As first lady, she focused on mental health issues, the elderly, passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and functioned as a goodwill ambassador to Latin American nations.
[3] It was published by Houghton Mifflin and the first edition was 370 pages and divided into 12 chapters covering her life from birth to the 1980 United States presidential election.
[6]: 2 Gaddis Smith reviewed the book for the journal Foreign Affairs and wrote that "These earnest, well-constructed memoirs depict a determined and informed politician who played a significant role as her husband's closest adviser".
Gailey continued to say that the book was "readable, lively and revealing" and was possibly the "best human account" of Carter's presidency.
[2] Commentary noted that the book had a "dreamy, cinematic quality" in parts because it described events in the present tense.