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They are the elite group of women who occupy the East Wing of the White House as their husbands serve as presidents of the United States.

Viewed as 'the true modern power brokers of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue', the first ladies have had different takes on their public positions and either love the proximity to the country's top policy advisers or view it as serving a prison term of teas, luncheons, dinners and photo ops.

There are friendships among this sorority of first ladies and turbulent rivalries as well as 'relationships fraught with hurt feelings and resentment, like that between Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama', Kate Andersen Brower writes in her new book, First Women, the Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies, published by Harper.