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Arts & Entertainment

Humanities Speaker Shares History with East Meadow

Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan spoke to the crowd at the East Meadow Public Library.

On Monday night, the East Meadow Simcha Chapter of HADASSAH welcomed New York Council for the Humanities speaker Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan for the lecture “The Nine First Ladies from New York.”

The lecture, which took place at the , also mentioned the two First Ladies of the United States from Long Island. 

While United States Presidents are the ones who often go down in history, the audience really got to know the women behind the men during this lecture. 

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First ladies from New York included in the presentation included Julia Gardiner Tyler, wife of fifth president John Tyler, who was from Long Island. Known during her lifetime of “The Rose of Long Island,” she came from the Gardiner family of Gardiner’s Island. A wealthy socialite of her day, Gardiner caused controversy for her wealthy family by appearing in a department store advertisement at a time when a woman’s picture did not appear in print very often. During her time as first lady, she hosted lavish parties. 

 “Julia Gardiner, despite being from Long Island, was also an ardent confederate," Kahn Kaplan said. "During the Civil War, she encouraged people in New York to side with the confederates. It did not make her very popular in the North.”

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Perhaps the two most remembered first ladies also are from New York. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of 32nd president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, hailed from New York City. Even after leaving the White House, Eleanor became known for her philanthropic work and activism. Many audience members recalled their own memories of hearing her speak, both on television and the radio. 

Like Eleanor Roosevelt, Southampton native Jacqueline Kennedy became well-known for both her activism and her timeless sense of style and glamour.

“She did a great deal of work for New York,” Kahn Kaplan stated, adding that Kennedy worked hard to preserve buildings throughout the country which she believed to be of historical significance. 

The fascinating lesson in history thrilled audience members.

“I have always been a huge fan of American History,” said audience member Carole Lambe, an East Meadow resident. “I am also interested in learning more about the First Ladies. That is why I came to this program.” 

Lambe was so interested in learning more about the First Ladies that recently attended an exhibit of inaugural gowns worn by some of the First Ladies on display at the Smithsonian.

"The fashions were beautiful, but the women themselves are also so interesting,"  she added.

 Fellow audience member Selma Weiss agreed that the lecture was a success.

“The event tonight was delightful,” Weiss, a resident of East Meadow, said. Weiss went on to add that, “[Kahn Kaplan] was an excellent speaker, and had a great sense of humor. She clearly did a lot of research on the first ladies.” 

For more information, please contact Susan Weiss at 516-481-1294.

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