American History TV visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History for a look at the newly opened First Ladies exhibit. See inaugural and evening gowns, including those worn by Dolley Madison, Mary Lincoln, Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Michelle Obama. Curator Lisa Kathleen Graddy explains what these gowns have to tell us about the unofficial yet influential role first ladies play in presidential administrations – and about the politics and culture of their times.

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The first of three Texas conferences on America’s first ladies was held recently at the George Bush Presidential Library. The George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson presidential libraries will host the next two conferences in 2012.

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The next “Lecture in History” is with University of Arkansas professor Peggy Scranton.  C-SPAN viewers may be familiar with Professor Scranton from her sixteen-week class on the Clinton Presidency which aired in 2003.  Today’s class focuses on the role of the modern First Lady.

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Barbara Bush and Laura Bush recently sat down for a conversation with historian Richard Norton Smith and talked about their unique family and historical relationships, the stereotypes perpetuated about the president’s spouse, how they handled political criticism, their experiences as wartime first ladies, and their advice to their successors. Held at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.

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First Lady Michelle Obama's onetime chief of staff joined other former senior advisors to Barbara Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush for a wide-ranging conversation on their White House experiences -- and the working bonds between first ladies regardless of political party.

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Social Secretaries working for American First Ladies help set the tone of presidential administrations.  Bess Abell, Catherine Fenton and Laurie Firestone served First Ladies from Lady Bird Johnson to Laura Bush. In this conversation at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, they recall their duties and life inside the White House.

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In May 2002, President George W. Bush addressed members of the German Bundestag. It was eight months after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, and he appealed for Europe's support in fighting global terrorism.

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President Clinton focused on economic globalization in this speech in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on July 12, 1994.

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President Reagan called on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in this address at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin on June 12, 1987.

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Fifty years ago on June 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy spoke in Berlin on the differences between free and Communist systems, famously stating that as a free man he took pride in the words “Ich bin ein Berliner.”

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