Legacy Lecture: Lou Henry Hoover, The White House Years

Join Annette Dunlap for a discussion of her new book A Woman of Adventure: The Life and Times of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover.
When Lou Henry Hoover moved into the White House on March 4, 1929, she looked forward to using her influence to strengthen the areas that were near and dear to her heart: women’s opportunities; the arts; and private philanthropy. The onset of what we now call the Great Depression challenged Lou’s plans, but she saw new opportunities for serving the nation and remained undaunted. Lou continued to blaze a trail of achievements that have often been forgotten. She was the first president’s wife to address the nation by radio. She continued the work of updating the White House to accurately reflect its history and documented that work. Lou’s private philanthropy led to the building of a school for children in a remote area of rural Virginia, and she sought out and supported local artisans for a number of special projects. Annette Dunlap, author of the recently released biography of Lou Henry Hoover, will share stories from Lou’s White House years.