Anita McBride, Diana Carlin, and Nancy Kegan Smith

In this week’s “A Reagan Forum” we present three co-authors – Anita McBride, Diana Carlin, and Nancy Kegan Smith – who joined us at the Reagan Library on May 8, 2024, to discuss their new book, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women. The discussion surrounded their groundbreaking book, showcasing the evolutionary role of the First Lady and its historical importance in the American presidency. They shine a light on the influential women who broke barriers and made a mark on our country and, at times, our world, during their tenures in the White House. Anita McBride's White House service spans two decades and three presidential administrations. She served as director of White House Personnel under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and as director of the U.S. Speaker's Bureau at the United States Information Agency. She then served as assistant to President George W. Bush and chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush. Diana Carlin co-founded the First Ladies Association for Research and Education. Nancy Kegan Smith is the retired Director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and Records Administration. She is vice president of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education. During their visit, the three co-authors sat down with the Reagan Foundation and Institute President and CEO Dave Trulio to discuss their book.