Type of bind: Audio Cassette
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.099
EAN num: 9780739300008
Format: Abridged, Audiobook
ISBN number: 0739300008
Label: Random House Audio
Manufacturer: Random House Audio
Quantity: 4
Printing Date: September 18, 2001
Publishing house: Random House Audio
Release Date: September 18, 2001
Sale Popularity Level: 1944618
Studio: Random House Audio
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3 cassettes/approx. 5 hours
A hugely appealing audiobook that reveals the ways in which presidential marriages have affected the tone, character, and polices of twelve administrations, from Woodrow and Edith Wilson to George W. and Laura Bush.
Each of the marriages that Kati Marton examines offers up its own unexpected lessons about power and marriage, about the influence of presidential wives, and about the evolution of women's roles in the twentieth century. Based on private White House documents to presidential events, Hidden Power explores how both the personal dynamics and public faces of White House marriages have shaped our history.
We see Edith Wilson literally running the government when her husband becomes ill; the superb and necessary diplomacy of Jacqueline Kennedy; how Patricia Nixon's estrangement from her husband fed his paranoia; the generally constructive role Nancy Reagan played, despite her frivolous reputation; the razor-sharp political instincts behind Barbara Bush's grandmotherly image; how Hilary Clinton saved her husbands presidency.
Here are the stories of the ultimate power couples—each one very different, but all of them informative, lively, and absolutely fascinating.
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Rated by buyers 
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I was extremely impressed with "Hidden Power," which explores 20th century presidential marriages and the impact that very first ladies have had on White House politics. The book begins with a chapter devoted to Woodrow and Edith Wilson and culminates in an epilogue about George W. and Laura Bush. Author Kati Marton gives readers a fascinating (albeit a bit light) account of the lives of these famous political couples and explains how each very first lady coped with being married to the most powerful man in the world, handled the duties and expectations that come along with being a presidential spouse, and adjusted to the ever-changing roles that women have in this country.
This isn't a super intense or scholarly book and much of the information in it has been presented before, but I've never encountered a book that's solely dedicated to the influence very first ladies have had on the American presidency, and I enjoyed every page. "Hidden Power" is not a boring history book: It's an exciting compilation of the lives of this country's very first families, and I couldn't put it down.
Rated by buyers -
This was an enjoyable light, but informative book about presidencies from a different perspective than most. I differ from one of the panning reviews in that I thought it was refreshingly not leftist liberal journalism. The author seemed to take a non-political view of the characters with an expected sympathetic eye towards the very first ladies. I also found some factual discrepancies that a fact checker should have found which - as always - puts a cloud on the author's credibility; i.e.: Ford was an All-American center for Mich, not a star quarterback at Yale. But her countless quotes from insiders were well chosen, very informative and interesting. She did her homework on those. If there were half stars to give, I'd give this a three and one-half. Certainly worth the time.
Rated by buyers -
This was an enjoyable light, but informative book about presidencies from a different perspective than most. I differ from one of the panning reviews in that I thought it was refreshingly not leftist liberal journalism. The author seemed to take a non-political view of the characters with an expected sympathetic eye towards the very first ladies. I also found some factual discrepancies that a fact checker should have found which - as always - puts a cloud on the author's credibility; i.e.: Ford was an All-American center for Mich, not a star quarterback at Yale. But her countless quotes from insiders were well chosen, very informative and interesting. She did her homework on those. If there were half stars to give, I'd give this a three and one-half. Certainly worth the time.
Rated by buyers 
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This is a fast read, but also nicely written, and very enjoyable. It is not exactly a scholarly work. A more scholarly work would probably cover all the most influential presidential marriages, or all the presidencies of the 20th century. Instead,Kati Marton pays word service to the likes of Abigail Adams and Mary Todd Lincoln, and assumes (rightly so) that we would have little interest in reading about Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge,or Herbert Hoover. I was a little disappointed, however, that she skipped so summarily over the Eisenhowers. She justifies this by saying that "[Mamie]played no significant role in her husband's administration." (11) However, I can't imagine anyone playing less of a role than Marton attributes to Pat Nixon, and yet their marriage is covered at length.
With a few exceptions, I didn't find any surprises here. For the most part it just gave me more details about what I already knew or suspected. The surprises were how badly Richard Nixon treated Pat, to the extent that H.R. Haldeman felt free to send her press secretary scathing memos; how truly "out of it" Ronald Reagan was by the end of his presidency (more than it even appeared); and the stubborn and sanctimonious attitude of Jimmy Carter. Of course, the last chapter, about the younger Bushes, is necessarily dated, having been written before Sept. 11.
While this book seems to be based more on heresay, and the author's observations, than in-depth research, to Marton's credit, none of this is kiss and tell expose. Those looking for sordid little details will have to go elsewhere. Even the Kennedys' and Clintons' marriages are handled with decorum.
I am an avid reader of history who appreciates tomes based on several years of research. However, as a break, now and then, I enjoy a "light" history, especially when it's based on recent events with which I am familiar. If you feel the same, or if you prefer your history simplified and easy to digest, you will certainly enjoy this book.
Rated by buyers -
"Hidden Power" enlightens almost not at all. Despite the hype that accompanied its publication it is virtually certain that this book will be out of print in five years. It is revealing that the author chose not to cover the Eisenhower years as too pedestrian to warrant an effort. Her judgments and biases are not hard to discern. I give it three stars, though, because it does condense information and sort it to provide a concise summary of Presidential marriages. The reader must provide analysis and draw his or her own conclusions.
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