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Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Rep Ron Paul (R-TX) (2nd L) waits backstage with his wife Carol Paul (3rd L) before speaking at a campaign stop at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel on January 2, 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa.

First Ladies, like Vice Presidents, become an issue in a presidential campaign only when they’re somehow controversial. Yet Americans size up that potential first spouse, too. There’s Mitt Romney’s decades-long marriage to one woman, Newt Gingrich’s three wives, and where is the Mrs. Ron Paul? Patt talks with an historian of first wives about the increasingly prominent role of the first spouse and how the current potential front runners have impacted their candidates’ campaigns.

Guest:

Carl Sferazza Anthony, First Ladies and Presidential Families historian, author & screenwriter