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10/15/2026
Latest FLARE Program: The East Wing: First Ladies & the Power Behind the Presidency
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On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, we hosted our latest virtual program, "The East Wing: First Ladies & the Power Behind the Presidency," with journalist and author Azadeh Moaveni. Heath Hardage Lee, author of The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon, moderated the discussion.
For generations, the White House East Wing served as more than an office for America's First Ladies and their staffs. It was a center of influence where presidential spouses shaped public policy, advanced social causes, navigated political challenges, and helped define the evolving role of the First Lady.
In her new book, The East Wing: Power, Intrigue, and the Untold Story of America's First Ladies, Azadeh Moaveni draws on original reporting and extensive interviews with former East Wing staff to reveal the personalities, partnerships, rivalries, and behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped this uniquely American institution. From Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford to Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, Moaveni explores how First Ladies exercised influence despite holding no formal constitutional authority.
Heath Hardage Lee, historian and author of The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington's Most Private First Lady, will moderate this fascinating conversation about the women, relationships, and institutional power that shaped the history of the East Wing.
Whether you are interested in American history, First Ladies, White House history, presidential history, women's history, or the intersection of politics and public life, this program offers a revealing look at the power behind the presidency.
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