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First Lady of the United States

April 23, 2024

For a complete list of the first ladies, see List of first ladies of the United States.
"FLOTUS" redirects here. For the Lambchop album, see FLOTUS (album).

First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the hostess of the White House, usually the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the United States.[1] Since the early 20th century, the first lady has been assisted by official staff, known as the Office of the First Lady and headquartered in the East Wing of the White House.

First Lady of
the United States
Incumbent
Jill Biden
since January 20, 2021
StyleMadam First Lady
AbbreviationFLOTUS
ResidenceWhite House
Inaugural holderMartha Washington
FormationApril 30, 1789
(234 years ago) (1789-04-30)
Websitewhitehouse.gov

Jill Biden has served as the first lady of the United States since 2021, as the wife of the 46th president, Joe Biden.

While the title was not in general use until much later, Martha Washington, the wife of George Washington, the first U.S. president (1789–1797), is considered to be the inaugural first lady of the United States. During her lifetime, she was often referred to as "Lady Washington".[2]

Since the 1900s, the role of first lady has changed considerably. It has come to include involvement in political campaigns, management of the White House, championship of social causes, and representation of the president at official and ceremonial occasions.

Additionally, over the years individual first ladies have held influence in a range of sectors, from fashion to public opinion on policy, as well as advocacy for female empowerment.[3] Historically, when a president has been unmarried or a widower, he has usually asked a relative to act as White House hostess.

Origins of the title edit

 
Martha Washington, who was referred to as "Lady Washington" during her husband's presidency, c. 1825; the painting hangs at the National Portrait Gallery.

The use of the title First Lady to describe the spouse or hostess of an executive began in the United States. In the early days of the republic, there was not a generally accepted title for the wife of the president. Many early first ladies expressed their own preference for how they were addressed, including the use of such titles as "Lady", "Mrs. President" and "Mrs. Presidentress"; Martha Washington was often referred to as "Lady Washington". One of the earliest uses of the term "First Lady" was applied to her in an 1838 newspaper article that appeared in the St. Johnsbury Caledonian, the author, "Mrs. Sigourney", discusses how Martha Washington had not changed, even after her husband George became president. She wrote that "The first lady of the nation still preserved the habits of early life. Indulging in no indolence, she left the pillow at dawn, and after breakfast, retired to her chamber for an hour for the study of the scriptures and devotion."[4]

 
Dolley Madison is said to be the first wife of a president to be referred to as "First Lady" (at her funeral in 1849).

According to popular belief, Dolley Madison was referred to as first lady in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor; however, no written record of this eulogy exists, nor did any of the newspapers of her day refer to her by that title.[5] Sometime after 1849, the title began being used in Washington, D.C., social circles. The first person to have the title applied to her while she was actually holding the office was Harriet Lane, the niece of James Buchanan; Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper used the phrase to describe her in an 1860 article about her duties as White House hostess. Another of the earliest known written examples comes from a November 3, 1863, diary entry of William Howard Russell, in which he referred to gossip about "the First Lady in the Land", referring to Mary Todd Lincoln. The title first gained nationwide recognition in 1877, when newspaper journalist Mary C. Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as "the First Lady of the Land" while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes. The frequent reporting on Lucy Hayes' activities helped spread use of the title outside Washington. A popular 1911 comedic play about Dolley Madison by playwright Charles Nirdlinger, titled The First Lady in the Land, popularized the title further. By the 1930s, it was in wide use. Use of the title later spread from the United States to other nations.

When Edith Wilson took control of her husband's schedule in 1919 after he had a debilitating stroke, one Republican senator labeled her "the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man".[6]

According to the Nexis database, the abbreviation FLOTUS (pronounced /ˈfləʊtɪs/) was first used in 1983 by Donnie Radcliffe, writing in The Washington Post.[7][8]

Non-spouses in the role edit

Several women (at least thirteen) who were not presidents' wives have served as first lady, as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the first lady herself. In these cases, the position has been filled by a female relative of the president, such as Jefferson's daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph, Jackson's daughter-in-law Sarah Yorke Jackson and his wife's niece Emily Donelson, Taylor's daughter Mary Elizabeth Bliss, Benjamin Harrison's daughter Mary Harrison McKee, Buchanan's niece Harriet Lane, and Cleveland's sister Rose Cleveland.

Potential male title edit

Each of the 45[A] presidents of the United States have been male, and all have either had their wives, or a female hostess, assume the role of first lady. Thus, a male equivalent of the title of first lady has never been needed. However, in 2016, as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win a major party's presidential nomination, questions were raised as to what her husband Bill would be titled if she were to win the presidency. During the campaign, the title of First Gentleman of the United States was most frequently suggested for Bill Clinton, although as a former president himself, he might have been called "Mr. President".[10] In addition, state governors' male spouses are typically called the First Gentleman of their respective state (for example, Michael Haley was the first gentleman of South Carolina while his wife, Nikki, served as governor).[11] Ultimately, Hillary Clinton lost the election, rendering this a moot point.

In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman to hold a nationally elected office when she took office as vice president, making her husband Doug Emhoff the first male spouse of a nationally elected officeholder. Emhoff assumed the title of Second Gentleman of the United States ("gentleman" replacing "lady" in the title) making it likely that any future male spouse of a president will be given the title of first gentleman.[12]

Role edit

 
First Lady Barbara Bush, joined by Missouri governor John Ashcroft, with a "Parents as Teachers" group at the Greater St. Louis Ferguson-Florissant School District in October 1991. Mrs. Bush, who championed literacy as first lady, is reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear to the children.

The position of the first lady is not an elected one and carries only ceremonial duties. Nonetheless, first ladies have held a highly visible position in American society.[13] The role of the first lady has evolved over the centuries. She is, first and foremost, the hostess of the White House.[13] She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the president. Lisa Burns identifies four successive main themes of the first ladyship: as public woman (1900–1929); as political celebrity (1932–1961); as political activist (1964–1977); and as political interloper (1980–2001).[14]

Martha Washington created the role and hosted many affairs of state at the national capital (New York and Philadelphia). This socializing became known as the Republican Court and provided elite women with opportunities to play backstage political roles.[15] Both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were treated as if they were "ladies" of the British royal court.[13]

Dolley Madison popularized the first ladyship by engaging in efforts to assist orphans and women, by dressing in elegant fashions and attracting newspaper coverage, and by risking her life to save iconic treasures during the War of 1812. Madison set the standard for the ladyship and her actions were the model for nearly every first lady until Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s.[13] Roosevelt traveled widely and spoke to many groups, often voicing personal opinions to the left of the president's. She authored a weekly newspaper column and hosted a radio show.[16] Jacqueline Kennedy led an effort to redecorate and restore the White House.[17]

 
First ladies (from left to right) Rosalynn Carter, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center in 2004

Many first ladies became significant fashion trendsetters.[13] Some have exercised a degree of political influence by virtue of being an important adviser to the president.[13]

Over the course of the 20th century, it became increasingly common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the first lady to hire a staff to support these activities. Lady Bird Johnson pioneered environmental protection and beautification.[18] Pat Nixon encouraged volunteerism and traveled extensively abroad; Betty Ford supported women's rights; Rosalynn Carter aided those with mental disabilities; Nancy Reagan founded the Just Say No drug awareness campaign; Barbara Bush promoted literacy; Hillary Clinton sought to reform the healthcare system in the U.S.; Laura Bush supported women's rights groups, and encouraged childhood literacy.[13] Michelle Obama became identified with supporting military families and tackling childhood obesity;[19] and Melania Trump used her position to help children, including prevention of cyberbullying and support for those whose lives are affected by drugs.[20]

Since 1964, the incumbent and all living former first ladies are honorary members of the board of trustees of the National Cultural Center, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[21]

Near the end of her husband's presidency, Hillary Clinton became the first first lady to seek political office, when she ran for United States Senate. During the campaign, her daughter Chelsea took over much of the first lady's role. Victorious, Clinton served as junior senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, when she resigned to become President Obama's secretary of state. Later, she was the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 2016 election, but lost to Donald Trump.

Office of the First Lady edit

 
First ladies (from left to right) Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford, and Barbara Bush at the "National Garden Gala, A Tribute to America's First Ladies", May 11, 1994. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, absent due to illness, died 8 days after this photograph was taken.
Further information: Office of the First Lady of the United States

The Office of the First Lady of the United States is accountable to the first lady for her to carry out her duties as hostess of the White House, and is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House. The first lady has her own staff that includes a chief of staff, press secretary, White House Social Secretary, and Chief Floral Designer. The Office of the First Lady is an entity of the White House Office, a branch of the Executive Office of the President.[22] When First Lady Hillary Clinton decided to pursue a run for Senator of New York, she set aside her duties as first lady[23] and moved to Chappaqua, New York, to establish state residency.[24] She resumed her duties as first lady after winning her senatorial campaign,[25] and retained her duties as both first lady and a U.S. senator for the seventeen-day overlap before Bill Clinton's term came to an end.[26]

Exhibitions and collections edit

Established in 1912, the First Ladies Collection has been one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian Institution. The original exhibition opened in 1914 and was one of the first at the Smithsonian to prominently feature women. Originally focused largely on fashion, the exhibition now delves deeper into the contributions of first ladies to the presidency and American society. In 2008, "First Ladies at the Smithsonian" opened at the National Museum of American History as part of its reopening year celebration. That exhibition served as a bridge to the museum's expanded exhibition on first ladies' history that opened on November 19, 2011. "The First Ladies" explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The exhibition features 26 dresses and more than 160 other objects, ranging from those of Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, and includes White House china, personal possessions and other objects from the Smithsonian's unique collection of first ladies' materials.[27]

 
Official portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy at the White House

Fashion influence edit

Some first ladies have garnered attention for their dress and style. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for instance, became a global fashion icon: her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and imitated by many young women, and she was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1965.[28][29] Mamie Eisenhower was named one of the twelve best-dressed women in the country by the New York Dress Institute every year that she was First Lady. The "Mamie Look" involved a full-skirted dress, charm bracelets, pearls, little hats, and bobbed, banged hair.[30] Michelle Obama also received significant attention for her fashion choices: style writer Robin Givhan praised her in The Daily Beast, arguing that the First Lady's style had helped to enhance the public image of the office.[31]

Causes and initiatives edit

 
First lady Melania Trump attending a "Be Best" rally with children

Since the 1920s, many first ladies have become public speakers, adopting specific causes.[32] It also became common for the First Lady to hire a staff to support her agenda. Recent causes of the First Lady are:

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, so he is counted twice, as both the 22nd and 24th president.[9] Here, "presidents" refers to the 45 men who have held the office and not the 46 presidencies that have been held.

References edit

  1. ^ Caroli, Betty Boyd. "First Lady: United States title". Encyclopædia Britannica. from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  2. ^ Figueroa, Acton (January 1, 2003). Washington, Part 3. World Almanac Library. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-8368-5162-5. from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Mitchell, Zoe (March 10, 2021). "Does the First Lady Position Put Ladies First?". Australian Institute of International Affairs. from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Martha Washington". St. Johnsbury Caledonian. August 7, 1838. p. 1.
  5. ^ "First Lady Biography: Dolley Madison". National First Ladies' Library. from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2007.
  6. ^ Creeden, Sharon (1999). In Full Bloom: Tales of Women in Their Prime. August House. p. 30. ISBN 9780874835762. from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  7. ^ Safire, William (October 12, 1997). . The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "FLOTUS" January 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Grover Cleveland—24". White House..
  10. ^ "US election: What will Bill Clinton's title be if Hillary wins the presidency?". BBC News. October 29, 2016. from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  11. ^ THOMPSON, KRISSAH. "What happens when a man takes over role of first lady?". delawareonline.com. from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Poised To Be America's 1st Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff Shakes Up Gender Stereotypes". NPR. National Public Radio. November 25, 2020. from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Anthony, Carl Sferrazza (September 26, 2008). . America.gov. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  14. ^ Burns, Lisa M. (2008). First Ladies and the Fourth Estate: Press Framing of Presidential Wives. DeKalb, IL: Northern Illinois University Press. ISBN 978-0-87580-391-3.
  15. ^ Shields, David S. & Teute, Fredrika J. (2015). "The Republican Court and the Historiography of a Women's Domain in the Public Sphere". Journal of the Early Republic. 35 (2): 169–183. doi:10.1353/jer.2015.0033. S2CID 144440598. from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  16. ^ O'Farrell, Brigid (2010). She was one of us: Eleanor Roosevelt and the American worker. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.[page needed]
  17. ^ Troy, Gil (2001). "Jacqueline Kennedy's White House renovations". White House Studies. 1 (3): 395–404.
  18. ^ Gould, Lewis L. (1988). Lady Bird Johnson and the environment. University Press of Kansas.[full citation needed]
  19. ^ "Michelle Obama". whitehouse.gov. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2010 – via National Archives.
  20. ^ Superville, Darlene (October 9, 2017). "Melania Trump Filling Out Her Agenda as First Lady". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Kennedy Center: Board of Trustees". from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  22. ^ "Executive Office of the President". whitehouse.gov. December 23, 2014. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2017 – via National Archives.
  23. ^ "Hillary Clinton Makes a Historic Move". The Washington Post. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  24. ^ "Mrs. Clinton to Be Official New Yorker". The New York Times. November 24, 1999. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  25. ^ "The Race Won, the Senator-Elect Resumes Her First Lady Duties at the White House". The New York Times. November 10, 2000. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  26. ^ "A Day of Firsts As Mrs. Clinton Takes the Oath". The New York Times. January 4, 2001. from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  27. ^ "The First Ladies". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  28. ^ . The International Hall of Fame: Women. Vanity Fair. 1965. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  29. ^ Zilkha, Bettina (2004). Ultimate Style: The Best of the Best Dressed List. New York, NY: Assouline. pp. 64–69, 90. ISBN 2-84323-513-8.
  30. ^ Sibley, Katherine A. S. (March 14, 2016). A Companion to First Ladies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118732182.
  31. ^ Givhan, Robin (2012). "First Lady Fashion Fatigue". The Daily Beast. from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  32. ^ Parry-Giles, Shawn J.; Blair, Diane M. (Winter 2002). "The Rise of the Rhetorical First Lady: Politics, Gender Ideology, and Women's Voice, 1789-2002". Rhetoric and Public Affairs. 5 (4): 565–599. doi:10.1353/rap.2003.0011. JSTOR 41940289. S2CID 144913911.

Further reading edit

See also: Bibliography of United States presidential spouses and first ladies
  • Abrams, Jeanne E. . First Ladies of the Republic: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and the Creation of an Iconic American Role. New York New York University Press, 2018. ISBN 978-1-4798-8653-1.
  • Anthony, Carl Sferrazza (1992). First Ladies: The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789–1961. New York: Quill/William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-688-11272-1. excerpt and text search January 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  • Bailey, Tim (Spring 2013). "America's First Ladies on Twentieth-Century Issues: A Common Core Unit". History Now. 35.[dead link] Curriculum unit based on primary sources.
  • Berkin, Carol, ed. (Spring 2013). . History Now. 35. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013. Popular essays by scholars.
  • Böck, Magdalena (2009). The Role of First Ladies: A Comparison Between the US and Europe (eBook ed.). Munich: GRIN Verlag. ISBN 978-3-640-42153-4.
  • Brower, Kate Andersen (2016). First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies. New York: Harper. ISBN 978-0-06-243965-9.
  • Caroli, Betty Boyd. "The Role of First Lady" in Graff, Henry F., ed. The presidents: A Reference History (3rd ed. 2002)
  • Deppisch, Ludwig M. (2015). The Health of the First Ladies: Medical Histories from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. McFarland.
  • Gould, Lewis L. "First Lady as Catalyst: Lady Bird Johnson and Highway Beautification in the 1960s". Environmental Review 10.2 (1986): 77–92. online September 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  • Gould, Lewis L. Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment (UP Kansas, 1988) online September 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  • Gould, Lewis L. Helen Taft: Our Musical First Lady (UP Kansas, 2010).
  • Gould, Lewis L. Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Creating the Modern First Lady (2012) online September 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  • Hummer, Jill Abraham. First Ladies and American Women: In Politics and at Home (UP of Kansas, 2017); 269 pages;
  • Lugo-Lugo, Carmen R. & Bloodsworth-Lugo, Mary K. (2011). "Bare Biceps and American (In) Security: Post-9/11 Constructions of Safe(ty), Threat, and the First Black First Lady". Women's Studies Quarterly. 39 (1): 200–217. doi:10.1353/wsq.2011.0030. S2CID 85344609. On media images of Michelle Obama.
  • Pastan, Amy (2008). First Ladies. London: DK. ISBN 978-0-7894-7398-1. Heavily illustrated.
  • Roberts, John B. (2004). Rating The First Ladies: The Women Who Influenced the Presidency (2nd ed.). New York: Citadel Press. ISBN 978-0-8065-2608-9. excerpt and text search January 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  • Schwartz, Marie Jenkins. Ties That Bound: Founding First Ladies and Slaves (U of Chicago Press, 2017), 420 pp.
  • Troy, Gil (1997). Affairs of State The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple Since World War II. Free Press. ISBN 9780684828206. By a leading political historian.
  • Truman, Margaret (1996). First Ladies: An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives. New York: Facett Columbine. ISBN 978-0-449-22323-9. excerpt and text search January 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  • Watson, Robert P. (2003). "Toward the Study of the First Lady: The State of Scholarship". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 33 (2): 423–441. doi:10.1111/j.1741-5705.2003.tb00038.x.

External links edit

  • Alphabetical List of First Ladies of the United States
  • Office of the First Lady
  • First Lady's Gallery
  • The National First Ladies' Library
  • The First Ladies at the Smithsonian August 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

April 23, 2024
first, lady, united, states, complete, list, first, ladies, list, first, ladies, united, states, flotus, redirects, here, lambchop, album, flotus, album, flotus, title, held, hostess, white, house, usually, wife, president, united, states, concurrent, with, pr. For a complete list of the first ladies see List of first ladies of the United States FLOTUS redirects here For the Lambchop album see FLOTUS album First Lady of the United States FLOTUS is the title held by the hostess of the White House usually the wife of the president of the United States concurrent with the president s term in office Although the first lady s role has never been codified or officially defined she figures prominently in the political and social life of the United States 1 Since the early 20th century the first lady has been assisted by official staff known as the Office of the First Lady and headquartered in the East Wing of the White House First Lady of the United StatesIncumbentJill Bidensince January 20 2021StyleMadam First LadyAbbreviationFLOTUSResidenceWhite HouseInaugural holderMartha WashingtonFormationApril 30 1789 234 years ago 1789 04 30 Websitewhitehouse gov Jill Biden has served as the first lady of the United States since 2021 as the wife of the 46th president Joe Biden While the title was not in general use until much later Martha Washington the wife of George Washington the first U S president 1789 1797 is considered to be the inaugural first lady of the United States During her lifetime she was often referred to as Lady Washington 2 Since the 1900s the role of first lady has changed considerably It has come to include involvement in political campaigns management of the White House championship of social causes and representation of the president at official and ceremonial occasions Additionally over the years individual first ladies have held influence in a range of sectors from fashion to public opinion on policy as well as advocacy for female empowerment 3 Historically when a president has been unmarried or a widower he has usually asked a relative to act as White House hostess Contents 1 Origins of the title 1 1 Non spouses in the role 1 2 Potential male title 2 Role 3 Office of the First Lady 4 Exhibitions and collections 5 Fashion influence 6 Causes and initiatives 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External linksOrigins of the title edit nbsp Martha Washington who was referred to as Lady Washington during her husband s presidency c 1825 the painting hangs at the National Portrait Gallery The use of the title First Lady to describe the spouse or hostess of an executive began in the United States In the early days of the republic there was not a generally accepted title for the wife of the president Many early first ladies expressed their own preference for how they were addressed including the use of such titles as Lady Mrs President and Mrs Presidentress Martha Washington was often referred to as Lady Washington One of the earliest uses of the term First Lady was applied to her in an 1838 newspaper article that appeared in the St Johnsbury Caledonian the author Mrs Sigourney discusses how Martha Washington had not changed even after her husband George became president She wrote that The first lady of the nation still preserved the habits of early life Indulging in no indolence she left the pillow at dawn and after breakfast retired to her chamber for an hour for the study of the scriptures and devotion 4 nbsp Dolley Madison is said to be the first wife of a president to be referred to as First Lady at her funeral in 1849 According to popular belief Dolley Madison was referred to as first lady in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor however no written record of this eulogy exists nor did any of the newspapers of her day refer to her by that title 5 Sometime after 1849 the title began being used in Washington D C social circles The first person to have the title applied to her while she was actually holding the office was Harriet Lane the niece of James Buchanan Leslie s Illustrated Newspaper used the phrase to describe her in an 1860 article about her duties as White House hostess Another of the earliest known written examples comes from a November 3 1863 diary entry of William Howard Russell in which he referred to gossip about the First Lady in the Land referring to Mary Todd Lincoln The title first gained nationwide recognition in 1877 when newspaper journalist Mary C Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as the First Lady of the Land while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B Hayes The frequent reporting on Lucy Hayes activities helped spread use of the title outside Washington A popular 1911 comedic play about Dolley Madison by playwright Charles Nirdlinger titled The First Lady in the Land popularized the title further By the 1930s it was in wide use Use of the title later spread from the United States to other nations When Edith Wilson took control of her husband s schedule in 1919 after he had a debilitating stroke one Republican senator labeled her the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man 6 According to the Nexis database the abbreviation FLOTUS pronounced ˈ f l e ʊ t ɪ s was first used in 1983 by Donnie Radcliffe writing in The Washington Post 7 8 Non spouses in the role edit Several women at least thirteen who were not presidents wives have served as first lady as when the president was a bachelor or widower or when the wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the first lady herself In these cases the position has been filled by a female relative of the president such as Jefferson s daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph Jackson s daughter in law Sarah Yorke Jackson and his wife s niece Emily Donelson Taylor s daughter Mary Elizabeth Bliss Benjamin Harrison s daughter Mary Harrison McKee Buchanan s niece Harriet Lane and Cleveland s sister Rose Cleveland Potential male title edit Each of the 45 A presidents of the United States have been male and all have either had their wives or a female hostess assume the role of first lady Thus a male equivalent of the title of first lady has never been needed However in 2016 as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win a major party s presidential nomination questions were raised as to what her husband Bill would be titled if she were to win the presidency During the campaign the title of First Gentleman of the United States was most frequently suggested for Bill Clinton although as a former president himself he might have been called Mr President 10 In addition state governors male spouses are typically called the First Gentleman of their respective state for example Michael Haley was the first gentleman of South Carolina while his wife Nikki served as governor 11 Ultimately Hillary Clinton lost the election rendering this a moot point In 2021 Kamala Harris became the first woman to hold a nationally elected office when she took office as vice president making her husband Doug Emhoff the first male spouse of a nationally elected officeholder Emhoff assumed the title of Second Gentleman of the United States gentleman replacing lady in the title making it likely that any future male spouse of a president will be given the title of first gentleman 12 Role edit nbsp First Lady Barbara Bush joined by Missouri governor John Ashcroft with a Parents as Teachers group at the Greater St Louis Ferguson Florissant School District in October 1991 Mrs Bush who championed literacy as first lady is reading Brown Bear Brown Bear to the children The position of the first lady is not an elected one and carries only ceremonial duties Nonetheless first ladies have held a highly visible position in American society 13 The role of the first lady has evolved over the centuries She is first and foremost the hostess of the White House 13 She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president Lisa Burns identifies four successive main themes of the first ladyship as public woman 1900 1929 as political celebrity 1932 1961 as political activist 1964 1977 and as political interloper 1980 2001 14 Martha Washington created the role and hosted many affairs of state at the national capital New York and Philadelphia This socializing became known as the Republican Court and provided elite women with opportunities to play backstage political roles 15 Both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were treated as if they were ladies of the British royal court 13 Dolley Madison popularized the first ladyship by engaging in efforts to assist orphans and women by dressing in elegant fashions and attracting newspaper coverage and by risking her life to save iconic treasures during the War of 1812 Madison set the standard for the ladyship and her actions were the model for nearly every first lady until Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s 13 Roosevelt traveled widely and spoke to many groups often voicing personal opinions to the left of the president s She authored a weekly newspaper column and hosted a radio show 16 Jacqueline Kennedy led an effort to redecorate and restore the White House 17 nbsp First ladies from left to right Rosalynn Carter Sen Hillary Clinton Barbara Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center in 2004 Many first ladies became significant fashion trendsetters 13 Some have exercised a degree of political influence by virtue of being an important adviser to the president 13 Over the course of the 20th century it became increasingly common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote usually ones that are not politically divisive It is common for the first lady to hire a staff to support these activities Lady Bird Johnson pioneered environmental protection and beautification 18 Pat Nixon encouraged volunteerism and traveled extensively abroad Betty Ford supported women s rights Rosalynn Carter aided those with mental disabilities Nancy Reagan founded the Just Say No drug awareness campaign Barbara Bush promoted literacy Hillary Clinton sought to reform the healthcare system in the U S Laura Bush supported women s rights groups and encouraged childhood literacy 13 Michelle Obama became identified with supporting military families and tackling childhood obesity 19 and Melania Trump used her position to help children including prevention of cyberbullying and support for those whose lives are affected by drugs 20 Since 1964 the incumbent and all living former first ladies are honorary members of the board of trustees of the National Cultural Center the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 21 Near the end of her husband s presidency Hillary Clinton became the first first lady to seek political office when she ran for United States Senate During the campaign her daughter Chelsea took over much of the first lady s role Victorious Clinton served as junior senator from New York from 2001 to 2009 when she resigned to become President Obama s secretary of state Later she was the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 2016 election but lost to Donald Trump Office of the First Lady edit nbsp First ladies from left to right Nancy Reagan Lady Bird Johnson Hillary Clinton Rosalynn Carter Betty Ford and Barbara Bush at the National Garden Gala A Tribute to America s First Ladies May 11 1994 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis absent due to illness died 8 days after this photograph was taken Further information Office of the First Lady of the United States The Office of the First Lady of the United States is accountable to the first lady for her to carry out her duties as hostess of the White House and is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House The first lady has her own staff that includes a chief of staff press secretary White House Social Secretary and Chief Floral Designer The Office of the First Lady is an entity of the White House Office a branch of the Executive Office of the President 22 When First Lady Hillary Clinton decided to pursue a run for Senator of New York she set aside her duties as first lady 23 and moved to Chappaqua New York to establish state residency 24 She resumed her duties as first lady after winning her senatorial campaign 25 and retained her duties as both first lady and a U S senator for the seventeen day overlap before Bill Clinton s term came to an end 26 Exhibitions and collections editEstablished in 1912 the First Ladies Collection has been one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian Institution The original exhibition opened in 1914 and was one of the first at the Smithsonian to prominently feature women Originally focused largely on fashion the exhibition now delves deeper into the contributions of first ladies to the presidency and American society In 2008 First Ladies at the Smithsonian opened at the National Museum of American History as part of its reopening year celebration That exhibition served as a bridge to the museum s expanded exhibition on first ladies history that opened on November 19 2011 The First Ladies explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation The exhibition features 26 dresses and more than 160 other objects ranging from those of Martha Washington to Michelle Obama and includes White House china personal possessions and other objects from the Smithsonian s unique collection of first ladies materials 27 nbsp Official portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy at the White HouseFashion influence editSome first ladies have garnered attention for their dress and style Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for instance became a global fashion icon her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and imitated by many young women and she was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1965 28 29 Mamie Eisenhower was named one of the twelve best dressed women in the country by the New York Dress Institute every year that she was First Lady The Mamie Look involved a full skirted dress charm bracelets pearls little hats and bobbed banged hair 30 Michelle Obama also received significant attention for her fashion choices style writer Robin Givhan praised her in The Daily Beast arguing that the First Lady s style had helped to enhance the public image of the office 31 Causes and initiatives edit nbsp First lady Melania Trump attending a Be Best rally with children Since the 1920s many first ladies have become public speakers adopting specific causes 32 It also became common for the First Lady to hire a staff to support her agenda Recent causes of the First Lady are Eleanor Roosevelt Women s rights civil rights and humanitarian efforts Jacqueline Kennedy White House restoration and the Arts Lady Bird Johnson Environmental protection and Beautification Pat Nixon Volunteerism Betty Ford Women s rights Substance abuse Rosalynn Carter Mental health Nancy Reagan Just Say No drug awareness Barbara Bush Childhood literacy Hillary Clinton Healthcare in the United States Laura Bush Childhood literacy Michelle Obama Let s Move reducing childhood obesity Michelle Obama Let Girls Learn increasing education for girls Melania Trump Be Best cyberbullying awareness Jill Biden Joining Forces military familiesSee also editFirst Ladies Influence amp Image First Ladies National Historic Site Canton Ohio First Spouse 1 Coin Program List of current United States first spouses Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States Lewis L Gould pioneer scholar on First Ladies Sally Hemings Dolly JohnsonNotes edit Grover Cleveland served two non consecutive terms so he is counted twice as both the 22nd and 24th president 9 Here presidents refers to the 45 men who have held the office and not the 46 presidencies that have been held References edit Caroli Betty Boyd First Lady United States title Encyclopaedia Britannica Archived from the original on May 15 2019 Retrieved September 30 2016 Figueroa Acton January 1 2003 Washington Part 3 World Almanac Library p 10 ISBN 978 0 8368 5162 5 Archived from the original on March 28 2023 Retrieved October 1 2016 Mitchell Zoe March 10 2021 Does the First Lady Position Put Ladies First Australian Institute of International Affairs Archived from the original on May 9 2021 Retrieved April 3 2022 Martha Washington St Johnsbury Caledonian August 7 1838 p 1 First Lady Biography Dolley Madison National First Ladies Library Archived from the original on September 15 2019 Retrieved March 1 2007 Creeden Sharon 1999 In Full Bloom Tales of Women in Their Prime August House p 30 ISBN 9780874835762 Archived from the original on March 28 2023 Retrieved June 16 2015 Safire William October 12 1997 On Language Potus And Flotus The New York Times Archived from the original on September 9 2018 FLOTUS Archived January 14 2021 at the Wayback Machine Merriam Webster Retrieved January 28 2020 Grover Cleveland 24 White House US election What will Bill Clinton s title be if Hillary wins the presidency BBC News October 29 2016 Archived from the original on May 15 2021 Retrieved May 15 2021 THOMPSON KRISSAH What happens when a man takes over role of first lady delawareonline com Archived from the original on May 15 2021 Retrieved May 15 2021 Poised To Be America s 1st Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Shakes Up Gender Stereotypes NPR National Public Radio November 25 2020 Archived from the original on November 30 2021 Retrieved May 15 2021 a b c d e f g Anthony Carl Sferrazza September 26 2008 The Role of the First Lady America gov Archived from the original on May 10 2009 Retrieved May 4 2009 Burns Lisa M 2008 First Ladies and the Fourth Estate Press Framing of Presidential Wives DeKalb IL Northern Illinois University Press ISBN 978 0 87580 391 3 Shields David S amp Teute Fredrika J 2015 The Republican Court and the Historiography of a Women s Domain in the Public Sphere Journal of the Early Republic 35 2 169 183 doi 10 1353 jer 2015 0033 S2CID 144440598 Archived from the original on October 10 2018 Retrieved July 24 2016 O Farrell Brigid 2010 She was one of us Eleanor Roosevelt and the American worker Ithaca NY Cornell University Press page needed Troy Gil 2001 Jacqueline Kennedy s White House renovations White House Studies 1 3 395 404 Gould Lewis L 1988 Lady Bird Johnson and the environment University Press of Kansas full citation needed Michelle Obama whitehouse gov Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved May 4 2010 via National Archives Superville Darlene October 9 2017 Melania Trump Filling Out Her Agenda as First Lady U S News amp World Report Associated Press Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved November 8 2017 The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees Archived from the original on August 14 2011 Retrieved November 4 2014 Executive Office of the President whitehouse gov December 23 2014 Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved August 27 2017 via National Archives Hillary Clinton Makes a Historic Move The Washington Post Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved August 27 2017 Mrs Clinton to Be Official New Yorker The New York Times November 24 1999 Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved February 19 2017 The Race Won the Senator Elect Resumes Her First Lady Duties at the White House The New York Times November 10 2000 Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved February 19 2017 A Day of Firsts As Mrs Clinton Takes the Oath The New York Times January 4 2001 Archived from the original on January 14 2021 Retrieved February 19 2017 The First Ladies National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution Archived from the original on August 19 2012 Retrieved April 4 2012 World s Best Dressed Women The International Hall of Fame Women Vanity Fair 1965 Archived from the original on July 12 2013 Retrieved February 15 2012 Zilkha Bettina 2004 Ultimate Style The Best of the Best Dressed List New York NY Assouline pp 64 69 90 ISBN 2 84323 513 8 Sibley Katherine A S March 14 2016 A Companion to First Ladies John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 9781118732182 Givhan Robin 2012 First Lady Fashion Fatigue The Daily Beast Archived from the original on January 18 2017 Retrieved October 30 2014 Parry Giles Shawn J Blair Diane M Winter 2002 The Rise of the Rhetorical First Lady Politics Gender Ideology and Women s Voice 1789 2002 Rhetoric and Public Affairs 5 4 565 599 doi 10 1353 rap 2003 0011 JSTOR 41940289 S2CID 144913911 Further reading editSee also Bibliography of United States presidential spouses and first ladies Abrams Jeanne E First Ladies of the Republic Martha Washington Abigail Adams Dolley Madison and the Creation of an Iconic American Role New York New York University Press 2018 ISBN 978 1 4798 8653 1 Anthony Carl Sferrazza 1992 First Ladies The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789 1961 New York Quill William Morrow ISBN 978 0 688 11272 1 excerpt and text search Archived January 14 2021 at the Wayback Machine Bailey Tim Spring 2013 America s First Ladies on Twentieth Century Issues A Common Core Unit History Now 35 dead link Curriculum unit based on primary sources Berkin Carol ed Spring 2013 America s First Ladies History Now 35 Archived from the original on March 18 2013 Retrieved March 22 2013 Popular essays by scholars Bock Magdalena 2009 The Role of First Ladies A Comparison Between the US and Europe eBook ed Munich GRIN Verlag ISBN 978 3 640 42153 4 Brower Kate Andersen 2016 First Women The Grace and Power of America s Modern First Ladies New York Harper ISBN 978 0 06 243965 9 Caroli Betty Boyd The Role of First Lady in Graff Henry F ed The presidents A Reference History 3rd ed 2002 Deppisch Ludwig M 2015 The Health of the First Ladies Medical Histories from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama McFarland Gould Lewis L First Lady as Catalyst Lady Bird Johnson and Highway Beautification in the 1960s Environmental Review 10 2 1986 77 92 online Archived September 20 2022 at the Wayback Machine Gould Lewis L Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment UP Kansas 1988 online Archived September 27 2022 at the Wayback Machine Gould Lewis L Helen Taft Our Musical First Lady UP Kansas 2010 Gould Lewis L Edith Kermit Roosevelt Creating the Modern First Lady 2012 online Archived September 27 2022 at the Wayback Machine Hummer Jill Abraham First Ladies and American Women In Politics and at Home UP of Kansas 2017 269 pages Lugo Lugo Carmen R amp Bloodsworth Lugo Mary K 2011 Bare Biceps and American In Security Post 9 11 Constructions of Safe ty Threat and the First Black First Lady Women s Studies Quarterly 39 1 200 217 doi 10 1353 wsq 2011 0030 S2CID 85344609 On media images of Michelle Obama Pastan Amy 2008 First Ladies London DK ISBN 978 0 7894 7398 1 Heavily illustrated Roberts John B 2004 Rating The First Ladies The Women Who Influenced the Presidency 2nd ed New York Citadel Press ISBN 978 0 8065 2608 9 excerpt and text search Archived January 14 2021 at the Wayback Machine Schwartz Marie Jenkins Ties That Bound Founding First Ladies and Slaves U of Chicago Press 2017 420 pp Troy Gil 1997 Affairs of State The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple Since World War II Free Press ISBN 9780684828206 By a leading political historian Truman Margaret 1996 First Ladies An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives New York Facett Columbine ISBN 978 0 449 22323 9 excerpt and text search Archived January 14 2021 at the Wayback Machine Watson Robert P 2003 Toward the Study of the First Lady The State of Scholarship Presidential Studies Quarterly 33 2 423 441 doi 10 1111 j 1741 5705 2003 tb00038 x External links editAlphabetical List of First Ladies of the United States Office of the First Lady First Lady s Gallery The National First Ladies Library The First Ladies at the Smithsonian Archived August 19 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Lady of the United States amp oldid 1216413518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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