First Ladies and Their Husbands

Last week’s New York Times Magazine featured an essay on the Obamas’ marriage.

“It’s modern,” announced the cover.

Well, yes and no.

I have been writing about three presidential couples: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt; Woodrow and Ellen Wilson; Woodrow and Edith Wilson.

The Obamas are not so very different from their White House predecessors of a hundred years ago.

Michelle Obama speaks out on health care reform, mulls over Supreme Court nominees, and consults with her husband on personnel and public opinion.