First ladies of the United States are the wives of the presidents of the United States. Women other than wives who handle social functions for presidents are called White House hostesses. Most of the hostesses have assisted a president whose wife was deceased or too ill to serve as an official hostess.
The duties of most of the first ladies have centered around social activities, such as receptions and dinners at the White House. However, some first ladies have taken on much larger responsibilities. Abigail Adams was an early supporter of women’s rights. In 1776, before her husband—John Adams—became president, he was involved in helping establish the new nation of the United States. Abigail urged John to “remember the ladies” when making the nation’s laws. In the early 1800’s, Dolley Madison became known for her popular social events as first lady of James Madison and as a White House hostess of Thomas Jefferson. But she is also famous for saving many state papers and a portrait of George Washington after the British invaded Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812. Lucy Webb Hayes, the wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, was the first president’s wife with a college degree. She promoted such social causes as aid to the poor and the prohibition of alcohol.
After Woodrow Wilson became severely ill in 1919, First Lady Edith Wilson screened the president’s incoming work and visitors. Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover’s wife, learned several languages and became a scholar. While first lady, she wrote articles for scientific and historical publications. Eleanor Roosevelt was a public figure in her own right during and after the long presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945). She is famous for her humanitarian work and as a role model for women in politics and public affairs. Some first ladies became known for supporting specific movements. For example, Betty Ford, the wife of Gerald Ford, strongly supported women’s rights as first lady. Nancy Reagan, wife of Ronald Reagan, was a spokesperson in the 1980’s for efforts to persuade people to shun illegal drugs.
Loading the player...Eleanor Roosevelt
Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of Bill Clinton, became a United States senator from New York. Her election to the Senate, in 2000, marked the first time that the wife of a president was elected to public office. In 2016, Mrs. Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president, lost the election to Republican Donald J. Trump. In 2009, Michelle Robinson Obama, the wife of Barack Obama, became the first African American first lady. She helped lead a nationwide campaign to fight childhood obesity. In 2017, Melania Trump, the wife of Donald Trump, became the second first lady to be born in a foreign country. Mrs. Trump was born in a part of Yugoslavia that became the independent nation of Slovenia. Louisa Johnson Adams, the English-born wife of John Quincy Adams, was first lady from 1825 to 1829.
