Backwards, in High Heels: Faith Whittlesey, Ronald Reagan's "Madam Ambassador" in Switzerland and the West Wing

“A careful, in-depth account of Ambassador Faith Whittlesey’s time both in and outside of Washington … a pioneer for women in politics” (American Swiss Foundation).

“Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did, ” so the saying goes, “but she did it backwards and in high heels. ” Faith Whittlesey popularized this quotation during the 1980s, and many attribute the line to her. In this book, the life and career of Faith Whittlesey gives concrete meaning to the quotation.

Raised in western New York State by highly motivated Irish-American parents of limited means, she worked to reach an eminent position as Ronald Reagan’s ambassador to Switzerland—twice—and to serve as the highest-ranking woman on Reagan’s White House staff from 1983–1985. There, she occupied the West Wing office soon to be Hillary Clinton’s, and as a widow since 1974 with three children, provided a female influence of her own to presidential culture well before it was fashionable.

After leaving government service, Whittlesey practiced private-sector diplomacy, serving from 1989 as Chairman and then Emeritus of the American Swiss Foundation, organizing several private high-level delegations to visit China, and participating, both publicly and at times “behind the scenes, ” in discussion of the most significant public policy issues of recent decades.

This book “tells the story of the political career of a remarkable and sometimes polarizing political figure, ” who despite daunting obstacles, was able to achieve exceptional influence, then use her position for the furtherance of common good (The Philadelphia Inquirer).

© 2012 Casemate (Ebook): 9781612001609

Release date

Ebook: 19 October 2012