How the Queen of England Handled 13 Sitting US Presidents. With Susan Page.

Bill talks with Susan Page about her book, The Queen and Her Presidents, and the long, carefully managed relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and 15 American presidents. The conversation looks at the Queen’s political instincts, her use of soft power, and the moments when protocol, personality, and geopolitics collided. In this episode, Susan Page explains why Queen Elizabeth was far more than a ceremonial figure and how she helped steady the U.S.-U.K. relationship across decades of changing presidents. The discussion ranges from Reagan and Obama to Carter and Trump, with plenty of behind-the-scenes detail from Page’s reporting. Susan explains why Ronald Reagan was the Queen’s closest presidential relationship, with their shared love of horses, Hollywood, and informal correspondence. The “talking hat” incident with George H.W. Bush becomes a memorable example of how the Queen handled American protocol mistakes with grace. Page shares why Jimmy Carter was likely the president the Queen liked least, after a protocol breach involving the Queen Mother. Dwight Eisenhower stands out as an early, almost paternal figure in the Queen’s life, tied to wartime gratitude and the U.S. role in Europe’s rescue. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama formed an unexpectedly warm bond with the Queen, despite early expectations that age and experience would create distance. The famous Michelle Obama brooch story is used to show how the Queen could send pointed political signals without saying a word. Donald Trump is discussed as a more complicated case, with Page noting both Trump’s claims that they got along and the diplomatic usefulness of his admiration for the Queen. The episode closes by emphasizing the Queen’s real influence behind the scenes, especially during moments like Suez, the Falklands, and tense transatlantic politics. You can get your own copy of Susan’s delightful book at Bookshop.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.