The woman who knew everyone: the power of Perle Mesta, Washington's most famous hostess
Author:
Publisher:
Grand Central
Publication Date:
2025
Edition:
First edition
Language:
English
Description
"Perle Mesta was a force to be reckoned with. In her heyday, this wealthy globe-trotting Washington widow was one of the most famous women in America, garnering as much media attention as Eleanor Roosevelt. Renowned for her world-class parties featuring politicians and celebrities, she was very close to three presidents-Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson. Truman named her as the first female envoy to Luxembourg, which inspired the hit musical based on Perle's life -- "Call Me Madam" -- which starred Ethel Merman, ran on Broadway for two years and later became a movie. A pioneering supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, she was a prodigious Democratic fundraiser and rescued Harry Truman's financially flailing 1948 campaign. In this intensely researched biography, author Meryl Gordon chronicles Perle's lavish life and society adventures in Newport, Manhattan and Washington, while highlighting her important, but nearly forgotten contribution to American politics and the feminist movement."--
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Subjects
Subjects
Ambassadeurs
Ambassadeurs -- États-Unis -- Biographies
Ambassadors
Ambassadors -- United States -- Biography
Biographies
Biography
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Rich & Famous
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Eisenhower, Dwight D
Eisenhower, Dwight D. -- (Dwight David), -- 1890-1969 -- Friends and associates
Femmes
Femmes -- Biographies
Friends and associates
Johnson, Lyndon B
Johnson, Lyndon B. -- (Lyndon Baines), -- 1908-1973 -- Friends and associates
Mesta, Perle
Mesta, Perle, -- 1882-1975
Oklahoma
Oklahoma -- Biographies
Oklahoma -- Biography
Personnalités
Personnalités -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biographies
Personnalités -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Socialites
Socialites -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biography
Socialites -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Social life and customs
Truman, Harry S
Truman, Harry S., -- 1884-1972 -- Friends and associates
Veuves
Veuves -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Widows
Widows -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Women
Women -- Biography
Ambassadeurs -- États-Unis -- Biographies
Ambassadors
Ambassadors -- United States -- Biography
Biographies
Biography
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Rich & Famous
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Eisenhower, Dwight D
Eisenhower, Dwight D. -- (Dwight David), -- 1890-1969 -- Friends and associates
Femmes
Femmes -- Biographies
Friends and associates
Johnson, Lyndon B
Johnson, Lyndon B. -- (Lyndon Baines), -- 1908-1973 -- Friends and associates
Mesta, Perle
Mesta, Perle, -- 1882-1975
Oklahoma
Oklahoma -- Biographies
Oklahoma -- Biography
Personnalités
Personnalités -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biographies
Personnalités -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Socialites
Socialites -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biography
Socialites -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Social life and customs
Truman, Harry S
Truman, Harry S., -- 1884-1972 -- Friends and associates
Veuves
Veuves -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Widows
Widows -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Women
Women -- Biography
Staff View
Grouping Information
| Grouped Work ID | 1d5507e5-eeff-f990-071b-b5c9a6a20c56 |
|---|---|
| Grouping Title | woman who knew everyone the power of perle mesta washingtons most famous hostess |
| Grouping Author | meryl gordon |
| Grouping Category | book |
| Grouping Language | English (eng) |
| Last Grouping Update | 2025-03-23 11:23:07AM |
| Last Indexed | 2025-03-23 11:25:14AM |
Solr Fields
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0
accelerated_reader_reading_level
0
author
Gordon, Meryl
author_display
Gordon, Meryl
detailed_location_steamboatlibrary
SSCL Bud New
display_description
"Perle Mesta was a force to be reckoned with. In her heyday, this wealthy globe-trotting Washington widow was one of the most famous women in America, garnering as much media attention as Eleanor Roosevelt. Renowned for her world-class parties featuring politicians and celebrities, she was very close to three presidents-Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson. Truman named her as the first female envoy to Luxembourg, which inspired the hit musical based on Perle's life -- "Call Me Madam" -- which starred Ethel Merman, ran on Broadway for two years and later became a movie. A pioneering supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, she was a prodigious Democratic fundraiser and rescued Harry Truman's financially flailing 1948 campaign. In this intensely researched biography, author Meryl Gordon chronicles Perle's lavish life and society adventures in Newport, Manhattan and Washington, while highlighting her important, but nearly forgotten contribution to American politics and the feminist movement."--
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Quarter
Six Months
Year
Quarter
Six Months
Year
owning_library_steamboatlibrary
Steamboat Springs Community Libraries
owning_location_steamboatlibrary
SSCL Bud Werner Library
primary_isbn
9781538751244
publishDate
2025
publisher
Grand Central
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Ambassadeurs -- États-Unis -- Biographies
Ambassadors -- United States -- Biography
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Rich & Famous
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Biographies
Biography
Eisenhower, Dwight D. -- (Dwight David), -- 1890-1969 -- Friends and associates
Femmes -- Biographies
Johnson, Lyndon B. -- (Lyndon Baines), -- 1908-1973 -- Friends and associates
Mesta, Perle, -- 1882-1975
Oklahoma
Oklahoma -- Biographies
Oklahoma -- Biography
Personnalités -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biographies
Personnalités -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Socialites -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biography
Socialites -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Truman, Harry S., -- 1884-1972 -- Friends and associates
Veuves -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Widows -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Women -- Biography
Ambassadors -- United States -- Biography
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Rich & Famous
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Biographies
Biography
Eisenhower, Dwight D. -- (Dwight David), -- 1890-1969 -- Friends and associates
Femmes -- Biographies
Johnson, Lyndon B. -- (Lyndon Baines), -- 1908-1973 -- Friends and associates
Mesta, Perle, -- 1882-1975
Oklahoma
Oklahoma -- Biographies
Oklahoma -- Biography
Personnalités -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biographies
Personnalités -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Socialites -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Biography
Socialites -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Truman, Harry S., -- 1884-1972 -- Friends and associates
Veuves -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biographies
Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Widows -- Washington (D.C.) -- Biography
Women -- Biography
title_display
The woman who knew everyone : the power of Perle Mesta, Washington's most famous hostess
title_full
The woman who knew everyone : the power of Perle Mesta, Washington's most famous hostess / Meryl Gordon
title_short
The woman who knew everyone
title_sub
the power of Perle Mesta, Washington's most famous hostess
topic_facet
Ambassadeurs
Ambassadors
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Rich & Famous
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Eisenhower, Dwight D
Femmes
Friends and associates
Johnson, Lyndon B
Mesta, Perle
Personnalités
Social life and customs
Socialites
Truman, Harry S
Veuves
Widows
Women
Ambassadors
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Rich & Famous
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women
Eisenhower, Dwight D
Femmes
Friends and associates
Johnson, Lyndon B
Mesta, Perle
Personnalités
Social life and customs
Socialites
Truman, Harry S
Veuves
Widows
Women
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record_details
| Bib Id | Format | Format Category | Edition | Language | Publisher | Publication Date | Physical Description | Abridged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ils:.b68300475 | Book | Books | First edition | English | Grand Central | 2025 | ix, 485 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm |
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