Despite her father's objections, Julia Grant wed Ulysses, a poor soldier who later faced challenges as a farmer. The couple faced financial hardships until the onset of the Civil War. Following the war's conclusion and Lincoln's assassination, the Grants found themselves in the spotlight, eventually leading to the presidency. However, in later years, their life together was plagued by financial difficulties and health issues. 
Varina Davis married the widower Jefferson Davis, who was eighteen years older than her, despite her parents' disapproval. As a politician's wife, her married life was quite demanding. Living in Richmond during the Civil War proved to be challenging for Varina. Following the war, she and her family faced additional suffering, criticism, and struggles. Eventually, a serendipitous encounter between the two widows, Julia and Varina, blossomed into a friendship.

About the presenter

Mary Lipsey spent twenty-nine years teaching seventh-grade American History at Lake Braddock Secondary School.  She is one of the directors of the Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association and previously served with the Fairfax County History Commission, the National Museum of American History, and the National Archives. She is the author of The ABCs of Flying; Almost Forgotten Women: Yesterday’s Headliners; Aviation: From Curiosity to Reality; and A Christmas Flight: Aviation Pioneer, Dr. William Christmas, as well as the co-author of Braddock’s True Gold: 20th-Century Life in the Heart of Fairfax County.

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