Sidedoor: The woman in the frame

In a fitting tribute to the late NPR journalist Cokie Roberts, National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet shares with Sidedoor their recent conversation about the smart, savvy and politically astute first ladies who brought much more to the White House than their skills as hostesses.

Did you know that Martha Washington was essential to America’s Revolutionary War effort? Or that Eleanor Roosevelt was the driving force behind the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights? According to journalist, writer, and commentator Cokie Roberts, many of America’s First Ladies were dynamic, politically engaged trailblazers who are often overlooked. We sit down with the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery director, Kim Sajet, to talk about a recent episode of the museum’s new podcast, Portraits. In it, she and Cokie discuss four First Ladies who are remembered for their influence on American history.

Listen now:

Portraits of First Ladies featured in the episode:

1. Martha Washington portrait
2. Dolley Madison portrait
3. Eleanor Roosevelt portrait
4. Nancy Reagan portrait

As many of you have probably heard, Cokie Roberts passed away in the days since we originally recorded this episode. Our heart goes out to all of Cokie’s family, friends, and people like us who have enjoyed her work for decades.

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