Caroline Scott Harrison*

Mary Harrison McKee (daughter)*

President Benjamin Harris*

Caroline, Mary, and President Benjamin Harrison
First Lady - 1889 - 1892
Quote from Caroline - "I am disgusted with newspapers and reporters. Truth is a characteristic entirely unknown to them. But the paper proprietors and editors are alone responsible for these things as they encourage all misrepresentations and no lies they may tell are ever contradicted."
Factoids - 

• Caroline, as  First Lady, started the tradition of having a Christmas tree at the White House.
• Caroline was the first President General for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).
• Caroline had electricity installed in the White House!

Bio -

• Caroline was born in Ohio and well educated in music and arts.  During her school years, she met Benjamin Harrison; they married at 20, with not a lot of money and  his struggling law practice. They had three children; the youngest died in infancy.
• Her time as First Lady started with Benjamin's 3-day Inauguration, also celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Washington becoming President.   
• Caroline was vocal to the public in support of Women's Rights and higher education for women. Caroline also supported both local orphanages and the Medical Fund for Johns Hopkins Medical School.
• Caroline was concerned with the deterioration of the private quarters in the White House.  She asked Congress remodeling funds, but they only provided money for cleaning and updates.  Her concern extended to a rat infestation that was so bad, a man with ferrets was hired to run them off.  One of her projects was cataloging the White House china collection, restoring some and designing new pieces.
• Caroline's health began to decline due to tuberculosis and influenza.  She turned to her daughter, Mary, to take over First Lady duties.  Sadly, Caroline passed away at the White House in October 1892.

Mary "Maime" Harrison McKee
Acting First Lady - 1892 - 1893
Bio - Benjamin and Caroline's daughter, Mary and her family, moved into the White House when Benjamin became President.   Mary had always been involved in her father's political campaign, so she was no stranger to political events. She had helped her mother with correspondence, hosting/organizing receptions, and White House renovations.  When Caroline became ill with tuberculosis, Mary stepped in to fulfill First Lady duties, to look after her mother, and then, after her mother's death, to console her grieving father. 

Ingredients - Cookies (Makes 2 dozen.)
1/2 cup butter, softened at room temperature
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla or almond extract
1 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
pinch of salt
​Additions and decorations - Use inside and/or outside the cookies: coconut, nuts, maraschino cherries, chocolate pieces, raisins, dried cranberries, sugared citrus peel
Ingredients - Icing
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons heavy cream (or half & half)
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring (or add color in the decorations on top)

Ida Saxton McKinley*

President William McKinley*

First Lady Ida and President William McKinley
First Lady - 1897 - 1901
Quote from Ida - Ida McKinley said after her husband’s assassination, "He is gone, and life to me is dark now."
Factoids - This portrait miniature to the left, shows Ida's short hair. With doctors' advice, she kept her hair short to reduce the weight on her cranial nerves, to hopefully relieve her chronic headaches and seizures.  
Bio - 

• Ida was another First Lady from Ohio!  She grew up in a wealthy family, with beliefs centered in abolition and women's rights.  Ida's level of education would be equal to a Master's degree today.  She studied advanced math, foreign languages, and music. After university, Ida worked at her father's bank, then went on a Grand Tour of Europe, exploring, hiking, and meeting people.  When she returned, with a fresh view, she began a romance married lawyer, William McKinley, 
• They had two daughters, who both died young.  During her second pregnancy, Ida developed epileptic seizures and migraines.
• Ida never let the stigma of epilepsy during those times, dictate her life as First Lady.  She attended State Dinners and sat next to William, in case she had a seizure. He would cover her face with a napkin until the seizure ended.  Ida sat outside William's office and listened in on his meetings, giving advice later in the day.  
• Ida was the only First Lady to support the Women's Suffrage Movement until the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.  She corresponded with Susan B. Anthony, lent her voice to suffrage meetings and other causes in society.  When she was too ill to speak or go to meetings, Ida crocheted slippers that were auctioned off at charity events.  It's estimated she crocheted over 3,000 slippers!  Sadly, William was shot by an assassin in 1901 and passed away from infection. 

​Ingredients
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, well beaten
1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped