Presidents Day First Ladies: Eleanor Roosevelt and Lady Bird Johnson

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

[REBROADCAST FROM November 16, 2020] In the latest installment of our “Full Bio” series, we take an in-depth look into the life of America’s longest-serving First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, with David Michaelis, who spent 11 years working on his new biography, Eleanor. Today, we begin the story with Eleanor’s tumultuous upbringing, her New York City roots, and the school in England that changed her life.

[REBROADCAST FROM November 18, 2020] In the latest installment of our “Full Bio” series, we take an in-depth look into the life of America’s longest-serving First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, with David Michaelis, who spent 11 years working on his new biography, Eleanor. Today, we pick up the story with FDR’s polio diagnosis, and the family’s road to the White House. Eleanor was reluctant to assume a traditional role of First Lady, and spent the Depression years carving out a new model for the position, as she traveled around the country to hear from Americans directly. We also learn about her greatest love affair, with AP reporter Lorena Hickock.

[REBROADCAST FROM November 20, 2020] In the latest installment of our “Full Bio” series, we take an in-depth look into the life of America’s longest-serving First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, with David Michaelis, who spent 11 years working on his new biography, Eleanor. In this last chapter, we examine the final years of Eleanor’s life. Her time as a public servant and diplomat was far from over after her husband’s death in 1945. Her career as a US delegate at the United Nations kept Eleanor in the spotlight, while a new love for her personal doctor occupied Eleanor’s final years. We also take this time to examine the legacy that Eleanor left behind following her death in 1962.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 26, 2021] Today, we kick off the latest edition of our “Full Bio” series. All this week, we’ll be speaking with author and host Julia Sweig about her book, Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight, as well as her podcast, In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson, which draws on over 123 hours of Johnson’s audio diaries, many of them unheard until now. In this first installment, we discuss Lady Bird Johnson's upbringing and how she met Lyndon B.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 27, 2021] For the second installment in this edition of our "Full Bio" series, Julia Sweig joins us to discuss the Kennedy assassination and how it led to the Johnsons' ascent to the highest office. Sweig is author of the book Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight and host of the podcast, In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 29, 2021] For the final installment in this edition of our "Full Bio" series, Julia Sweig discusses the Johnsons' final years in office and Lady Bird Johnson's legacy. Sweig is author of the book Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight and host of the podcast, In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson.