Robert P. Watson, professor of political science at the University of Hawaii, captivated an audience of students, faculty and Charleston residents with his lecture the “Power’s Behind the Throne: The First Ladies” Thursday night.

Watson introduced those in attendance to the importance of the position of America’s first ladies. He showed slides of several first ladies throughout the nation’s history and talked about their involvement in their husband’s presidencies.

“Fingerprints of the first ladies are all over the history of this country,” Watson told the audience.

Watson humored the crowd with anecdotes of previous presidents and first ladies. He also discussed presidential scandals and the roles these first ladies played in the nation’s political structure.

He noted that the “first ladyship is an office and an institution”, although it is not an official position.

Watson said his research about first ladies provided him “with a nice new insight into women’s history.”

He also offered his congratulations to Eastern for its support of civil rights through the “Opening Doors 2002” conference.

“It was a really nice turnout of faculty and students,” said Jeff Ashley, assistant professor of political science, “One of my students said that (Watson) was one of the more dynamic speakers.”

Kathy Mirek, a freshman undecided major, said she came to hear Watson because it was a required of her speech class, but said she was “very surprised at how much he knew about first ladies.”

Mirek said she found the lecture very interesting and had “a lot of good information.”

Watson was recently on a book tour promoting his latest book and is currently finishing up a new book about Martha and George Washington.

Watson, who currently lives in Hawaii, said he and his family are relocating to Florida.