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Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives
Why do good women stay with bad men?
What if political wives are just as calculating as their infamous husbands?
If Hilary Clinton had left her marriage, she might only be known as the spurned wife of a retired politician. Instead, she became the first woman to run for U.S. president on a major party ticket.
Veteran political journalist Anne Michaud knows the hidden agendas women employ to gain and cling to power. Working as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and awarded “Columnist of the Year” by the New York News Publishers Association, Anne has researched the women behind some of the most notorious men in the public eye.
She discovered a surprising pattern as old as the dynastic maneuverings of England’s medieval queens.
Today, women married to the “royalty” of our times–politicians–make bold decisions to keep their “thrones” and their family’s history-making potential.
Why They Stay reveals the inner lives of eight political wives as they fight to maintain a grip on power and pursue personal ambition:
Melania & Donald Trump: A foreigner’s desire to live the American dream
Hilary & Bill Clinton: One masterful decision launched her political career
Jackie & John F. Kennedy: Coping in bed and all the way to the bank
Eleanor & Franklin D. Roosevelt: A lifeless marriage sparks a social champion
Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe: Riding out British scandal to provide for her sons
Wendy & David Vitter: Married to the Party versus married to a man
Silda Wall & Elliot Spitzer: Real-life drama spawns TV show The Good Wife
Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner: How to win against a man and the Media
These political wives aren’t powerless pawns. They are shrewder than you expect. Why They Stay pulls back the curtain to reveal why women throughout history stand by their man … for better and for worse.
What if political wives are just as calculating as their infamous husbands?
If Hilary Clinton had left her marriage, she might only be known as the spurned wife of a retired politician. Instead, she became the first woman to run for U.S. president on a major party ticket.
Veteran political journalist Anne Michaud knows the hidden agendas women employ to gain and cling to power. Working as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and awarded “Columnist of the Year” by the New York News Publishers Association, Anne has researched the women behind some of the most notorious men in the public eye.
She discovered a surprising pattern as old as the dynastic maneuverings of England’s medieval queens.
Today, women married to the “royalty” of our times–politicians–make bold decisions to keep their “thrones” and their family’s history-making potential.
Why They Stay reveals the inner lives of eight political wives as they fight to maintain a grip on power and pursue personal ambition:
Melania & Donald Trump: A foreigner’s desire to live the American dream
Hilary & Bill Clinton: One masterful decision launched her political career
Jackie & John F. Kennedy: Coping in bed and all the way to the bank
Eleanor & Franklin D. Roosevelt: A lifeless marriage sparks a social champion
Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe: Riding out British scandal to provide for her sons
Wendy & David Vitter: Married to the Party versus married to a man
Silda Wall & Elliot Spitzer: Real-life drama spawns TV show The Good Wife
Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner: How to win against a man and the Media
These political wives aren’t powerless pawns. They are shrewder than you expect. Why They Stay pulls back the curtain to reveal why women throughout history stand by their man … for better and for worse.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2021
About the author
Anne Michaud
2 books2,229 followersAnne Michaud is the politics editor for Crain's NY Business and a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She previously wrote a nationally syndicated op-ed column for Newsday and was twice named "Columnist of the Year," by the New York News Publishers Association and the New York State Associated Press Association. She has won more than 25 writing and reporting awards.
"Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives" (Ogunquit Press, March 2017) has won multiple national book honors, including in the categories of Women’s Issues and Current Events. A second edition, updated to include Donald and Melania Trump, was published in 2021, along with an e-book, "American Czarina." Details available at annemichaud.com.
"Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives" (Ogunquit Press, March 2017) has won multiple national book honors, including in the categories of Women’s Issues and Current Events. A second edition, updated to include Donald and Melania Trump, was published in 2021, along with an e-book, "American Czarina." Details available at annemichaud.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 22, 2021
An interesting and educational read
Anne has such a way of keeping you engaged with her words. I've always wondered why women stayed in these relationships. The amount of research that went into all these different aspects of people's lives is amazing. Anne has such great insight and it helped me to empathize more with what these women in history and politics have gone through.
Anne has such a way of keeping you engaged with her words. I've always wondered why women stayed in these relationships. The amount of research that went into all these different aspects of people's lives is amazing. Anne has such great insight and it helped me to empathize more with what these women in history and politics have gone through.
August 16, 2021
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by Anne Michaud attempts to answer the age-old question of why women stay with bad men. With a wealth of research, the author presents a formidable answer throughout this book. With a vast amount of history to draw from, the book examines the origins of a patriarchal way of doing things, from the British monarchy to present-day politics. Women stay for a variety of reasons that range from the pursuit of a greater good beyond their relationship to power and control. This book is a fascinating look at prominent women throughout history who have stayed with powerful men, and what their motivations were and are. From Eleanor Roosevelt to Melania Trump, the author covers it all. A fascinating read and one that should be on every bookshelf for years to come.
November 24, 2021
Author Anne Michaud is an award winning journalist and author whose work has raised public awareness, broadened reader engagement and resulted in systematic change. Anne has covered politicians for decades and has done a lot of research and has the knowledge, so in my opinion is the perfect person to have written this book.
I’m sure many of us have heard the stories covered by the media on many occasions of the infidelity and other scandals of many politicians, however Anne goes beyond the headlines and delves into the stories of the wives who decided to stand by their men. Anne profiles these eight women in history and offers insight and a little understanding of the personal and public struggles of these women and reasons behind “Why They Stay”.
I loved Why They Stay and found it as entertaining and engaging as it was well-written. I have to say it has most definitely changed my opinions on some things, and it made me realise how ignorance influences a persons decisions and opinions, and how there could always be a lot more happening beneath the surface that we’re otherwise unaware of. This is well worth a read even if you only have a passing interest in politics and what goes on behind the scenes.
I’m sure many of us have heard the stories covered by the media on many occasions of the infidelity and other scandals of many politicians, however Anne goes beyond the headlines and delves into the stories of the wives who decided to stand by their men. Anne profiles these eight women in history and offers insight and a little understanding of the personal and public struggles of these women and reasons behind “Why They Stay”.
I loved Why They Stay and found it as entertaining and engaging as it was well-written. I have to say it has most definitely changed my opinions on some things, and it made me realise how ignorance influences a persons decisions and opinions, and how there could always be a lot more happening beneath the surface that we’re otherwise unaware of. This is well worth a read even if you only have a passing interest in politics and what goes on behind the scenes.
November 3, 2021
The title says it all, sex, scandals, and hidden agendas. The research was done very well, and I appreciated the sources used at the back of the book. I was really torn as to whether to give it three stars or four. Four stars on GoodReads means I "really" liked the book, which I did throughout most of the book, but there were certain parts of the book that I felt as if I was watching a CNN news story. I prefer to make up my own opinions about certain matters, and at times felt as though I was suppose to be agreeing with everything that was stated on a page, in which many cases I did not agree at all. I liked hearing about the history of the families, but for some reason, I felt that the stories told of those still living felt more like gossip. This has been discussed among other reviewers, and some felt it was gossip, whereas some did not feel like it was gossipy at all. As stated, I almost gave this three stars, but in this cancel culture society, in which we seem to be living right now, I did not want to be "that" person. The author is obviously not a fan of some of the men she has written about. I suppose I would have preferred the book to be a little more non-partisan. However, simply because I disagreed with the author on some of her viewpoints does not mean it is a poorly written book. Therefore, I will stand by the four star rating, and let others judge for themselves. I do recommend this book though for those who enjoy learning about past "power couples" and for those who have an interest in the reasoning of why some women choose to stay in a marriage that is obviously a miserable situation for all involved. I think I would have even given a five star rating if the book had simply dealt with historical situations, and not delved into those still living.
August 15, 2021
‘The couples learn to distrust what is said about them…’ A study of White Queens
Author Anne Michaud earned her degree in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School and serves as an award-winning writer for The Wall Street Journal. She has also written for The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, Newsweek, and Cincinnati Magazine among others. Her position in the US realm of journalism is impressive, and now she has published her first book – WHY THEY STAY – that has been honored in the arena of Women’s Issues and Current Events.
Research and reportage can be informative, but Anne Michaud makes it involving and engrossing in the style and manner in which she writes. Focusing on facts, enhanced by her probing examination of data and her resultant insights, brings a fresh sense of immediacy to the ‘scandals’ she has studied. Her focus is on the women of the political pairings and she addresses these women as White Queens.
As she states in her Prologue, “Marriage like that of Melania and Donald Trump fascinate me. I began to think that perhaps this sort of marriage, at the top echelons of Washington and international society, is made from different rules than I agreed to when I was married. Fidelity, honesty – perhaps these were quaint ideas better suited to less ambitious people. When one had the heights of the free world practically in one’ grasp, maybe the bargain at the altar became more pragmatic. Certainly, if that were Melania’s calculation – that with her brains and his brass, they could conquer the world – she has many predecessors as role models. Jacqueline Kennedy, Maria Shriver, Wendy Vitter, Silda Wall Spitzer, Hillary Clinton…The people at the center of these stories of power couples mostly choose to see their own motives as selfless….’
After presenting her case for the traits of the wives whose lives and standings she addresses, this impressively written book examines the full facts about the marriages of Jackie and John F. Kennedy, Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hilary and Bill Clinton, Marion Stein and Jeremy Thorpe, Silda Wall and Eliot Spitzer, Wendy and David Vitter, Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner, and Melania and Donald Trump. The facts are related as history: the insights and thoughts result in psychobiographies!
This is information to grasp, to digest, and to appreciate the stature of the women behind the thrones in a manner few authors can equal. The book deserves the awards earned and further honors Anne Michaud’s high standing in the spectrum of journalism!
Author Anne Michaud earned her degree in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School and serves as an award-winning writer for The Wall Street Journal. She has also written for The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, Newsweek, and Cincinnati Magazine among others. Her position in the US realm of journalism is impressive, and now she has published her first book – WHY THEY STAY – that has been honored in the arena of Women’s Issues and Current Events.
Research and reportage can be informative, but Anne Michaud makes it involving and engrossing in the style and manner in which she writes. Focusing on facts, enhanced by her probing examination of data and her resultant insights, brings a fresh sense of immediacy to the ‘scandals’ she has studied. Her focus is on the women of the political pairings and she addresses these women as White Queens.
As she states in her Prologue, “Marriage like that of Melania and Donald Trump fascinate me. I began to think that perhaps this sort of marriage, at the top echelons of Washington and international society, is made from different rules than I agreed to when I was married. Fidelity, honesty – perhaps these were quaint ideas better suited to less ambitious people. When one had the heights of the free world practically in one’ grasp, maybe the bargain at the altar became more pragmatic. Certainly, if that were Melania’s calculation – that with her brains and his brass, they could conquer the world – she has many predecessors as role models. Jacqueline Kennedy, Maria Shriver, Wendy Vitter, Silda Wall Spitzer, Hillary Clinton…The people at the center of these stories of power couples mostly choose to see their own motives as selfless….’
After presenting her case for the traits of the wives whose lives and standings she addresses, this impressively written book examines the full facts about the marriages of Jackie and John F. Kennedy, Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hilary and Bill Clinton, Marion Stein and Jeremy Thorpe, Silda Wall and Eliot Spitzer, Wendy and David Vitter, Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner, and Melania and Donald Trump. The facts are related as history: the insights and thoughts result in psychobiographies!
This is information to grasp, to digest, and to appreciate the stature of the women behind the thrones in a manner few authors can equal. The book deserves the awards earned and further honors Anne Michaud’s high standing in the spectrum of journalism!
August 20, 2021
Why They Stay: Sex, Scandals and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by Anne Michaud
Book starts out with praise from others, dedications page and table of contents
Under each couple are also listed other sections that are highlighted within their story pertaining to their lives.
Love how in the prologue the author lists the traits and a bit about them and your mind is then open to hear the rest of the couples stories and you realize just how much in common they have.
I do like the format of this book. Each of the 8 people discussed all have same inner sections pertaining to them and their lives. Like especially the sections where children are discussed and I wonder if they will grow up like their parents.
Another thing I liked about the stories was that I know who the people are but only the political side of things, not personal things.
This was an eye opener for me and fills in the missing pieces to the puzzle of why they sometimes acted a certain way. Couldn't put my finger on it at the time, now it all comes clear to me.
Never realized there were other women in early 1900's that had stayed with their spouses for the power and freedom and money it gave them.
Book ends with conclusion by the author and they sum it up really well, nice and clear.
Endnotes are also included like references of where they obtained their information on each of the couples.
About the author is listed also at the end.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
Book starts out with praise from others, dedications page and table of contents
Under each couple are also listed other sections that are highlighted within their story pertaining to their lives.
Love how in the prologue the author lists the traits and a bit about them and your mind is then open to hear the rest of the couples stories and you realize just how much in common they have.
I do like the format of this book. Each of the 8 people discussed all have same inner sections pertaining to them and their lives. Like especially the sections where children are discussed and I wonder if they will grow up like their parents.
Another thing I liked about the stories was that I know who the people are but only the political side of things, not personal things.
This was an eye opener for me and fills in the missing pieces to the puzzle of why they sometimes acted a certain way. Couldn't put my finger on it at the time, now it all comes clear to me.
Never realized there were other women in early 1900's that had stayed with their spouses for the power and freedom and money it gave them.
Book ends with conclusion by the author and they sum it up really well, nice and clear.
Endnotes are also included like references of where they obtained their information on each of the couples.
About the author is listed also at the end.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
December 20, 2021
Why They Stay had me hooked from the beginning, even though I wasn’t sure if I would really connect with the book before starting to read. It's a non-fiction book that reveals the inner lives of eight political wives as they fight to maintain a grip on power and pursue personal ambition, despite what the public perception of each may have conveyed. Anne Michaud debunks the reductive stereotype of political wives with depth, intelligence, and humanity.
If you are anything like me and previously wondered “why would she stay with a man like that” or “just get rid of him” then this may be an eye opener for you, and provide insight and understanding as to the reasons why they in fact did stay. A very well-written and informative book that I think is well worth a read.
If you are anything like me and previously wondered “why would she stay with a man like that” or “just get rid of him” then this may be an eye opener for you, and provide insight and understanding as to the reasons why they in fact did stay. A very well-written and informative book that I think is well worth a read.
December 22, 2021
Why They Stay is fascinating - 8 high-powered political couples under the scrutiny of the media, sex scandals, denial, shame, survival, and more.
Michaud's focus is on the wife and the reasons behind staying in a marriage with an adulterous husband. These women, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Melania Trump, didn't have the privilege of privacy once these scandals became mainstream news.
One of my favorite aspects of Why They Stay is the White Queen Quotient. Michaud rates 5 traits each of these 8 wives share to a degree and how these traits shaped their choices.
This is my favorite book of 2021.
Michaud's focus is on the wife and the reasons behind staying in a marriage with an adulterous husband. These women, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Melania Trump, didn't have the privilege of privacy once these scandals became mainstream news.
One of my favorite aspects of Why They Stay is the White Queen Quotient. Michaud rates 5 traits each of these 8 wives share to a degree and how these traits shaped their choices.
This is my favorite book of 2021.
June 12, 2024
While picking this book I was not very sure if I would be interested in reading this but the engaging writing style of the author made it easy. The book is about 8 ladies who are wives of political figures. And the common concern is why are they still married when things have been scandalous time and again. In other words, to find an answer to the classic question, why do women stay with not-so-good men? Is it money, power, fame, spotlight or there's something other than those?
The book is full of enormous research considering almost all the aspects. The best thing that I liked about the book is its presentation. Every couple is separately discussed and many points are drawn. The message of the book is very well conveyed. It is a very well-researched book. The book is written in a raw form. The author is a well-known journalist, won several awards as a writer for The Wall Street Journal and of course, she has got some very strong opinions. The strong opinion is reflected throughout the book which I felt made the book interesting to read. Overall it was an informative read.
All the 8 couples discussed in the book are:
1. Melania & Donald Trump
2. Hilary & Bill Clinton
3. Jackie & John F. Kennedy
4. Eleanor & Franklin D. Roosevelt
5. Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe
6. Wendy & David Vitter
7. Silda Wall & Elliot Spitzer
8. Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner
You might like to check out more similar books here.
The book is full of enormous research considering almost all the aspects. The best thing that I liked about the book is its presentation. Every couple is separately discussed and many points are drawn. The message of the book is very well conveyed. It is a very well-researched book. The book is written in a raw form. The author is a well-known journalist, won several awards as a writer for The Wall Street Journal and of course, she has got some very strong opinions. The strong opinion is reflected throughout the book which I felt made the book interesting to read. Overall it was an informative read.
All the 8 couples discussed in the book are:
1. Melania & Donald Trump
2. Hilary & Bill Clinton
3. Jackie & John F. Kennedy
4. Eleanor & Franklin D. Roosevelt
5. Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe
6. Wendy & David Vitter
7. Silda Wall & Elliot Spitzer
8. Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner
You might like to check out more similar books here.
October 15, 2017
Great Political Gossip
On first blush, this seemed to be just glorified political gossip disguised as psychology. Much of what she writes about I had no prior knowledge. The author does a wonderful just documenting her sources as everything is footnoted. She does not disguise her admiration for most of these women, especially those on the left side of the political isle, including definitions of Liberalism/Conservatism that are opinion and not fact.. While I may not accept her ‘White Queen’ theory, it does bear a closer look. It reads a little better than a textbook, but not as smooth as a novel. It is definitely an interesting book, if only for the gossip value.
On first blush, this seemed to be just glorified political gossip disguised as psychology. Much of what she writes about I had no prior knowledge. The author does a wonderful just documenting her sources as everything is footnoted. She does not disguise her admiration for most of these women, especially those on the left side of the political isle, including definitions of Liberalism/Conservatism that are opinion and not fact.. While I may not accept her ‘White Queen’ theory, it does bear a closer look. It reads a little better than a textbook, but not as smooth as a novel. It is definitely an interesting book, if only for the gossip value.
April 17, 2017
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, unless we count cookbooks, which I love! Politics I especially work to stay away from. But this is intriguing so I could not pass it up!
The synopsis says it all. The author looks into the lives of women that have been changed by the men who cheated on them. Many of these men were downright ridiculous! There are reasons that women stay though, and not just to look like a loving wife.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book where she takes the life of The White Princess and shows what women in politics choose to do when they stay by their man. She compares all of the women to The White Princess and uses her as a sort of starting point.
And that’s not all. There is a ton of history here, not only about the parties involved, but their families as well and the questions of why they turned out the way they did. How these people were raised and what they were used to, from childhood. It is a fascinating look at psychology and what parents can do to their children and what those children, in turn, wind up doing to create the same battles.
Highly entertaining, although at the beginning a little redundant. There were also a lot of family members for some of these families and since I am not a history buff it was hard to keep up. Fortunately the author uses the detail of each family to explain the why’s behind everything they do.
The information is fascinating but would not normally be my cup of tea. Stuck with the read because of the women she added in. They are all intelligent, strong, independent women, making their stories even more fascinating.
In short: A very interesting read. Thoroughly researched!
The synopsis says it all. The author looks into the lives of women that have been changed by the men who cheated on them. Many of these men were downright ridiculous! There are reasons that women stay though, and not just to look like a loving wife.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book where she takes the life of The White Princess and shows what women in politics choose to do when they stay by their man. She compares all of the women to The White Princess and uses her as a sort of starting point.
And that’s not all. There is a ton of history here, not only about the parties involved, but their families as well and the questions of why they turned out the way they did. How these people were raised and what they were used to, from childhood. It is a fascinating look at psychology and what parents can do to their children and what those children, in turn, wind up doing to create the same battles.
Highly entertaining, although at the beginning a little redundant. There were also a lot of family members for some of these families and since I am not a history buff it was hard to keep up. Fortunately the author uses the detail of each family to explain the why’s behind everything they do.
The information is fascinating but would not normally be my cup of tea. Stuck with the read because of the women she added in. They are all intelligent, strong, independent women, making their stories even more fascinating.
In short: A very interesting read. Thoroughly researched!
July 15, 2017
This is an excellent book--well-researched, and skillfully written. An informative read--recommended for anyone with an interest (even passing) in politics and /or women's issues.
February 17, 2022
I never really read books about politics or the wives of politicians but the title of this book really intrigued me so I decided to give it a shot. It turned out to be one of the most interesting nonfiction books I've read lately. Definitely a nice surprise!
The prologue hooked me right away and then it was just a matter of being able to pick this book up as often as I could. That on its own shows how good a book it really was. It was also the first time I read something by the author, Anne Michaud, but it only made me want to read more of her work.
The book covers Eleanor Roosevelt & Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy & John F. Kennedy, Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe, Hillary Clinton & Bill Clinton, Wendy Vitter & David Vitter, Silda Wall & Eliot Spitzer, Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner and Melania Trump & Donald Trump. I was familiar with most of them but there were others I had personally never heard about but I thought it was interesting to learn about them.
I thought it was really fascinating how the author asked the question about why these women stayed in the relationships after the sex scandals became public and how it not only affected the wives but also the children they had together. I thought the damage of all that was especially notable with the children of Eleanor and FDR. It was very thought-provoking to say the least.
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by Anne Michaud was a page-turner like no other. It was a compelling read that I would very highly recommend.
The prologue hooked me right away and then it was just a matter of being able to pick this book up as often as I could. That on its own shows how good a book it really was. It was also the first time I read something by the author, Anne Michaud, but it only made me want to read more of her work.
The book covers Eleanor Roosevelt & Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy & John F. Kennedy, Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe, Hillary Clinton & Bill Clinton, Wendy Vitter & David Vitter, Silda Wall & Eliot Spitzer, Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner and Melania Trump & Donald Trump. I was familiar with most of them but there were others I had personally never heard about but I thought it was interesting to learn about them.
I thought it was really fascinating how the author asked the question about why these women stayed in the relationships after the sex scandals became public and how it not only affected the wives but also the children they had together. I thought the damage of all that was especially notable with the children of Eleanor and FDR. It was very thought-provoking to say the least.
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by Anne Michaud was a page-turner like no other. It was a compelling read that I would very highly recommend.
November 7, 2017
While I am not sure how I feel about some of the motivations the author proposes for why these women stay in such unhealthy relationships this is still one of the best analysis of these events. Unfortunately I don't think it is limited to political people only and I think many women fail to find self fulfillment because of misplaced loyalty taught by a patriarchal society to be the wife's job. I find it sad for both the women and society as a whole when they are prevented from self achievement by an out dated societal more.
I received this book as part of a good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
I received this book as part of a good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
August 3, 2017
I won a copy of this book.
What in interesting, in-depth look at public sex scandals that have befallen 9 different political couples. Michaud gives a thorough history of each power couple, from their grandparents and parents all the way to how they ended up together and the lives they made. She finishes each chapter talking about how the scandal effected any children involved (Chelsea Clinton being the most prominent one). I found it a very in-depth and well researched book.
What in interesting, in-depth look at public sex scandals that have befallen 9 different political couples. Michaud gives a thorough history of each power couple, from their grandparents and parents all the way to how they ended up together and the lives they made. She finishes each chapter talking about how the scandal effected any children involved (Chelsea Clinton being the most prominent one). I found it a very in-depth and well researched book.
October 13, 2017
I liked the book. It was interesting and well researched, seemed factual without the sensationalism that is often found when reading stories/ articles written by journalists.
January 21, 2020
‘The White Queen Syndrome’
Author Anne Michaud earned her degree in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School and serves as an award-winning writer for The Wall Street Journal. She has also written for The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, Newsweek, and Cincinnati Magazine among others. Her position in the US realm of journalism is impressive, and now she has published her first book – WHY THEY STAY – that has been honored in the arena of Women’s Issues and Current Events.
Research and reportage can be informative, but Anne Michaud makes it involving and engrossing in the style and manner in which she writes. Focusing on facts, enhanced by her probing examination of data and her resultant insights, brings a fresh sense of immediacy to the ‘scandals’ she has studied. Her focus is on the women of the political pairings and she addresses these women as White Queens.
As she states in her Prologue, “Our modern White Queens were prepared from early life to accept the limits and burdens of marrying men with great political ambitions. Marriage as a goal in itself – and especially marriage to an important wealthy man – is an ambition for which women have trained for centuries, and it’s what I refer to as a patriarchal mindset. In White Queen days, there was a literal patriarchy: Men ruled. Today, a remnant of this power hierarchy exists in our minds – and to some degree, in the political and corporate worlds – especially among people of privilege and social rank. Politics reinforces this mindset because it’s a tradition-bound world…Couples who enter the political world are at least comfortable with its underlying culture and assumptions, and that comfort deepens over the years they remain in politics…’
After presenting her case for the traits of the wives whose lives and standings she addresses, this impressively written book examines the full facts about the marriages of Jackie and John F. Kennedy, Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hilary and Bill Clinton, Silda Wall and Eliot Spitzer, Wendy and David Vitter, Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner, and UK couples Valerie Hobson and Jack Profumo, Marion Stein and Jeremy Thorpe, and Israeli couple Gila and Moshe Katsav. The facts are related as history: the insights and thoughts result in psychobiographies!
This is information to grasp, to digest, and to appreciate the stature of the women behind the thrones in a manner few authors can equal. The book deserves the awards earned and further honors Anne Michaud’s high standing in the spectrum of journalism!
Author Anne Michaud earned her degree in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School and serves as an award-winning writer for The Wall Street Journal. She has also written for The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, Newsweek, and Cincinnati Magazine among others. Her position in the US realm of journalism is impressive, and now she has published her first book – WHY THEY STAY – that has been honored in the arena of Women’s Issues and Current Events.
Research and reportage can be informative, but Anne Michaud makes it involving and engrossing in the style and manner in which she writes. Focusing on facts, enhanced by her probing examination of data and her resultant insights, brings a fresh sense of immediacy to the ‘scandals’ she has studied. Her focus is on the women of the political pairings and she addresses these women as White Queens.
As she states in her Prologue, “Our modern White Queens were prepared from early life to accept the limits and burdens of marrying men with great political ambitions. Marriage as a goal in itself – and especially marriage to an important wealthy man – is an ambition for which women have trained for centuries, and it’s what I refer to as a patriarchal mindset. In White Queen days, there was a literal patriarchy: Men ruled. Today, a remnant of this power hierarchy exists in our minds – and to some degree, in the political and corporate worlds – especially among people of privilege and social rank. Politics reinforces this mindset because it’s a tradition-bound world…Couples who enter the political world are at least comfortable with its underlying culture and assumptions, and that comfort deepens over the years they remain in politics…’
After presenting her case for the traits of the wives whose lives and standings she addresses, this impressively written book examines the full facts about the marriages of Jackie and John F. Kennedy, Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hilary and Bill Clinton, Silda Wall and Eliot Spitzer, Wendy and David Vitter, Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner, and UK couples Valerie Hobson and Jack Profumo, Marion Stein and Jeremy Thorpe, and Israeli couple Gila and Moshe Katsav. The facts are related as history: the insights and thoughts result in psychobiographies!
This is information to grasp, to digest, and to appreciate the stature of the women behind the thrones in a manner few authors can equal. The book deserves the awards earned and further honors Anne Michaud’s high standing in the spectrum of journalism!
February 8, 2020
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives by Anne Michaud is a documented account of women in history who have stayed with their political husband when they could have had a happier marriage elsewhere. The author compares the qualities of the Medieval England Queen Elizabeth Woodville to nine women. She highlights five specific traits that many of the featured political wives exhibit. These modern day White Queens face unbelievable pressure and publicity that doesn’t allow them to sort through infidelity in a private manner.
It impressed me with the research and unbiased writing Anne Michaud displays in Why They Stay. She discusses the effect these women had on their family and country by the decisions they made. I was surprised by how many of these were related by extended relations or marriage. My favorite of the nine women would have to be Jackie Kennedy. I have always viewed her as a beautiful and classy lady and I was glad the author did not smear her name. I found I learned a lot about past presidents and their families that is not common knowledge. I think political enthusiasts and anyone who draw inspiration from strong women will find this an outstanding read.
It impressed me with the research and unbiased writing Anne Michaud displays in Why They Stay. She discusses the effect these women had on their family and country by the decisions they made. I was surprised by how many of these were related by extended relations or marriage. My favorite of the nine women would have to be Jackie Kennedy. I have always viewed her as a beautiful and classy lady and I was glad the author did not smear her name. I found I learned a lot about past presidents and their families that is not common knowledge. I think political enthusiasts and anyone who draw inspiration from strong women will find this an outstanding read.
April 18, 2018
I found quite interesting how the author created the "five common traits" to evaluate each of the couples she profiled. It left me wanting to learn more about how the “White Queen Quotient” was established too. There was so much I didn't know about these ladies and their lives. I think the subject of the book is very timely in view of what has been in the news recently about across the board "abuse" by power players in other parts of society. Over all I enjoyed it very much and recommend it. Once I began reading it couldn't put it down.
September 7, 2023
WHY THEY STAY
Anne Michaud
This a very intriguing explanation of why women stay with very powerful men after they stray from their marriages. Well done.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
Anne Michaud
This a very intriguing explanation of why women stay with very powerful men after they stray from their marriages. Well done.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
September 4, 2018
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Why They Stay
Author: Anne Michaud
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
13 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Anybody interested in political scandals will find this of interest. A clever analysis of women behind the cheating men in high level politics, from Kennedy to Clinton.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘Fascinating read. I always wondered why they stayed, particularly Hilary, and now I have a better idea to what motivated them.’ Female reader, aged 54
‘Who know what happens behind closed doors. I often wondered how Hilary Clinton put up with her husband’s shenanigans. What did she say to him when she discovered the truth? This is a truly fascinating read and, despite the subject, not over the top. The author’s insights felt justifiable and, of course, a little bit scandalous.’ Female reader, aged 68
‘There’s a theory here; is it correct? No idea. But it’s interesting.’ Male reader, aged 51
To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating insight into the life of the women behind the cheating politicians. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Why They Stay
Author: Anne Michaud
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
13 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Anybody interested in political scandals will find this of interest. A clever analysis of women behind the cheating men in high level politics, from Kennedy to Clinton.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘Fascinating read. I always wondered why they stayed, particularly Hilary, and now I have a better idea to what motivated them.’ Female reader, aged 54
‘Who know what happens behind closed doors. I often wondered how Hilary Clinton put up with her husband’s shenanigans. What did she say to him when she discovered the truth? This is a truly fascinating read and, despite the subject, not over the top. The author’s insights felt justifiable and, of course, a little bit scandalous.’ Female reader, aged 68
‘There’s a theory here; is it correct? No idea. But it’s interesting.’ Male reader, aged 51
To Sum It Up:
‘A fascinating insight into the life of the women behind the cheating politicians. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
April 6, 2017
The author has covered many male politicians in her career, and now she turns her attention to the wives of politicians who have stood by their men in spite of infidelities and scandals. The book is well-researched and well written. But if you're looking for salacious details or gossip, you've come to the wrong place. The book is exactly what it says it is: it is an accounting of each woman and what her possible motives are for having stood by her man. One thing I found particularly interesting was the conjecture that the women see themselves not as an appendage to a powerful man, but as half of a team. In this instance, the woman chooses the mission of the team over herself. When a woman sees the team's potential for good, she can stand up to the disapproval of others for her choice to stay with her husband. Women included in this book are Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Valerie Hobson, Marion Stein, Hillary Clinton, Hilda Wall, Wendy Vitter, Huma Abedin, and Gila Katsav.
October 25, 2021
The author via Booktasters provided a copy of the PDF for an honest review.
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by accomplished author Anne Michaud is a well-written book on why women stay in dysfunctional marriages. She outlines the ‘White Queen’ theory—this provides an fascinating look at why. It is a thorough overview of eight different individuals. The author has researched each marriage and provided supporting details. Are these women famous because of their husbands—yes. Could they have been accomplished on their own—I would like to think so. Secretary of State Clinton was clearly ambitious before she met her husband. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was able to forge her own path after the assassination of her husband. Is the partnership more important than the marriage in these couples? This book would be a great book club choice.
Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives by accomplished author Anne Michaud is a well-written book on why women stay in dysfunctional marriages. She outlines the ‘White Queen’ theory—this provides an fascinating look at why. It is a thorough overview of eight different individuals. The author has researched each marriage and provided supporting details. Are these women famous because of their husbands—yes. Could they have been accomplished on their own—I would like to think so. Secretary of State Clinton was clearly ambitious before she met her husband. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was able to forge her own path after the assassination of her husband. Is the partnership more important than the marriage in these couples? This book would be a great book club choice.
August 22, 2018
Nine couples; Eleanor & F.D.R., Jackie & J.F.K., Hillary & Bill Clinton, Wendy & David Vitter, Silda Wall & Eliot Spitzer, and Huma Abedin & Anthony Weiner from the United States, Valerie Hobson & Jack Profumo, Marion Stein & Jeremy Thorpe from Britain, and Gila & Moshe Katsav from Israel. Some of these were rising political stars until their sexual escapades got them into hot water. For others they took combative attitudes into higher office and alienated potential allies so that when self-inflicted trouble reared its ugly head they had no one to turn to. As social media developed it offered sexting opportunities as well as new ways to arrange for call girls. Some couples would stay together while others would go their separate ways
November 22, 2017
Very entertaining book.
Love books that give you the behind the scenes information.
My wife loved it as well and would highly recommend it.
Love books that give you the behind the scenes information.
My wife loved it as well and would highly recommend it.
November 26, 2022
The topic of why wives stay with their politician husbands is an interesting one, and I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, the writing was very poor, which I found surprising given Michaud’s background. I don’t know if she dashed this book off in a hurry and neglected the editing process, but it reads like a set of first draft notes. Putting aside the surprising number of editing and proofreading errors, I found the “White Queen” trope really clunky, and Michaud’s insistence on rating each profiled wife on a 1-10 scale of “White Queen”-ness struck me as something a high school English student would include in a first draft before editing it out.
Another disconcerting aspect of the book was the strange repetition (information presented in a chapter repeated, sometimes word for word, in a later chapter). Maybe Michaud recycled some of her magazine or newspaper columns to put this book together; I don’t know, but the whole thing reads as having been put together in slapdash fashion. There’s some interesting information in the book, and many of the couples profiled would make for fascinating studies in marital-political relations, but “Why They Stay” just doesn’t do it.
Another disconcerting aspect of the book was the strange repetition (information presented in a chapter repeated, sometimes word for word, in a later chapter). Maybe Michaud recycled some of her magazine or newspaper columns to put this book together; I don’t know, but the whole thing reads as having been put together in slapdash fashion. There’s some interesting information in the book, and many of the couples profiled would make for fascinating studies in marital-political relations, but “Why They Stay” just doesn’t do it.
November 5, 2017
Reviewed by Kimberly Luyckx for Reader Views (11/17)
Anne Michaud, acclaimed journalist and author of “Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives,” details a compelling account of couples in the public limelight whose marriages are tainted by disgrace, injustice and dishonor. How and why the wives of these couples stay in their marriages is the author’s focus. Michaud offers nine examples of political marriages that endure in the face of sexual scandal and infidelity. The stories that she presents span the period of 1920 to the present day as well as both sides of the Atlantic.
The author compares the women to the medieval queen, Elizabeth Woodville, grandmother to King Henry VIII, whose loyalty to the Tudor dynasty surmounted her desire for a faithful marriage. Michaud describes five specific characteristics she calls the “White Queen Traits” which she says account for the reasons these political wives stay with their immoral husbands. She describes the “White Queen” attributes as: patriarchal tradition, security, patriotism, family responsibilities and legacy building.
Michaud hypothesizes that today’s political marriages are not so different from the centuries old sovereign unions. In her view, spouses of contemporary statesmen are destined to make the same sort of compromises as medieval queens did due to the unique set of standards and pressures they face.
Recent times also bring to light other factors that may play a part in why these women stay. Michaud invites us to question whether or not these wives might be influenced by a general distrust of the media press. Or, as the role for women in politics evolves, could they be jockeying for their own powerful positions in the government?
“Why They Stay” is well written and has an in-depth group of endnotes that denote the book’s tremendous supporting references. The “stories” are mini histories of time. They serve as informative synopses of the Roosevelts, Kennedys, Clintons and other prominent families. The writer does take a bit of liberty in assuming the source of these women’s beliefs and feelings, whether of conservatism, patriotism or security. At the same time, theorizing and labeling each of the wives with a “White Queen Quotient” makes for an interesting read. While I see the book as more of a political history and social study, others may view it as a tabloid type of journalism. For example, in commenting on Jacqueline Kennedy, the author asserts it was “hardly a patriotic choice (to marry Aristotle Onassis), and for this, Jackie forfeits her White Queen points.”
Anne Michaud’s book is an intricate psychological study of political wives who remain in marriages despite their influential partners’ sexual exploits. The book highlights the similarities between these nine wives and gives particulars as to why their public positions make them more likely to remain in such humiliating relationships.
Anyone interested in politics or the dynamics of couples in public positions would definitely find this book of interest. “Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives” by Anne Michaud is a poignant look at modern political partnerships whose message not only speaks to the validity of marriage in leadership positions but also to the principles and morals of our leaders themselves.
Anne Michaud, acclaimed journalist and author of “Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives,” details a compelling account of couples in the public limelight whose marriages are tainted by disgrace, injustice and dishonor. How and why the wives of these couples stay in their marriages is the author’s focus. Michaud offers nine examples of political marriages that endure in the face of sexual scandal and infidelity. The stories that she presents span the period of 1920 to the present day as well as both sides of the Atlantic.
The author compares the women to the medieval queen, Elizabeth Woodville, grandmother to King Henry VIII, whose loyalty to the Tudor dynasty surmounted her desire for a faithful marriage. Michaud describes five specific characteristics she calls the “White Queen Traits” which she says account for the reasons these political wives stay with their immoral husbands. She describes the “White Queen” attributes as: patriarchal tradition, security, patriotism, family responsibilities and legacy building.
Michaud hypothesizes that today’s political marriages are not so different from the centuries old sovereign unions. In her view, spouses of contemporary statesmen are destined to make the same sort of compromises as medieval queens did due to the unique set of standards and pressures they face.
Recent times also bring to light other factors that may play a part in why these women stay. Michaud invites us to question whether or not these wives might be influenced by a general distrust of the media press. Or, as the role for women in politics evolves, could they be jockeying for their own powerful positions in the government?
“Why They Stay” is well written and has an in-depth group of endnotes that denote the book’s tremendous supporting references. The “stories” are mini histories of time. They serve as informative synopses of the Roosevelts, Kennedys, Clintons and other prominent families. The writer does take a bit of liberty in assuming the source of these women’s beliefs and feelings, whether of conservatism, patriotism or security. At the same time, theorizing and labeling each of the wives with a “White Queen Quotient” makes for an interesting read. While I see the book as more of a political history and social study, others may view it as a tabloid type of journalism. For example, in commenting on Jacqueline Kennedy, the author asserts it was “hardly a patriotic choice (to marry Aristotle Onassis), and for this, Jackie forfeits her White Queen points.”
Anne Michaud’s book is an intricate psychological study of political wives who remain in marriages despite their influential partners’ sexual exploits. The book highlights the similarities between these nine wives and gives particulars as to why their public positions make them more likely to remain in such humiliating relationships.
Anyone interested in politics or the dynamics of couples in public positions would definitely find this book of interest. “Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives” by Anne Michaud is a poignant look at modern political partnerships whose message not only speaks to the validity of marriage in leadership positions but also to the principles and morals of our leaders themselves.
January 3, 2021
Biographical sketches of nine political wives from different countries and eras. The husband of each woman took part in a scandal (these include noncrimes such as extramarital affairs and sexting and crimes such as sexual harassment, rape, and sexting a minor). Some of these women stuck by their men until death. Others stuck by him at first but eventually ran for the hills.
The author applies the same template to each example, exploring how these factors affected each case:
• the woman's upbringing
• her husband's upbringing
�� the degree of sexism and dependence in the culture the woman grew up in
• the economic and political opportunities available to women at that time and place
• the presence of mass media and/or social media
• how old the children were and how vulnerable they were to scandal
• how the woman and her husband sought to portray themselves in the media during and after the scandal
• how participants in each case used visual symbolism or sympathetic interviews for image management purposes
The author applies the same template to each example, exploring how these factors affected each case:
• the woman's upbringing
• her husband's upbringing
�� the degree of sexism and dependence in the culture the woman grew up in
• the economic and political opportunities available to women at that time and place
• the presence of mass media and/or social media
• how old the children were and how vulnerable they were to scandal
• how the woman and her husband sought to portray themselves in the media during and after the scandal
• how participants in each case used visual symbolism or sympathetic interviews for image management purposes
March 12, 2020
Anne Michaud is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, with a long and enormously successful career in political journalism and women's issues. She tells a story in 'Why They Stay,' based around well-researched facts, which are documented in detail with footnotes as evidence. This is a political non-fiction book with a difference, as Michaud weaves her chosen political wives together, commenting on traits they all had in common, which she believes are the basis for their decision making.
This is a book that reveals plenty of previously unknown information about the political figures it centers around and will appeal to anyone who is interested in politics, women's issues, as well as people who enjoy reading gossip magazines. This is an informative read, skillfully written, witty, and entertaining. The real stories contained in the book are presented without bias and are full of intrigue, history, and analytical psychology.
This is a book that reveals plenty of previously unknown information about the political figures it centers around and will appeal to anyone who is interested in politics, women's issues, as well as people who enjoy reading gossip magazines. This is an informative read, skillfully written, witty, and entertaining. The real stories contained in the book are presented without bias and are full of intrigue, history, and analytical psychology.
February 10, 2020
This isn't my usual book genre, however it was recommended to me by a friend so I thought I would give it a go and I was not disappointed. The book is about the reasoning why some women (politicians wives) choose to stay with their cheating husbands and I have to say after reading this book I do have a new perspective, the book is well researched and really does offer alternative reasoning behind the decisions that some of these women make. Im really glad I read this book as I feel I got to find out much more about the people the author has written about and in turn has changed my opinion a few things. Anne Michaud has obviously done her research and presented fact based approach to this subject. Well done! I would recommend this book. 4 stars.
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