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“First Ladies: Political Role ‘ Public Image” Through February 28, 2007 Senator John Heinz… “First Ladies: Political Role ‘ Public Image” Through February 28, 2007 Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center 1212 Smallman Street $5 with student ID (412) 454-6000

It’s a common cliche that behind every great man is an even better woman. As the Smithsonian Institution’s popular exhibit “First Ladies: Political Role ‘ Public Image” will show you, the same applies to our presidents and first ladies.

Traveling from its permanent home in Washington, D.C., to the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, the large exhibit offers viewers a chance to learn about the first ladies and take a rare glimpse into their private lives through photos, artifacts and the written word.

The exhibit is a definite sight to see if you are interested in our country’s history, culture or fashion. On display are more than 150 items, most of which belonged to the first ladies or were in the White House during their stay.

Items include 12 dresses worn to inaugurations or other formal events, fine china, small pieces of furniture or other decorations, jewelry and campaign material, along with many other personal belongings. Surrounding all the items are large displays documenting the history of the first ladies and showing each woman’s role as “the nation’s hostess,” advocate of social causes and a political partner.

The main focus in the exhibit is clearly the dresses, as they are set right in the center in glass cases. The change in the styles and fashion of the first ladies over the years comes to the viewer’s attention immediately. From 1898 with Harriet Johnston’s long, midnight-blue floral gown that looks like something you would see in the movie “Titanic,” to the short, black-and-gold metallic lace dress Grace Coolidge wore during her husband’s term in the 1920s, the change is very prominent.

As we know, everything comes back in style eventually, and some of the dresses would be just as perfect today as they were long ago. Mamie Eisenhower’s pink-and-gray evening gown redefines the words “feminine” and “sophisticated.” Even though she wore it in 1958, it is remarkably similar to the style of dresses girls wear to prom every year, and Coolidge’s dress has an amazing vintage look that you can find actresses like Mischa Barton or Kate Hudson wearing on today’s red carpet.

But no other outfit completely embodies our idea of first ladies more than Jacqueline Kennedy’s A-line gray brocade silk dress and matching jacket that perfectly captures her famous sophisticated, classic look.

With all the excitement of the dresses and the artifacts, it is easy to skip other parts of the exhibit, especially the written information largely displayed on the walls. Granted, there’s a lot to read, but the display certainly describes every aspect of the lives of first ladies.

The exhibit is broken into smaller sections with a common theme in which certain first ladies and their works are profiled for guests to view. If you want to read and see everything in the exhibit, expect to spend well over an hour in this single room.

While most of our country’s focus is on our president, the first lady is often in the background – she tends to gain the most media attention when she makes some sort of mistake, says something outlandish or gets a bad haircut. This exhibit proves that they are more than just hostesses at parties; they play a crucial role in their husbands’ careers.

For instance, Sarah Polk, who was first lady from 1845 to 1849, served as her husband’s political confident, adviser and administrative assistant when he was the Speaker of the House and then also served as his adviser and a behind-the-scenes lobbyist when he was president. Also, a large portion of one wall documents the first ladies’ charitable work and the causes they supported, like Eleanor Roosevelt’s work with the NAACP and Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign.

In its entirety, the exhibit beautifully captures what it really means to be a first lady, from what the public sees on television to their private lives.