What it Took to Sign On the First Lady as More Guest Editor

The thinking and work that led to Michelle Obama taking on the role of guest editor at More magazine spanned years, hinging on a genuine sense of goodwill between the magazine and the first lady that started before it was certain that 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue would become her home.

The initial seedling of an idea was an abstraction. “When Lesley [Jane Seymour, More’s editor in chief] came to More seven years ago, she began to think about her dream More women,” deputy editor Jennifer Braunschweiger told FishbowlDC.