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First Ladies: Enduring Infidelities, Strokes and Assassinations

Virtual Program - July 14 at 7:00 pm ET

In case you missed it, FLARE hosted a discussion with moderator Dr. Diana Carlin, FLARE Vice President and Professor Emerita of Communication, Saint Louis University, and author Dr. Craig Smith on his fascinating new book, First Ladies: Enduring Infidelities, Strokes and Assassinations. Dr. Smith has written 25 books, was a speech writer for President Gerald R. Ford, and a consulting writer for President George H.W. Bush.

First Ladies: Enduring Infidelities, Strokes and Assassinations
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Call for Nominations for FLARE’s 2025 Gould Award

Call for Nominations for FLARE’s 2025 Gould Award

The First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) is opening nominations for the 2025 Lewis L. Gould Award. The Gould Award seeks to honor a FLARE member with a long and distinguished career that includes significant contributions to scholarship and education about first ladies. All members of FLARE are eligible for nomination except for those serving on the Gould Award Committee.

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American FLOTUS Podcasts View All Podcasts

Flare Podcasts

American FLOTUS

American FLOTUS is dedicated to bringing you the very best information and analysis about the First Ladies of the United States. In this partnership of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and American POTUS, we present experts drawn from the many members of FLARE sharing with us their expertise and their experiences. We hope you enjoy American FLOTUS.

The most recent podcast is:

The East Wing Magazine: Covering the First Ladies with Jennifer Taylor

FLARE is delighted to announce the release of a new American FLOTUS podcast, which was released on July 7th with Jennifer Taylor, the editor of The East Wing Magazine, on: Covering the First Ladies.

Jennifer Taylor, the founder and editor of The East Wing Magazine, joins host Alan Lowe on American FLOTUS.  They discuss how Jennifer's exciting new publication, using 21st-century approaches to reporting, is helping to shine more light on the vital roles of our First Ladies throughout history and today. Make sure you listen to this fascinating conversation on American FLOTUS. A transcript is also available for this podcast at the link below.

Listen to the Podcast 

 Read the transcript

The next podcast will be released on September 25, 2025.

Trump says Melania pointed out Putin's false promises on Ukraine peace
Barack and Michelle Obama address divorce rumors in podcast episode
Statewide: New insight into Mary Lincoln's "madness"
Marin history: When Eleanor Roosevelt visited San Quentin prison
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Our Mission

The mission of FLARE is to create and sustain a network to promote and publicize research and education relevant to the contributions, lives, impacts, and lasting legacies of U.S. First Ladies.

Our Vision

FLARE will be the primary association to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and outreach among scholars, institutions, First Ladies’ staff, biographers, archivists, journalists, and public historians interested in research and education about the lasting legacy of U.S. First Ladies.

 

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FLARE Focus on Texas First Ladies and the Environmental Movement

Rachel Boba

Lady Bird Johnson among sunflowers

Lady Bird Johnson among sunflowers. Photo by John D. Smithers.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas, Austin, Texas.

Today, climate change is one of America’s most significant and politically contested issues, but first ladies across the political aisle have been championing conservation practices for decades. Texas-born Lady Bird Johnson was the first first lady to advocate for stronger conservation and beautification practices within urban spaces, both during her husband's tenure and after he left office. Her work inspired another Texan, Laura Bush, to push for the conservation of America’s waters and greater environmental education. While both first ladies were inspired by the natural spaces in which they grew up, they drew on their love of nature to encourage the conservation of the American landscapes they treasured. Both actively supported the National Park Foundation and used hikes in national parks as ways to stimulate public interest in park protection.

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Upcoming Events view all events

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First Ladies Birthdays view all events

Mon
21
2025
July 21, 2025

Frances Folsom Cleveland

July 21, 1864

Mon
28
2025
July 28, 2025

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

July 28, 1929

Tue
29
2025
July 29, 2025

Julia Gardiner Tyler

July 29, 1820

Some biographies list May 4, 1820 as her birth date.

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