More than the ‘Hostess with the Mostes’: Perle Mesta as Political Influencer and Diplomat

While the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 gave women the right to vote, the fight for other women’s rights continued. In practice and in law, women saw that they remained unequal to men in many aspects of society, and they continued to work for greater equality. One woman who championed the fight for women’s rights was Perle Mesta. Frequently known as the “Hostess with the Mostes” due to Irving Berlin’s musical based on her life experiences, Perle Mesta learned how to use her position as society hostess to influence politics. This ultimately led to her appointment as the first U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg. While many career politicians doubted her ability to serve because she had no prior experience in foreign affairs, Mesta’s background provided her with tools to be an influential diplomat. This session will explore Perle Mesta’s political evolution and how she utilized her position in Washington D.C.’s society to advance women’s rights. This session will also highlight her role as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg and her unique approach to her position that helped strengthen the relationship between the two countries.


This presentation by Megan Woods was originally recorded for the 14th Annual Cultural Conference for the Luxembourg American Cultural Society on August 6, 2020. Special thanks to the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture, the Michels Family Trust, and a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this presentation do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.