History Happy Hour: First Friends - The Powerful, Unsung (And Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents

In his latest book First Friends, former Clinton aide Gary Ginsberg provides insight into the lives of the men who held the most powerful political office in the world by looking at the friends on whom they relied. He shares presidential friendships including: Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed: they shared a bed for four years during which Speed saved his friend from a crippling depression, two decades later the friends worked together to save the Union; John Kennedy and David Ormsby-Gore: they met as young men in pre-war London and began a conversation over the meaning of leadership, a generation later the Cuban Missile Crisis would put their ideas to test as Ormsby-Gore became the president’s unofficial, but most valued foreign policy advisor; and more! Join us for History Happy Hour as we explore a series of seminal presidential friendships and provide a serendipitous look into the lives of Commanders-in-Chief and how their presidencies were shaped by those they held most dear.

History Happy Hour is a biweekly virtual program hosted by the White House Historical Association. Join us as experts weigh in on a variety of historical topics, share their insights, answer audience questions, and enjoy presidential-inspired libations.

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