Pat Nixon was the most traveled first lady; the credit never came.

observation — attributed to Anita McBride

McBride argues for reopening the history books on Pat Nixon. She caretook her family from an early age, put herself through USC, championed volunteerism with her people are my project campaign, and was the only first lady designated as official representative of the United States on her diplomatic travels. More historic preservation and acquisitions for the White House collection happened under her than under any other first lady, including Jackie Kennedy. She led the effort within her husband's administration to get more women hired in senior federal positions. The president's inner circle did not want her in a high-profile role. The Watergate scandal absorbed the historical attention. Her contributions remain undercredited.

For students of presidential history, first-lady scholars, and writers covering political spouses. The observation is most useful as a corrective to historical accounts that have flattened a substantial public servant into a footnote.

pat-nixon, diplomatic-travel, preservation, underrated