16,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
It's time for the ladies--the First Ladies, that is--to get their time in the spotlight What does a First Lady do? What makes a First Lady successful? If you've always wanted to know, this is the place to come to for the answers! This reference has the inside scoop on all the First Ladies, including Michelle Obama's campaigns for healthy eating and Jackie Kennedy's emphasis on art and culture. In First Ladies For Dummies, you'll find out how these women's values, initiatives, and style have influenced all our lives, and how they've become true role models for generations. With the detailed biographies and personal profiles in First Ladies For Dummies, you'll gain a well-rounded knowledge of the United States' 47 First Ladies. From Martha to Melania, from Jackie to Dr. Jill, and everyone in between, every First Lady has left her stamp on the White House, in the Rose Garden, and in history, and this book covers it all. It includes: * An historical context for a deeper understanding of the world these First Ladies lived in * Accounts of their childhoods and early lives to learn who these women were before they stepped foot in the White House * Each First Lady's interests and achievements Whether you're a history fanatic or just curious about these highly accomplished women, you'll find lots of fun facts about them in First Ladies For Dummies. Pick up your copy to be in the know!
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 554
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021
Ähnliche
First Ladies For Dummies®
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2022 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Media and software compilation copyright © 2022 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and may not be used without written permission.™ All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: WHILE THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR HAVE USED THEIR BEST EFFORTS IN PREPARING THIS WORK, THEY MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES REPRESENTATIVES, WRITTEN SALES MATERIALS OR PROMOTIONAL STATEMENTS FOR THIS WORK. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION, WEBSITE, OR PRODUCT IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR ENDORSE THE INFORMATION OR SERVICES THE ORGANIZATION, WEBSITE, OR PRODUCT MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR SITUATION. YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST WHERE APPROPRIATE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR AUTHORS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES.
For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021948505.
ISBN 978-1-119-82219-6 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-82220-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-82221-9 (ebk)
First Ladies For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “First Ladies For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Understanding First Ladies
Chapter 1: The Changing Role of First Ladies in the United States
First Ladies in U.S. History
The Evolution of the Position of First Lady
Chapter 2: First Lady Rankings and Evaluations
Evaluating the First Ladies
Ranking U.S. First Ladies
Part 2: Setting the Precedent
Chapter 3: Becoming the First First Lady
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731–1802)
Joining Forces with George, the Love of Her Life
Going First: From Lady Washington to First Lady
Hosting the World in Retirement
Chapter 4: Setting Precedents
Abigail Smith Adams (1744–1818)
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson (1748–1782)
Dolley Payne Todd Madison (1768–1849)
Chapter 5: Continuing to Set an Example
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe (1768–1830)
Louisa Johnson Adams (1775–1852)
Part 3: Leading Up to a Civil War
Chapter 6: Calling in a First Lady Substitute
Hannah Hoes Van Buren (1783–1819)
Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison (1775–1864)
Letitia Christian Tyler (1790–1842)
Julia Gardiner Tyler (1820–1889)
Chapter 7: Acting Like a President
Sarah Childress Polk (1803–1891)
Becoming a Politician-Er, Wife of One
Going into Retirement Alone
Chapter 8: To Be or Not to Be First Lady
Margaret Smith Taylor (1788–1852)
Abigail Powers Fillmore (1798–1853)
Jane Means Appleton Pierce (1806–1863)
Harriet Lane (1830–1903)
Chapter 9: Living a Life of Tragedy
Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–1882)
Failing as First Lady
Going On After Abraham’s Assassination
Part 4: The Civil War, Reconstruction, and Becoming a World Power
Chapter 10: Reconstructing a Country
Eliza McCardle Johnson (1810–1876)
Julia Dent Grant (1826–1902)
Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831–1889)
Lucretia Rudolph Garfield (1832–1918)
Chapter 11: Getting Close to the 20th Century
Ellen Herndon Arthur (1837–1880)
Frances Folsom Cleveland (1864–1947)
Caroline Scott Harrison (1832–1892)
Ida Saxton McKinley (1847–1907)
Chapter 12: Becoming a World Power
Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt (1861–1948)
Helen Herron Taft (1861–1943)
Ellen Louise Axson Wilson (1860–1914)
Edith Bolling Galt Wilson (1872–1961)
Chapter 13: Changing the Roles of Women
Florence Kling Harding (1860–1924)
Grace Goodhue Coolidge (1879–1957)
Louise Henry Hoover (1874–1944)
Part 5: Modern First Ladies
Chapter 14: First Lady of the World
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)
Marrying a Roosevelt and Living with a Dominant Mother-in-Law
Moving in Social Circles
Getting Active in Politics in the 1920s
Becoming First Lady of New York
Being an Activist First Lady
Chapter 15: Three Cold War First Ladies
Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman (1885–1982)
Mamie Doud Eisenhower (1896–1979)
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy (1929–1994)
Chapter 16: Becoming Politically Active
Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson (1912–2007)
Thelma Catherine Ryan Nixon (1912–1993)
Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Ford (1918–2011)
Chapter 17: Ending a Cold War
Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter (1927–)
Nancy Davis Reagan (1921–2016)
Barbara Pierce Bush (1925–2018)
Chapter 18: Almost Becoming President
Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947–)
Chapter 19: Using the Power of the Position
Laura Welch Bush (1946–)
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (1964–)
Chapter 20: The Model and the Educator
Melania Knauss Trump (1970–)
Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden (1951–)
Part 6: The Part of Tens
Chapter 21: The Ten Most Influential First Ladies
Eleanor Roosevelt
Abigail Adams
Dolley Madison
Hillary Clinton
Betty Ford
Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson
Sarah Polk
Rosalynn Carter
Harriet Lane
Michelle Obama
Chapter 22: The Ten Least-Known Facts about U.S. First Ladies
Dolley Madison: Dining and Dashing
Julia Grant: Using Foresight
Caroline Harrison: Leaving the Light On
Edith Roosevelt: Playing I Spy
Edith Wilson: Wielding a Famous Relative
Lou Hoover: Dodging Bullets
Mamie Eisenhower: Working from Bed
Jacqueline Kennedy: Upsetting the Public
Lady Bird Johnson: Not Letting Anything Stop Her
Barbara Bush: Taking Chances
Index
About the Author
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 First Lady Rankings
List of Illustrations
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Martha Dandridge as a young woman.
FIGURE 3-2: Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.
FIGURE 3-3: Martha Washington in retirement.
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: Abigail Smith Adams.
FIGURE 4-2: Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.
FIGURE 4-3: Martha Jefferson Randolph, daughter of Thomas and Martha Jefferson....
FIGURE 4-4: Dolley Payne Todd Madison.
FIGURE 4-5: Dolley Madison wearing her signature turban.
FIGURE 4-6: The famous George Washington painting, saved by Dolley Madison.
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: Elizabeth Kortright Monroe.
FIGURE 5-2: Louisa Johnson Adams
FIGURE 5-3: Rachel Donelson Jackson.
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: Hannah Hoes Van Buren.
FIGURE 6-2: Angelica Van Buren, daughter-in-law of Martin Van Buren.
FIGURE 6-3: Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison.
FIGURE 6-4: Letitia Christian Tyler.
FIGURE 6-5: Julia Gardiner Tyler.
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: Sarah Childress Polk.
FIGURE 7-2: Sarah Childress Polk in mourning.
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: Margaret Smith Taylor.
FIGURE 8-2: Abigail Powers Fillmore.
FIGURE 8-3: Jane Means Appleton Pierce.
FIGURE 8-4: Harriet Lane.
FIGURE 8-5: The
Harriet Lane,
U.S. naval ship.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: Mary Todd Lincoln.
FIGURE 9-2: Robert Lincoln, Mary and Abraham’s son.
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Eliza McCardle Johnson.
FIGURE 10-2: Julia Dent Grant.
FIGURE 10-3: Lucy Ware Webb Hayes.
FIGURE 10-4: Lucretia Rudolph Garfield.
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: Ellen Herndon Arthur.
FIGURE 11-2: Frances Folsom Cleveland.
FIGURE 11-3: The wedding of Frances Folsom and President Grover Cleveland.
FIGURE 11-4: Frances Folsom Cleveland as First Lady.
FIGURE 11-5: Frances remarried to Thomas J. Preston Jr.
FIGURE 11-6: Caroline Scott Harrison.
FIGURE 11-7: Ida Saxton McKinley.
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
FIGURE 12-2: Helen Herron Taft.
FIGURE 12-3: Helen Taft playing cards.
FIGURE 12-4: Ellen Louise Axson Wilson.
FIGURE 12-5: Edith Bolling Galt Wilson.
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: Florence Kling Harding
FIGURE 13-2: Grace Goodhue Coolidge.
FIGURE 13-3: Grace Coolidge and Rebecca the raccoon.
FIGURE 13-4: Louise Henry Hoover.
FIGURE 13-5: Louise Hoover on the radio.
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
FIGURE 14-2: First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
FIGURE 14-3: Eleanor Roosevelt and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman.
FIGURE 15-2: Mamie Doud Eisenhower.
FIGURE 15-3: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy.
FIGURE 15-4: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier as a photographer.
FIGURE 15-5: Jackie Kennedy stands by as Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is sw...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson.
FIGURE 16-2: Thelma Catherine Ryan Nixon.
FIGURE 16-3: Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Ford.
Chapter 17
FIGURE 17-1: Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter.
FIGURE 17-2: Nancy Davis Reagan.
FIGURE 17-3: Barbara Pierce Bush.
Chapter 18
FIGURE 18-1: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
FIGURE 18-2: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
FIGURE 18-3: Eleanor Roosevelt passing the baton to Hillary Clinton.
Chapter 19
FIGURE 19-1: Laura Welch Bush.
FIGURE 19-2: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama.
Chapter 20
FIGURE 20-1: Melania Knauss Trump.
FIGURE 20-2: Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden.
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Index
About the Author
Pages
i
ii
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
305
306
307
308
309
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
Introduction
Over the last 232 years, the United States has had 47 First Ladies. While presidents have dominated U.S. politics and history, most of our First Ladies are relatively unknown. The U.S. public might know about the most recent First Ladies, such as Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, or Dr. Jill Biden, and/or the most famous ones, such as Eleanor Roosevelt. However, most people are unfamiliar with many of the U.S. First Ladies.
While almost every American can name the current president, significantly fewer can name the current First Lady. Public school curricula and college courses focus on the U.S. presidents and not First Ladies. Academic books and autobiographies on American presidents and their administrations are readily available and fill many shelves in bookstores. Not so for First Ladies. The first memoirs of a First Lady didn’t hit the bookshelves until the 20th century.
However, things have been changing. First Ladies are usually more popular than presidents and receive more media attention. Now, First Lady memoirs sell better than presidential memoirs. The media, beginning in the 1960s, started to spend more time disseminating information on the virtues and shortcomings of First Ladies. Then, in the 1980s, academics even started to rank First Ladies, and for the first time, their importance in American politics became well known. Select universities even offer college courses on First Ladies, and TV specials on First Ladies have begun to appear.
This book covers all 47 First Ladies — from the beginning of the republic in 1789 to the present time — in one place and makes it so you don’t have to read 47 separate books just to read about the U.S. First Ladies. It shows how, over time, First Ladies have changed and the institution of the First Lady has also undergone changes. This work shows the slow transformation of the office of the First Lady to a powerful institution within the White House. Some First Ladies, such as Rosalynn Carter, played such a large role in their husband’s administration that they were referred to as co-presidents.
Clearly, the time has come to study First Ladies. I am excited to share with you the histories and stories of these unique women.
About This Book
This book is neither a textbook nor an autobiography; it combines the best elements of both. It won’t bore you with little tedious facts or a lot of narrative. It doesn’t shower you with a mass of statistics that prove to you what you already know. The information on the First Ladies gets to the point, highlighting only the major events in a First Lady’s life.
The book covers all 47 U.S. First Ladies in chronological order. Some First Ladies have an entire chapter to themselves; others are grouped together. I detail some basic personal information for each First Lady, and I also cover some major events that took place during her tenure.
I designed this book to give a solid foundation on the First Ladies, whether you’re studying political science, writing a paper, or reading for pleasure. I tried to make the book entertaining by including little-known tidbits. So whether you’re a history buff, a student, or just someone interested in America’s First Ladies, this book is for you. My hope is that this book will prove one point: The history of our First Ladies is fascinating and fun.
Conventions Used in This Book
To avoid repeating certain procedures, facts, and ideas, this book uses certain conventions. For example, I use the common abbreviations WWI and WWII to refer to World War I and World War II, respectively. I also use familiar First Lady nicknames, such as Lady Bird Johnson rather than Claudia Johnson and Pat Nixon instead of Patricia Nixon. I always list the given name first and then explain her nickname, which I then use for the rest of the chapter.
I use the term White House for the executive mansion for most of this book. The only exceptions are the early years of the republic, from 1789 until 1800, when the executive mansions were located in New York City and Philadelphia, respectively. After 1800, when President Adams moved into the executive mansion, located in the new capital of Washington, D.C., I use the term White House instead.
I also provide information in a consistent format. For each First Lady, I include a part on her early years — when and where she was born, what schools she attended (if she attended school at all!), and how she met the future president. The next section then covers how she became First Lady and what her role as First Lady looked like. The final section focuses on what happened during her retirement from public office.
Icons Used in This Book
As you read and enjoy this book, you’ll discover four icons that alert you to specific aspects of America’s 47 First Ladies.
This icon presents little-known information, or trivia, on the 47 First Ladies. Many of the First Ladies coined terms or set precedents for the office of the First Lady and the country.
This icon alerts you to famous statements or quotes made by or about the First Ladies. Some quotes you may be familiar with, and others you may not know. Some may shock you, and others may amuse you.
This icon points out important information you should be aware of as you read the section, the chapter, or the book. This icon covers only the most important events, people, and issues.
Historical information and other relevant material or events have this icon beside them. This information is included for the history buff, so feel free to ignore these paragraphs if you’re not interested.
Beyond the Book
In addition to what you’re reading right now, this book comes with a free access-anywhere Cheat Sheet that includes key dates in the history of U.S. First Ladies. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and type “First Ladies For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
Feel free to start with any chapter and any First Lady who interests you. Keep in mind that all the chapters are nonlinear, so you can start with any topic in any chapter.
Part 1
Understanding First Ladies
IN THIS PART …
Discover the roles First Ladies have been playing in the U.S. political structure and see how these roles have changed over time.
Examine the way First Ladies and their terms in the White House are evaluated and ranked. Uncover academic rankings of U.S. First Ladies and look at the upward and downward movement of some First Ladies through the years.
Chapter 1
The Changing Role of First Ladies in the United States
IN THIS CHAPTER
Setting the foundation
Being graceful hostesses
Refusing the job
Starting to matter
Becoming copresidents
The story of the First Ladies of the United States is one of drama, personal struggle, and both great successes and failures. It’s a story of ambition, joy, disappointment, and most often a total loss of privacy. In the early years of the republic, becoming First Lady imposed considerable dangers, both social and economic, on First Ladies and their families. The White House was open to just about everyone, and it had no security yet.
Today, First Ladies have professional roles and often aid in policy development. They work together with Congress and have become active policy makers. However, every First Lady decides how active they’ll be. Hillary Clinton was one of the most active First Ladies in recent history, while Melania Trump was less active and played the role of a more traditional First Lady (see Chapter 20 for more). A First Lady’s temperament, family situation, character, and even relationship with the president determines all of that. First Ladies with big political ambitions can use their office as a stepping stone to future offices. Eleanor Roosevelt did so with working for the United Nations after leaving her role as First Lady in 1945 (see Chapter 14), and Hillary Clinton ran and won a U.S. Senate seat after serving two terms as First Lady (see Chapter 18).
The role of First Lady has seen significant changes over the years. Women have made progress in society and are found at the highest levels of government, including now the vice presidency. Women today serve in Congress, even becoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives; they are members of the Supreme Court; and they govern states. It’s only a question of time before a woman will become president and the U.S. will have its first “First Gentleman.”
First Ladies in U.S. History
Why become a First Lady? Most of the time, First Ladies had no choice. They were married to someone who just became president. In some instances, they had actually pushed their husbands into politics. Great examples include Sarah Polk and Helen Taft (see Chapters 7 and 12). They loved the game of politics and enjoyed the prestige of being First Lady. In fact, Julia Grant was so upset that her husband refused to run for a third term that she was in tears when she had to leave the White House (Chapter 10). More recently, First Ladies wanted to impact social and economic reforms and change the country and its people. Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, and Hillary Clinton are examples of socially conscious First Ladies who wanted to bring about change (see Chapters 14, 17, and 18 for more on their stories).
Defining a First Lady
Most of the 47 First Ladies in this book are famous because of the men they married. However, most First Ladies also impacted their husband’s lives and directly and indirectly made significant contributions to U.S. history. From Martha Washington (Chapter 3) traveling with the Continental Army and improving soldiers’ morale to Mary Todd Lincoln (Chapter 9) encouraging her husband to run for political office, in turn saving the Union, to Helen Taft (Chapter 12) pushing her husband to become president, American history wouldn’t have been the same without the country’s First Ladies.
Until recently, it was believed that First Ladies mattered and held their jobs only because their husbands had become president. That is true by definition but doesn’t explain the whole story. Many claim that First Ladies owe their space in history to the men they married and that they didn’t contribute much to the history and evolution of the United States. For them, First Ladies were basically footnotes in history. This is clearly wrong.
FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF BEING FIRST LADY
Early on, the positions of President and First Lady imposed financial hardships. Presidents and First Ladies had to use their own resources to furnish the White House and to host dinners and parties. The amount of money Congress appropriated for these functions wasn’t enough, and to top it off, the job of president wasn’t compensated well, and the First Lady received no compensation at all. And, of course, after retirement, neither the president nor First Lady received a pension. This would not change until pensions for ex-presidents were approved in the 1950s, and presidents started receiving a comfortable salary beginning in 1969, when President Nixon received salary of $200,000.
Therefore, the job of First Lady involved personal sacrifices, and often a price, usually economic or even health-wise, had to be paid. Unlike today, when presidents and their wives make millions after they retire, usually by writing their memoirs and/or giving speeches, back then, being president could bankrupt a family. Early presidents and First Ladies left the White House often poorer than when they entered it. Dolley Madison, for example, was broke at the end of her life, and people left money in her house whenever she invited them over.
Not surprisingly, many First Ladies were quite upset when they found out their husbands had won the presidential elections and didn’t celebrate but withdrew from the functions expected of a First Lady. Instead, they had their daughters or nieces take their place. Other First Ladies, like Sarah Polk, became penny pinchers and tried to run the White House the cheapest way possible.
Studies show that many First Ladies mattered more than people thought. They helped out with finances, managing family farms, teaching school, or working after getting married so that their husband could enter politics. In addition, most First Ladies came from social and economic backgrounds superior to the men they married. Without their contributions, their husbands couldn’t have become presidents. Many First Ladies were even familiar with politics and had early exposure to politics through a father, a grandfather, or an uncle. Helen Taft, for example, decided to pursue a career in politics through her husband. Her father and grandfather had served in Congress, and she enjoyed the campaign for political office. This allowed her to give advice and help advance her husband’s political career. Without her, there would have been no President Taft. (See Chapter 12 for her full story.)
It took quite some time to discover how important First Ladies actually were in the history of the U.S. The reason is that most early First Ladies, such as Martha Washington, didn’t leave a lot of information for historians to study. Many burned all their correspondence with their husbands and friends that contained much information. The few who didn’t, like Abigail Adams, left historians with a plethora of information and provided a picture of the time they lived in and information on their job as First Lady and how they contributed to their husband’s career and successes.
This started to change, however, after the Civil War. First Ladies started leaving more information to be studied. In fact, Julia Grant, Helen Taft, and Edith Wilson all wrote their memoirs, giving us a lot of information on the role of First Lady and the gradual changes the office undertook.
Most First Ladies accomplished great things, often before becoming First Lady. Here are some examples:
Elizabeth Monroe single-handedly saved the wife of the American war hero the Marquis de Lafayette in Paris during the French Revolution. See
Chapter 5
.
Louisa Adams traveled by herself with a young child during the wintertime from Russia to France during the Napoleonic wars. See
Chapter 5
.
Lou Hoover, who was in China during the Boxer Rebellion, carried a gun and got involved in shoot-outs. See
Chapter 13
.
Powers of the First Lady
The position of First Lady isn’t mentioned in the Constitution. However, the position soon became attached to the presidency and received some informal powers.
The position of First Lady has been defined by culture and not the Constitution. There’s no job description and no laws regulating First Lady behavior. However, changing American culture has put both limitations and opportunities on the role of First Lady. Cleary, back in the 19th century, an active First Lady campaigning for her husband and trying to impact policy making publicly wouldn’t have been tolerated. Today, the American public expects First Ladies to be educated, to campaign for their husbands, and to even run for office themselves.
For this reason, the position of First Lady has considerable power today, and the First Lady has become one of the most powerful persons in Washington, D.C. From Betty Ford (see Chapter 16) who encouraged her husband to pardon President Nixon to Hillary Clinton who was put in charge of reforming healthcare in the United States, First Ladies have shown that they matter and can impact policy making.
Assuming head of state roles
The Constitution provides a president with two jobs. First, there’s the head of state position; and second, there’s the head of government position. The first is ceremonial and doesn’t matter that much; therefore, presidents have given ceremonial powers to First Ladies. Martha Washington attended church on her husband’s behalf (see Chapter 3); Nancy Reagan was the president’s stand-in after the assassination attempt on her husband (see Chapter 17); and Lady Bird Johnson represented for her husband campaigning in the South (see Chapter 16).
Having unseen powers
In the first years of the republic, First Ladies were mostly concerned with their hostess role and arranging social events. They further oversaw renovations of the White House. While many dismiss these functions as irrelevant, they had very political undertones. Every teatime, soiree, and formal dinner can be used politically, as Louisa Adams showed in 1825, when during a soiree the night before Congress picked her husband as the new president, she convinced several Congressmen to vote for her husband.
Dolley Madison organized weekly Wednesday evening get-togethers where she invited Congressmen from both parties and often took the place of her husband, who can’t take sides on issues, discussing politics with her guests. Soon she became one of the most powerful political brokers in the capital.
Getting into the limelight
Some First Ladies have made an imprint quietly, while others have gone public. Abigail Adams was able to discuss politics and convince her husband on issues in more than a thousand letters written to her husband. Others have used media, such as the radio or television, to make or even change policy. Both Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter went public on issues such as the equal rights amendment, abortion, and mental health.
With the New Deal and WWII, more government power became centralized in the office of the president in the 1930s and 1940s. Not surprisingly, the media began to focus more on Washington, D.C., and the office of the president. Increased focus on the president also led to more attention being paid to the First Lady. The advance of television further increased this coverage. Suddenly, people could see the First Ladies in action and listen to them speak. By 1960, half of all Americans owned a television set, and this increased coverage of the First Ladies immensely.
Becoming institutionalized
With Edith Roosevelt, at the turn of the 20th century, the office of the First Lady became more institutionalized (see Chapter 12). She hired highly paid and educated professional staffers, and suddenly staff weren’t just helpers in the kitchen but full-time professional advisors. These advisors attended morning briefings with the First Lady and on occasion worked closely with the president’s staff. Lady Bird Johnson then took it a step further and turned the East Wing of the White House into a business organization and ran it as such (check out Chapter 16). Rosalynn Carter completed the process of institutionalization by moving her office to the East Wing and creating a formal Office of the First Lady.
The Evolution of the Position of First Lady
The office of First Lady, and likewise the women who fill that role, has gone through an evolution since its conception to present day. I discuss those changes in four phases in this section.
Phase I (1789–1829)
Part 2 of the book covers the First Ladies of this phase. Martha Washington set the foundation for First Lady obligations. On occasion, she played the part of head of state, and she set the precedent of being a great hostess who wasn’t involved in policy making.
Martha Washington’s role as First Lady was undefined. She herself didn’t know what to expect of the position. She was surprised when she received a 13-gun salute and shouts of “Long live Lady Washington!” when she arrived in the then-capital New York City. She decided to become the perfect hostess, because the democratic spirit of the time called for the president to open the doors of the executive mansion in New York City anytime. Soon this led to problems. Too many people took advantage of the open doors and just showed up. No work could get done, and no privacy existed. So it was decided to limit open houses and receptions.
Another hostess function was to deal with callers, usually the wives of Senators, House members, and foreign diplomats, who came to the door of the White House and left their cards. It was customary that a First Lady returned their visits. Often, First Ladies would have to make up to 60 visits a week. To make matters worse, the White House was open to everybody who wanted to show up on New Year’s Day, with the exception of wartime or periods of mourning. Thousands would stop annually, and the practice wasn’t stopped until the Hoover administration in 1933.
While Abigail Adams was an opinionated woman who influenced her husband in private, publicly she mostly fulfilled her hostess function. Dolley Madison was the first to help a widower, Thomas Jefferson, and then served eight years as First Lady. She dominated the White House for a long time. She was such a superior hostess that future First Ladies would ask her advice on becoming a hostess as late as 1845, but she also managed to mix the social part of being a hostess with the political part. Not only did she start the tradition of having an inaugural ball, but she also was truly nonpartisan at her receptions and everybody loved her for it. In addition, she called upon every wife of a Congressman and invited them to the White House, creating goodwill among the spouses of all Congressmen at the time.
The country’s early First Ladies were sweet, quiet, and gracious hostesses in public and played a supportive role to their husband, which reflected the times they lived in. In private, they displayed courage, had exceptional training, spoke foreign languages, read French philosophers, and traveled abroad creating goodwill for the U.S. in Europe.
Phase II (1829–1869)
Phase II is dominated by young substitutes — either daughters, daughters-in-law, or nieces — for First Ladies. There were few mature or strong First Ladies during this period; most were youthful surrogates who didn’t impact policy making much. (Turn to Part 3 for a closer look at these ladies.)
Six out of nine first ladies during this time period pleaded ill health or grief as reasons for not being able to perform First Lady functions. They were Anna Harrison, Letitia Tyler, Margaret Taylor, Abigail Fillmore, Jane Pierce, and Eliza Johnson. Rachel Jackson had made arrangements for her niece to serve as First Lady in case she died, which she did. In some cases, there was no other way. Andrew Jackson’s wife passed right after he got elected president in 1828 and was unable to serve as First Lady. The same situation occurred in Martin Van Buren’s case. In both instances, younger nieces had to take over as First Lady.
Only two First Ladies were exceptions. Both Sarah Polk and Harriet Lane, the niece of President Buchanan who was a bachelor, were excited to become First Lady and were quite active. Not surprisingly, both are among my top ten most influential First Ladies (see Chapter 21).
Phase III (1869–1933)
The role of First Lady changed again after 1869. Suddenly, there were no more youthful surrogates being used as First Ladies. The new First Ladies came from different backgrounds compared to the First Ladies in Phase I. The ladies discussed in Part 4 weren’t married to founding fathers nor were they the wives of rich plantation owners. However, they were well educated, and many came from small-town America.
The press started talking about the First Ladies reflecting the ideal of the new woman. The new woman was educated, as universities had opened up enrollment to women. The new woman was also involved in political organizations. The Civil War had gotten many women involved in public organizations, and all female political and social clubs were founded.
Many political and social barriers were broken down during this period. Some political gains happened, too. Women got the right to vote at the local and state level, and the country saw its first female politicians elected at the local level. Some women were even appointed to state and local government positions. By 1900, women could vote in four states: Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah. Even though women still had to attach themselves to their husband’s career, many spoke out in public and created and joined national organizations. Not surprisingly, the suffrage movement gained steam, too, and by 1917, the first female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin from Montana, was elected.
With the outbreak of WWI, the role of women and First Ladies changed yet again. After becoming a part of the war effort, women suddenly stayed a part of the workforce and in 1920 received the right to vote at the presidential level. Florence Harding was the first woman to cast a ballot for her husband in 1920. Right before, Edith Wilson basically became the president herself after Woodrow Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke. She became his guardian and gatekeeper and studied every paper and decided what would go to the president and what wouldn’t. In other words, she became responsible for policy making, and letters sent to her addressed her as “Mrs. President.”
Phase IV (1933–Present)
In the 20th century, with wars and the second industrial revolution, the role of women dramatically changed in the U.S. This brought about a change in the role First Ladies performed and also changes in American culture. Here is where the modern era for First Ladies began. They became public figures pursuing their own causes, which made them not only more famous but also resulted in the media scrutinizing them even more. (Check out Part 5 for these First Ladies.)
Then, after 1960, First Ladies’ roles changed rapidly one more time. For the first time, First Ladies started campaigning for their husbands, even on their own, which previously had been considered not proper. Today, First Ladies campaigning for their husbands hasn’t just been accepted but is expected. In addition, First Ladies today are expected to pick a public cause to focus on, which in turn gets them involved in political issues. They truly have become a first partner to today’s presidents. By now, First Ladies often outstrip their husbands in popularity, emotional access by the public, and even book sales.
In the beginning, First Ladies were mostly nonpartners in their husband’s presidencies, and today they have become full partners. They are now equal in not just social or charitable matters but also in political matters. From Edith Wilson to Eleanor Roosevelt to Hilary Clinton, First Ladies have become trusted allies and advisors for their husbands and have asserted themselves independently.
Today, many First Ladies are highly educated, have professional portfolios, and have ambition to seek political office. Traditionally, a First Lady’s background has impacted how influential and assertive she will be.
Educational achievement and professional experience are great predictors on how strong First Ladies will be. Based on this, it’s possible to predict that future First Ladies will be more independent, more politically involved, and possibly more controversial in the public’s eyes compared to the First Ladies of the past.
Chapter 2
First Lady Rankings and Evaluations
IN THIS CHAPTER
Studying First Lady rankings
Looking at ten evaluation criteria
Reviewing an academic survey
This chapter looks at how experts rank U.S. First Ladies. The public is aware of some of the First Ladies, namely the wives of our most famous presidents. This knowledge comes mostly from schools and the emphasis that the media places on these important First Ladies. But when was the last time you read about or saw a show on Lucy Hayes or Grace Coolidge? On the other hand, you can choose among several movies or books about Eleanor Roosevelt or Jaqueline Kennedy.
Polls show that most U.S. citizens know about the First Ladies in office during their lifetime but don’t know much about the First Ladies of the past. Most Americans are familiar with Michelle Obama, Nancy Reagan, and even Jaqueline Kennedy. But what about Helen Taft or Sarah Polk? Therefore, the public ranks current and famous First Ladies higher than lesser-known first ladies. Academics who study First Ladies, on the other hand, have a better historical perspective and do rank some of our founding First Ladies, such as Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison, very high.
Over time, the standing of a First Lady may change within the rankings of the U.S. public and academics, providing for renewed interest in her life and actions while serving as First Lady. Some First Ladies are highly regarded after they leave office, only to end up being considered disappointments in the long run. Other First Ladies may be considered failures shortly after the end of their term and then become popular later. Nancy Reagan is a great example of this. When her husband left office in 1989, she was ranked very low, among the ten least influential First Ladies. This changed over time, as people took a look at what she had done and how influential she was with her husband, especially during his second term. By the time the newest rankings came out in 2014, she made it into the top 15 list of First Ladies.
This chapter looks at the one consistent academic survey of U.S. First Ladies, the Siena College Research Institute Survey on First Ladies, which is taken just about every decade.
Evaluating the First Ladies
Unlike U.S. presidents, academics and the American public rarely evaluate First Ladies. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the Siena College Research Institute in New York established an academic survey to rate and rank First Ladies. The survey continues but isn’t taken often, usually only about once a decade. To this date, it has been conducted only five times since its inception in 1982. The most recent survey, discussed later in the chapter, was taken in 2014.
Keep in mind that times change and First Lady rankings reflect this. Early in U.S. history, First Ladies were mainly hostesses in and caretakers of the White House. Some even refused to do that and had their daughters step into their place. Only a few First Ladies mattered when it came to impacting policy making. They were Sarah Polk, Dolley Madison, and, of course, Abigail Adams. Not surprisingly, many First Ladies of the 19th century don’t rank very high in the survey. They just didn’t do much besides being a great White House hostess, if that. Keep in mind that this isn’t a negative thing; that is all that was expected of them, and if they had been more engaged, the American public may not have stood for it.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that stronger First Ladies emerged. They suddenly took their place next to the president and influenced policy making. Some were even quite public about it. Eleanor Roosevelt was the first First Lady who was actually publicly involved in policy making and openly conversed with the America public about her political stands and preferences.
Media scrutiny of First Ladies is also a recent phenomenon. During most of the 19th and 20th centuries, the media didn’t delve into the lives of First Ladies. Much of what we know, we get from letters written by First Ladies, their husbands, and their acquaintances, and even that isn’t much because often First Ladies would burn their correspondence when leaving office. It was considered taboo to report on the private lives of First Ladies — the public didn’t know much, if anything, about Eleanor Roosevelt’s live-in girlfriend or Helen Taft smoking cigarettes and playing cards with the boys. A president’s or First Lady’s private indiscretions were kept secret. This code of silence held well into the 20th century.
The Watergate scandal in the 1970s changed things. Suddenly, the media believed that it had an obligation to be a watchdog over the presidents and First Ladies. This new role allowed the media not only to check presidents for public mistakes and policy failures but also to report on First Ladies and their activities. This role for the media won’t change as long as juicy scandals continue to garner large audiences. Future First Ladies have to expect to have their lives scrutinized and any minor wrongdoing reported. Hillary Clinton found that out the hard way in 1993 with the Whitewater scandal, where the Clinton’s were accused of financial wrongdoings (see Chapter 18) and again in 2015, after her term as First Lady had ended in 2001, when the media reported on her using her private server for classified emails. Today, scrutiny of First Ladies does not even end after their terms have ended. Melania Trump ran into a similar problem when her nude photoshoot of 2000 was revealed during the 2016 campaign.
Ranking U.S. First Ladies
One of the best academic evaluations of U.S. First Ladies was released in 2014, in a joint effort by both the Siena College Research Institute and C-SPAN (National Cable Satellite Corporation), a network created to show public affairs programming. The survey was conducted in 2013, and its results were released in 2014. A total of 242 experts on First Ladies in the United States were asked to rank the First Ladies based on ten criteria (see the section “Discussing ten evaluation criteria”). Rankings of all the First Ladies are rare, they are-time consuming, expensive, and there isn’t much demand for them.
Note: Because the study was done in 2013–2014, it obviously doesn’t include either Melania Trump or Dr. Jill Biden, who became First Lady in 2017 and 2021, respectively. It further excludes Harriet Lane, who was President Buchanan’s niece and became his First Lady because he was a lifelong bachelor. I and many other academics do count her as a First Lady, and in Chapter 21, she is among my choices for the ten most influential First Ladies. Finally, the study excludes the four First Ladies who died before their husbands became president and Anna Harrison who never had a chance to became First Lady after her husband died a month into office.
The Siena Research Institute Survey
The Siena Research Institute Survey was the first survey on First Ladies in the United States. It’s conducted about every ten years, and it asks history and political science professors at American universities, as well as other experts on First Ladies, to rank the U.S. First Ladies on a scale of one to five based on ten separate categories (see the section “Discussing ten evaluation criteria”). Unlike surveys on American presidents, there were no other surveys to compare results to and thus the Siena College Research Institutes findings are the only comprehensive survey on U.S. First Ladies, establishing a benchmark for First Lady studies. Table 2-1 presents its rankings in order.
TABLE 2-1 First Lady Rankings
Ranking
C-SPAN Academic Survey
1
Eleanor Roosevelt
2
Abigail Adams
3
Jaqueline Kennedy
4
Dolley Madison
5
Michelle Obama
6
Hillary Clinton
7
Lady Bird Johnson
8
Betty Ford
9
Martha Washington
10
Rosalynn Carter
11
Barbara Bush
12
Laura Bush
13
Edith Roosevelt
14
Edith Wilson
15
Nancy Reagan
16
Bess Truman
17
Lou Hoover
18
Louisa Adams
19
Ellen Wilson
20
Lucy Hayes
21
Grace Coolidge
22
Julia Grant
23
Sarah Polk
24
Mamie Eisenhower
25
Helen Taft
26
Francis Cleveland
27
Julia Tyler
28
Lucretia Garfield
29
Caroline Harrison
30
Elizabeth Monroe
31
Mary Lincoln
32
Abigail Fillmore
33
Pat Nixon
34
Ida McKinley
35
Margaret Taylor
36
Florence Harding
37
Letitia Tyler
38
Eliza Johnson
39
Jane Pierce
Source: Siena College Research Institute/C-Span study of the first ladies of the United States, 2014. Retrieved at: https://scri.siena.edu/first-ladies-study/
If you compare the results from the first survey taken in 1982 to the last one, conducted in 2014, the top ten and bottom ten First Ladies have been fairly consistent. At the bottom are Jane Pierce, Eliza Johnson, Letitia Tyler, and Florence Harding. Even Mary Lincoln falls into the bottom ten category. Mary Lincoln and Jane Pierce are considered neurotic women whose behavior and attitude made their husband’s life more difficult. Instead of being helpful during their husbands’ presidencies, they did the exact opposite and undermined their husband’s reputation and proved to be a handicap for effective policy making. Florence Harding is often blamed for being too ambitious and pushing her unqualified husband to become president. He turned out to be one of the worst presidents in American history. Letitia Tyler and Eliza Johnson, on the other hand, had no interest in being First Lady. Both claimed to be ill and made their daughters surrogate First Ladies for their husbands.
At the same time, Eleanor Roosevelt has held the top spot in all five surveys taken since 1982. She was an exceptionally active First Lady who became a co-president to her husband. She clearly changed the role of First Ladies in U.S. history, and for this she is still admired and rewarded with the number one spot in all surveys on First Ladies.
Discussing ten evaluation criteria
The ten criteria included in the Siena Research Institute Survey were White House steward, value to president, own woman, public image, accomplishments, value to country, leadership, integrity, background, and courage. I define the ten criteria in this section in my own words and use them to rank the ten most influential First Ladies in Chapter 21.
White House steward
This category refers to a First Lady being a gracious hostess in the White House, holding dinners, balls, and teas. In addition, it includes taking good care of the building itself, providing new furniture and necessary repairs and renovations. Dolley Madison excelled in this category as did Jackie Kennedy, who established the White House Historical Association 60 years ago, which continues to steward the White House.
Value to president
Value to president refers to how helpful a First Lady was when it comes to the presidency. This can include having private policy discussions or a letter exchange on ideas, as was common. In addition, the criterion includes helping with correspondence and even going over campaign speeches as Eleanor Roosevelt used to do for her husband. Finally, it can include campaign activities that now every First Lady undertakes.
Own woman
This criterion refers to a First Lady being willing to express her own ideas publicly and privately. More recent First Ladies have been willing to give press conferences, campaign by themselves for the president, start pet policy initiatives, and even contradict the presidents publicly on occasion. Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt score high in this category.
Public image
This criterion refers to whether a First Lady is well liked by the public. A well-liked First Lady can help the president overcome popularity problems. On the other hand, if a First Lady is disliked by the public, as Mary Todd Lincoln was, she can drag the president down with her. Some First Ladies were admired to a point where people would copy their looks and outfits and goods were named after them to take advantage of their popularity. From Dolley Madison snuff boxes to Frances Cleveland cigars, we’ve had it all in our history. Jacqueline Kennedy excelled with this category when she helped the country overcome the shock and grief at her husband’s funeral after his assassination. She displayed an extraordinary brave behavior, which helped the nation heal.
Accomplishments
This category ranks what First Ladies accomplished in their tenure. Did they start projects to help the American public, were they concerned about certain segments of the population, or did they just hide from the media and the public and not accomplish anything? Both Barbara Bush and Laura Bush excelled in this category with their literacy program as did Michelle Obama with her school lunch program.
Value to country
This category ranks a First Lady on how they were able to improve American reputation globally and how or whether they were able to increase morale in the U.S. during times of crises. Eleanor Roosevelt again excelled in this category. She traveled to meet with troops in the Pacific and in Europe during WWII and later received a global reputation for being responsible for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Most recently, both Laura Bush and Michelle Obama scored high in this category for trying to improve the status of women in Third World countries.
Leadership
Often First Ladies pick projects they intend to pursue while in office. They have to assume leadership roles for these projects to succeed. Lady Bird Johnson was concerned about the environment and the beautification of the country. She successfully assumed a leadership role and did succeed and continued her passion for her causes after she left office. Nancy Reagan assumed a visible role in the Just Say No program, targeting substance abuse, and the program survived her retiring in 1989. Most recent First Ladies rank high in leadership because today it’s almost expected that a First Lady focuses on a program and puts their stamp on it. That wasn’t expected before WWII, and, not surprisingly, most of the First Ladies of this period rank lower on the leadership scale.
Integrity
Most First Ladies score high on integrity. However, there were a few who manipulated their husbands for their own good and pushed them into an office they didn’t want or even pushed for policies that weren’t good for the nation. Florence Harding, who constantly pushed her husband until he became president, comes to mind. As stated previously, her husband, Warren G. Harding, turned out be one of the worst president’s in U.S. history.
Background
This category looks at how much a First Lady accomplished before she became a First Lady. Hillary Clinton scores high here, being selected twice as one of the top 100 lawyers in the country. Another one is Lady Bird Johnson who built a media empire and became a millionaire before she became First Lady. More recent First Ladies score higher in this category because early on in U.S. history, it was uncommon for women to be educated, become business leaders, or participate in public policy making.
Courage
There are many ways to define courage. Dolley Madison risked being captured by the British in the War of 1812 when she single-handedly saved many rare and historical items in the White House before the British burned it down. Betty Ford displayed courage when she came forward and publicly discussed her breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy. The point here is all these First Ladies displayed enormous courage in different areas and need to be given credit for it.
Part 2
Setting the Precedent
IN THIS PART …
Discover how Martha Washington became the first First Lady of the United States. Look at her tenure as First Lady and see what precedents she set for First Ladies to follow.
Examine how Abigail Adams became one of the most influential First Ladies in U.S. history. And, find how Martha Jefferson died before her husband took office. Also, see how Dolley Madison not only became a national heroine but also was the best hostess the White House has ever seen.
Discover how Elizabeth Monroe and Louisa Adams became famous before becoming First Ladies and see how their turn in the White House was a letdown for both of them. And find out why Rachel Jackson hated Washington, D.C., and never wanted to be a First Lady.
Chapter 3
Becoming the First First Lady
IN THIS CHAPTER
Looking at Martha’s life before George
Making an impression on George and the American Revolution
Introducing Martha, the first First Lady
Keeping a high profile after the White House
Martha Washington was the first American First Lady, and she proved to be one of the best. With the exception of Abigail Adams (see Chapter 4), the early First Ladies adopted the contemporary 18th-century model of womeness. They were great hostesses and docile wives in public, but they weren’t afraid to speak their mind in private. Even though Martha didn’t discuss politics publicly, she was the most influential person with George Washington.
When it comes to formal and social traditions, Martha was the one who gave the position of First Lady many of its current traditions. She didn’t enjoy being around rowdy crowds or hosting social events, but she adapted well to changing circumstances in her life.
This chapter looks at Martha Washington’s childhood and how she met George. After playing an important part in the Revolutionary War, Martha becomes First Lady in 1789 and sets many of the traditions subsequent First Ladies would follow.
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731–1802)
Martha Dandridge (see Figure 3-1
