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The First Lady
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A revelatory reframing of American leadership through the lens of the First Ladies. Exploring everything from their journeys to Washington, family life, and world-changing political contributions, the impact of the White House's women is no longer hidden from view.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
nadirAfter African-American opera singer Marian Anderson is banned from performing for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Eleanor leaves the group and doubles down on her efforts to confront racism. Betty’s popularity helps Jerry secure the Republican nomination for re-election, but her growing problems with addiction threaten the family and her health. After gun violence tragedies hit both the national stage and her own childhood neighborhood, Michelle grieves with Barack and advocates for legislative action. - 02
that white houseAfter Franklin’s sudden polio diagnosis, Eleanor Roosevelt commits to enabling his political future despite pressure from her mother-in-law, Sara. As the Watergate scandal unfolds, Betty Ford unexpectedly becomes Second Lady upon Jerry’s nomination as Vice President and she clashes with his staff over her newly public role. Following the historic 2008 election, Michelle Obama wrestles with the expectations and dangers that Barack and their children face as the first Black family to live in the White House. - 03
see sawFrustrated by the male dominated world of media and politics, Eleanor holds the White House’s first all-female press conference and grows closer to journalist Lorena “Hick” Hickock. Betty’s public announcement of her breast cancer diagnosis shifts opinion of the Ford Administration away from Jerry’s controversial pardon of Nixon and makes Betty a popular figure among American women. After Barack gets clobbered in the midterms, Michelle launches a new healthy school lunch program, which prompts a stalled Congress to enact new legislation.
Castfull cast & details
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01that white houseApril 17, 2022After Franklin’s sudden polio diagnosis, Eleanor Roosevelt commits to enabling his political future despite pressure from her mother-in-law,
- S01E02
voices carryApril 24, 2022Moved by the toll the Great Depression has taken on the country, Eleanor presses Franklin to act more boldly and lobbies for an unprecedente - S01E03
please allow meMay 1, 2022Young Eleanor reluctantly cuts short her progressive education in London to make her dreaded societal debut as a member of New York’s presti - S01E04
cracked potMay 8, 2022Years before first entering the White House, Eleanor discovers Franklin’s marital indiscretions, which push her to socialize with more indep - S01E05see sawMay 15, 2022Frustrated by the male dominated world of media and politics, Eleanor holds the White House’s first all-female press conference and grows cl
- S01E06
shout outMay 22, 2022Eleanor moves Hick into an adjacent bedroom in the White House while Franklin has the FBI surveil her actions. Inspired by her growing influ - S01E07Season's bestnadirMay 29, 2022After African-American opera singer Marian Anderson is banned from performing for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Eleanor leaves t
- S01E08
punch perfectJune 5, 2022Dissatisfied with Franklin’s complacency over growing international atrocities in Europe, Eleanor forces his hand to assist Jewish refugees - S01E09
riftJune 12, 2022As Franklin helms the United States’ entry into World War II, Eleanor patriotically rallies the country as First Lady, which leaves Hick neg - S01E10
victory danceJune 19, 2022Eleanor receives a last gift from an ailing Franklin: the charter for the League of Nations, a blueprint for their shared lifelong dream of
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