Elizabeth KeckleyÕs Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House is both a riveting slave narrative and a fascinating insiderÕs look at the First Family during the Lincoln administration. Keckley was the First LadyÕs seamstress and confidante and the publication of her memoirs in 1868 caused a storm of controversy. The press excoriated Keckley for revealing the intimate secrets of her employers and Mary Todd Lincoln cut off her friendship with Keckley. LincolnÕs eldest son had the book suppressed.