An interview with Professor Myra Gutin, author of The President's Partner: The First Lady in the 20th Century. Her biography of Barbara Bush is scheduled for 2006. Published in the Omaha World-Herald (Aug. 17, 2004):

Q. Have there ever been any wives who have blown the chance for their husbands to become president?

A. No. It really wasn't until Lady Bird Johnson in 1964 that presidential spouses or candidates for first lady really were seen actively campaigning. Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy all campaigned with their husbands, but they really didn't speak on their own. They certainly didn't have their own schedules.

Q. People are debating whether Teresa Heinz Kerry's outspoken style makes her first lady material. In what ways is she like and unlike other first ladies?

A. She's very similar to many of our first ladies in that she's been very much dedicated to her husband's political career. She's been a major player. And I think all of them share that. In terms of outspokenness, I think Betty Ford was outspoken. Hillary Clinton was outspoken. So I don't really know that (Heinz Kerry) is that much of a departure.

Q. How has Laura Bush compared to other first ladies?

A. She seems to be a very bright woman, articulate. I think she's shy. Through force of will she's made herself as comfortable in politics as she's going to be. She's grown and become more comfortable in the role of political person. The country is divided on her, as they are on all first ladies. There are many people in the country who look at Laura Bush and see her behavior as exemplary -- she's not involved in public policy, they see her doing good works. And yet there's another segment of the population that feels there is a White House podium the first lady can use, and she's not using it.

Q. How has the role of the first lady changed over the years, and how do you predict it will change?

A. It's really enlarged a great deal, and I think part of that owes something to Hillary Clinton. Whether people liked it or not, she had an office in the West Wing and she was active in public policy. And I think it owes something to the more active first ladies, to Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter and Lady Bird Johnson. But it's a really flexible position. If you want to be less active, it's fine.

Q. Why has a first lady's fashion always been such a point of fascination for the public?

A. It goes back to the earliest first ladies. For many years, the activities of the first ladies, right up to the 1960s, were reported in the style pages. And I think those editors wanted some fashion information. Only later, when the first lady was more active in advocacy, was there less emphasis on fashion.

Q. What's the most interesting fact about first ladies that the public probably doesn't know?

A. The access the first lady has to her husband for decision-making. Eleanor Roosevelt was once asked by reporters if (she and her husband) talked about affairs of state. She said "Well, at meals, you don't just look at each other." In fact, it's a very natural thing for a husband and wife to discuss what's going on in each other's lives. Betty Ford said in an interview that she and her husband discussed everything. (The first lady) is the one person who can say to the president "you're wrong and shut up."