Barbie models first ladies' inaugural gowns

	GALLERY
Left: Eleanor Roosevelt Right: Martha Washington
VIDEO CNN's Anne McDermott views the inaugural gowns on display at the Nixon Presidential Library in California. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

February 22, 2000
Web posted at: 1:05 p.m. EST (1805 GMT)

From Anne McDermott
CNN Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Since 1959, Barbie has been nearly everything -- gymnast, doctor, beach bunny. Now, the Mattel model and other dolls like her are playing the part of first lady.

They're donning the miniature likenesses of inaugural gowns worn by every presidential wife, from Martha Washington to Hillary Rodham Clinton. The exhibit, at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California, runs through September.

The show began taking shape when someone sent in a doll wearing the tiny duplicate of Pat Nixon's inaugural gown, curator Olivia Anastasiadias says. Collectors and seamstresses around the country were summoned to fill in the rest. Their submissions include Mary Todd Lincoln in a dress with black lace ruffles, Jackie Kennedy with her trademark cape and Grace Coolidge in a flapper-like red velvet number.

CNN's Anne McDermott looked at the first ladies all dolled up.

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