She survived a deadly explosion aboard a presidential warship, married the president of the United States, transformed herself into one of Washington’s most glamorous and politically savvy first ladies—and eventually sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

In this episode, historian Christopher J. Leahy discusses his new book, Presidentess: The Life of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler. We explore Julia’s remarkable rise to the White House, her pioneering use of publicity and image, her influence on President John Tyler, and the controversial choices that defined her later life. Along the way, we ask a bigger question: just how much power can a first lady wield without ever holding elected office?