The Belle Époque “Hostesses” of Washington
Those who have taken my Wives Who Won the Cold War tour have heard me talk about how the women of the era exerted power through their roles as masterful organizers of cocktail hours and dinners. The term “hostess” had a somewhat diminutive, sexist overtone that makes it sound like all they did was throw parties. Even back in the 1950s and 60s, Evangeline Bruce, wife of Ambassador David Bruce, hated the word and never liked that the magazines and articles written about her re