basin in bring visitors to washington every year. Good evening and welcome to first ladies, influence and image, the life of helen taft. He served from 19091913. Here to tell us about her life is her biographer. Is our musical first lady. You open the book making
She also seemed to have an agenda to get her husband to the white house. The story is that she decided during the haze and ministration she said she wanted to do that as well. There are a lot of women sometimes, she is portrayed as a cross between Mommy Dearest and lady macbeth, which is not the case. She was a much more constructive influence and a nicer lady. Helen taft has an interesting story. We bet many of you will be hearing it for the first time. He would like to involve even our conversation. You can send us comments on facebook. You can also send us a tweet using the first ladies. We will get to your calls in a few minutes. First, we will tell you about her early biography. How does she get to the white house at age 16 . Her father in cincinnati where friends with president rutherford b. Hayes and lucy hayes and they went to the white house she had not yet made her debut. She could not participate in social activities. President hayes and says it was wonderful to have her the
Taft our musical first lady. You opened the book by making the case that of the 20th century first lady, shes the most obscure, but you say she deserves better from history. Tell me quickly why she deserves better than being obscure . Mr. Gould well, because she did some things that were, as youve mentioned in your opening, about that were very constructive, i mean, the cherry trees, bringing the Classical Music musicians to the white house, and, generally, trying to make washington the Cultural Center of the nation. That was her ambition. Now, it didnt work out because of medical reasons. But she had an agenda that would have made her rank with Eleanor Roosevelt or Lady Bird Johnson in terms of transforming washington had things gone the other way. Ms. Swain she also seemed to have an agenda to get her husband to the white house. Mr. Gould yes, the story is that she decided when she visited the white house in the hayeS Administration, hey, i want to do that as well. Its somewhat overd
Mrs. Pratt had five of them. The largest collection outside of russia, more than the queen of england owns and she had them here in this house. Later on she donated them to the Virginia State museum. So today you could see them in one of the rooms down there. She predeceased mr. Pratt by a number of years. He lived here by himself up until 1975 when well into his 90s he died and at that point he gave the house to the National Park service. Realizing its historical importance. Thanks to the jens rossty of this man that we are able to show the house to you. I hope you enjoy it. If the you have any questions ask me and of course, we have a lot of interesting things going on on the front grounds today as well. So please take advantage of those as well. The gardens were on the front of the house. Entirely obliterated. If you look at pictures, we have one on the fireplace, of that side of the house during the war, youll see no garden. After the war was over in the 1920s they then moved the g