FLOTUS 4eva

FLOTUS on the Road: Sagamore Hill

FLOTUS is back on the road! This time we head out to the Great Gatsby vibes of Oyster Bay to visit the home of our next First Lady, Edith Roosevelt. We talk all about how Edith clearly had better style than TR and how she really just wanted to hide from her husband, kids and the secret service. We, of course, became best friends with our tour guide Tyler and are curious about the logistics of how he'll move the TR statue up to Sagamore from the Natural History Museum. Also! We break into a graveyard. 

Ida Saxton McKinley

Like a homecoming for Claire and Elyse. We recount the joys of Canton, Ohio and their very own darling, Ida Saxton McKinley. We discuss how thrilling it probably was to babysit at the White House as well as how thrilling it is to babysit in New York City in your 20's. As the most formally educated FLOTUS at the time, Ida had a love for education and finance. Sadly, Ida's life is filled with tragedy, but this leads her to become a Buddhist. After all, Ohio was the California of the late 1800's. 

Also, Elyse finds a new job live on the pod and we congratulate ourselves in a big way for making to the 20th century. Stay cool! We love ya!! 

Caroline Scott Harrison

We are back with a fabulous story about a First Lady who knew how to keep busy! We learn that Ohio was like the California of its day and that getting a divorce in Indianapolis was truly chic. We also have another women tasked with having to upgrade the White House, but this time its in worse shape than you can even imagine. We talk painting china, the DAR and the only reliable way to get rid of rodents. 

Plus, Claire and Elyse go into detail about their feelings on the movie Ratatouille  and an almost missed flight to Texas. 

Frances Folsom Cleveland

You know it's absolute chaos when you meet your future prez husband as an infant when he's buying you a baby carriage. Frances was here for that drama. We discuss Frances's love of the "arts" and the press. We talk about how this two time FLOTUS actually gets a second chance with love after her husband's death. Claire recounts the truly harrowing and impressive story of Grover Cleveland's jaw surgery and we finally start to get truly excited about the suffragette's and their place in history. 

This ep has it all: a surprise marriage, a secret surgery, a battle with the press and ANOTHER recession. 

Ellen Herndon Arthur and Molly Arthur McElroy

Ellen, a socialite of New York City in so many ways. We discuss the many parties thrown at her Lexington Avenue House and how this may have been the only thing her and her husband had in common. We discuss Ellen's brief thoughts behind divorcing the future prez and why you must dress appropriately no matter the season! After losing Ellen before she even gets to see Arthur as prez, Molly (his sister) steps up to the plate and for the first time brings together a group of FLOTUS'S that has Elyse and Claire truly jealous. 

 

Also, Elyse tries to plot how to take over the lease on the Lexington Ave house and Claire tells the story of a truly infuriating subway encounter of a man who had pizza on his socks. We're so happy to be back. 

FLOTUS on the Road: Interview with Presidential Scholar, Tiger McGinley

FLOTUS on the Road is back with an extra special episode with our Presidential Scholar Tiger McGinley. We discuss his love for presidents and what makes a president truly special. He explains to us how the president’s job has changed, how Teddy Roosevelt was unable to sit down and why Barak Obama is a repeat answer for so many of our questions. While we site his intelligence on many of our episodes- this chance to hear him speak is truly a gift! 

Also, Elyse gets one more person to agree with her theory of how we could have avoided Nixon altogether. 

Lucretia Randolph Garfield

Another Ohio lady loving education and her FLOTUS duties! Lucretia shows us her deep love for all things knowledge and preservation. We discuss her eerily similar vibe to Jackie Kennedy, her love for a nice glass of wine and why the White House security was oddly lax. Sadly, Lucretia is only FLOTUS for a few short months as her husband is shot by one of the most bizarre and excited assassins (who later claims insanity and blames doctors- but also PLEASE germ theory hurry up and get invented!) 

Claire and Elyse fall victim to the busy summer life in NYC but are still here to bring you another chaotic ep. Happy pride! Happy summer! We love you! 

Lucy Webb Hayes

Lucy! Our first college educated First Lady. A total powerhouse, maybe (definitely) even more so than her husband. We talk about the fine line between the suffragette and the temperance movement. Elyse recounts a harrowing story reminding us of the importance of indoor plumbing- which we just got in the White House- Thanks Lucy. We also talk about how exciting it is to stay up all night with your girlfriends talking on the first ever telephone with Alexander Graham Bell, who Claire calls Thomas Edison. Classic. (Who cares about the men though??) Lucy made her mark and we are so grateful for it. 

 

Julia Dent Grant

Back with our regularly scheduled programming! We discuss how fabulous it is  being set up with someone who is described as a "golden person" and Claire shares how she missed her opportunity to be First Lady. Elyse talks about her passion for psychics and why that makes her love Julia even more. We discuss Grant's horse riding hobby and how being in the right place at the right time can really work!

This episode has it all, presidential drama, a fabulous love story and a canary funeral. 

FLOTUS on the road: xoxo, Gettysburg

We conclude our two special Bonus EPS with a play by play of our fabulous trip. Elyse finally reveals her opinions on Sheetz vs. Wawa. We describe the true crime moments of being stuck in small town Pennsylvania (You'll never believe the name of the town!?) Claire revives her love for Hanson. We brave the oddly cold memorial weekend going on Ghost Tours, getting room service and driving many, many miles. 

Back next week with more of our Ladies, but first- this!