Anita McBride
This event kicks off our celebration of the 2025 Writers Festival theme: “The United States Semiquincentennial.” Join us as we honor the 250th anniversary of our nation by exploring the rich tapestry of our history, culture and identity.
Anita McBride is an internationally recognized expert on first ladies and the operations of the White House. McBride’s expertise on the influence of first ladies on American politics, policy, and global diplomacy was acquired through her two decades of White House service. As Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, she became one of the longest-tenured women in White House history. She directed the first lady’s travels to 67 countries in four years to support U.S. foreign policy objectives in human rights, women’s empowerment, global health and education, and human freedom. She has shared her expertise on the changing roles and responsibilities of America’s first ladies on MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News, as well as with The Washington Post and The New York Times. She also has served as a consultant to HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series Veep.
In 2023, McBride co-authored Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women, showcasing the evolving role of the first lady and its historical influence on the American presidency. The book shines 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. The book includes both biographical and thematic chapters. It examines the influence of first ladies on topics such as civil rights, political campaigns, major speeches, and the White House across the span of the nation’s history. Profiles of first ladies bring their histories, achievements, and legacies to life. Readers learn about the development and expansion of the role of first lady, from its origins under Martha Washington through its current iteration under Dr. Jill Biden. The book explores how first ladies have been uniquely positioned to influence American society, policy, diplomacy, and life in the White House.
McBride will speak with Justice Douglas Miller, a justice for the Fourth District Court of Appeals.
The first 200 attendees will receive a free copy of Remember the First Ladies.
This event will be live streaming. WATCH HERE.
