I admit it, I’m somewhat fascinated by the weirdly dramatic episodes that have played out in “political marriages” over the past thirty years or so. When I was growing up, we had Presidents who were philanderers (the Kennedys) and criminals (Nixon). But there wasn’t a 24-hour news dump with details about the sex lives, scandals, etc. — seriously, the press didn’t even show us FDR’s LEGS, let alone tell us about the relationship between him and Eleanor. Maybe it just got really sleazy when the Clintons were in the White House — I kept thinking TMI! TMI! as  we learned more and more about  private behavior (calling it a “relationship” is a stretch) and speculation about why people stay married, and what the real story is.  (Often none of our business, except that it becomes our business when a leader is subject to blackmail or somehow the relentless gossip impacts everything in a politician’s life.)

I was fascinated by the premise of Anne Michaud’s book Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Eight Political Wives, so was pleased to get a copy from Ogunquit/New York Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Arranged chronologically, having just watched the series “Atlantic Crossing” featuring FDR’s relationship with the Crown Princess of Norway, I dove right in to the first chapter on Franklin and Eleanor. I knew that he was openly involved with others, and that Eleanor created her own life. Reading this, I once again felt sad for her — “By staying in the marriage, Eleanor believed she was doing the right thing for their five children and her husband.” But what about HER? <sigh>

I wasn’t terribly interested in Marion Stein and Jeremy Thorpe, and I admit I stopped reading about David and Wendy Vitter once I got to the diaper part (!!). Two very strong women who clearly could have made their own way in the world (without being half a marriage that I consider horrible), Silda Wall (Elliot Spitzer) and Huma Abedin (Anthony Weiner) both remain puzzling to me. And then there is Melania. I had less than zero respect for her before I read this, and yet I liked her even LESS after reading it. 

For most of the women, I felt like I did about Carmela Soprano: she KNEW and still she chose to stay and enjoy the money/fame/power that came with her marriage. In any case, interesting tidbits throughout that will entertain political junkies as well as voyeurs. Four stars.