Album Notes

This CD is winner of a 2008 "Storytelling World" award.

Stories are written and performed by Lynn Ruehlmann
Music is played by Bob Zentz and Jeanne McDougall

Taking on a different energetic, quirky character to tell each story, Lynn transports the listener into the lives of the eight presidents who were born in Virginia, all the while illuminating the roles played by their wives and the historical events which took place in the United States during each presidency.

Track 1: George and Martha Washington are at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. Their story is told by Martha’s friend, Mrs. Chamberlayne, who introduced the pair.

Track 2: Martha (Patsy) Randolph Jefferson sometimes acted as hostess for official events while her father was president. She tells the story of his writing the Declaration of Independence and sending Lewis and Clark on their Expedition of the Louisiana Purchase.

Track 3: Dolley Madison becomes a heroine during the War of 1812, also known as Mr. Madison’s War. A little girl whose mother was a good friend of Mrs. Madison’s enthusiastically tells the story.

Track 4: A servant at the White House tells how James and Elizabeth Monroe saved the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette from the guillotine.

Track 5: Tells why William Henry Harrison’s presidential term only lasted one month.

Track 6: John Tyler meets and marries his second wife during his presidency. The story is told by a singer who witnessed the budding relationship and the explosion on the Naval ship, The Princeton, that helped bring the couple together.

Track 7: A visitor to Washington, D.C., tells why Zachary Taylor didn’t vote for himself for president.

Track 8: Woodrow Wilson creates the League of Nations and people start calling his wife, Edith, the First Lady President. Their story is narrated by a woman who met Mrs. Wilson when they both were serving with the Red Cross.