The McFaddin-Ward House Lecture Series Presents: First Ladies: Impact and Legacies by Anita McBride

The McFaddin-Ward House Lecture Series presents “First Ladies: Impact and Legacies,” a free public lecture by Anita McBride on Jan. 16, 2025 in the museum's Visitor Center Lecture Hall.
McBride, an internationally recognized author and former White House staffer, shares her extensive expertise on first ladies and the innerworkings of the White House, along with insights from her acclaimed book, “Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women,” which showcases the evolving role of the first lady and its historical influence on the American presidency.
In her two decades of White House service, McBride saw firsthand the unique influence of first ladies on American politics, policy and global diplomacy. As Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, she directed the first lady’s travels to 67 countries in four years and became one of the longest-serving women in White House history. McBride has also served in senior roles under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
McBride currently serves as the executive-in-residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC, and is a founding member of the University’s First Ladies Association for Research and Education. In 2023, she co-authored “Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women,” as well as a first of its kind textbook, “U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies” and children’s book, "First Ladies Make History," which she co-authored with her daughter, Giovanna McBride.
Due to technical difficulties during the our livestream, the lecture video was not recorded in its entirety.