First Ladies of the United States

Martha Washington

Martha Washington (June 2, 1731 - May 22, 1802) was born Martha Dandridge to a plantation-owning family in the British colony of Virginia. She was one of the few first ladies to have been married to someone else prior to her president-husband. Martha's first husband, Daniel Polk Custis, died when Martha was 26, leaving her a very wealthy young widow with two children. The following year, Martha met and soon married the dashing Colonel George Washington.

They settled into a comfortable country life at Mount Vernon, a blissful existence that remained relatively undisturbed until 1775, when George was named Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, at the dawn of the American Revolution.

Martha joined her husband every winter of the war wherever he was camped. She administered to the soldiers, nursing the sick and wounded and even darned their socks.

After the war, Martha returned to Mount Vernon with her husband until he was elected the country's first President of the United States. They then reluctantly moved to New York City, the nation's first capitol, and then later to Philadelphia when it became the capitol of the United States.

Some criticized Martha Washington for being too informal, while others criticized her for being too "queenly." In any case, she took her responsibility to set precedents for future wives of presidents through her conduct, graciousness and hospitality.

Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams (November 11, 1744 - October 28, 1818) was intelligent, articulate, highly educated and had a keen intellect for politics and human nature. In marrying her husband, John, a Harvard-educated lawyer and son of a farmer, her parents thought she was marrying beneath her.

Abigail and John were truly soulmates who shared confidences as well as opinions on every aspect of life, incuding politics and philosophy. Abigail referred to her husband as her "much loved friend." She was such a close confidante of her husband's that she was criticized for having too great an influence over him; the first First Lady -- but hardly the last -- to have this accusation made against her.

As early as 1776, Abigail was writing on the injustice of slavery and advocating the rights of women. Where her husband could be brusque and abrasive to others, Abigail had highly refined social skills, tact and graciousness. This proved to be an invaluable asset to her president-husband. She was such a remarkable woman that years later, President Harry S. Truman said that "she would have made a better president than her husband."

Martha Jefferson

Technically, Martha Jefferson (October 19, 1748 - September 6, 1782) never was a First Lady because she had been dead over 20 years when her husband, Thomas Jefferson, became president. Although Martha and Thomas Jefferson had six children, only two daughters survived infancy, Martha ("Patsy") and Maria ("Polly"). They sometimes served as White House hostesses during their father's presidency.

President Jefferson also called upon the wife of his friend and Secretary of State, James Madison -- Dorothea ("Dolley") Madison -- to act as First Lady, giving her a unique role in history: that of being a First Lady before her husband was president.

Dorothea "Dolley" Madison

Although brought up under the Quaker traditions of humility and simplicity, Dolley Madison (May 20, 1768 - July 12, 1849) was a vibrant and fashionable First Lady. She was another in the small club of First Ladies who had been married before and had children from her first marriage. Her first husband, John Todd, a Quaker, died in the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. It was after Dolley's marriage to James Madison, who was not a Quaker, that she left austerity behind and became an enthusiastic fashion trendsetter and social whirlwind.

As First Lady, Dolley convinced Congress to give her the funds to refurbish three grand reception rooms in the White House where she presided over lavish dinners and evenings of entertainment. These events were so crowded with people, they became known as "Mrs. Madison's Squeezes."

Although she adored lavish French clothes, jewelry and parties, she was decidedly unpretentious and opposed to snobbery of all kinds. Guests at her parties were from all walks of life -- appropriate to the Enlightenment's egalitarian philosophy that was the foundation of the new democracy in the newly formed United States of America.

When the British invaded Washington D.C in 1814, Dolley refused to leave the White House until she personally removed the Declaration of Independence, the official portrait of George Washington and other treasures in the White House just before it was burned to the ground.

Elizabeth Monroe

Elizabeth Monroe (June 30, 1768 - September 23, 1830) was a much more reserved person than her predecessor, the lively and vivacious Dolley Madison, and she suffered from the comparison. Elizabeth was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and was considered one of the great beauties of New York society. She married James Monroe when she was 18 and he was a young attorney on-the-rise.

She and her husband lived much of their early married life in France where Elizabeth was known as "La Belle Americaine."

The rather reserved Elizabeth Monroe did not often attend state dinners, much to the dismay of Washington wives accustomed to the lively parties of Dolley Madison, as it was not considered proper for women to attend parties that did not have a hostess.

Although Elizabeth did not involve herself in politics, she played an instrumental role in the history. Elizabeth Monroe is credited with saving the life of Madame Lafayette, wife of the Marquis de Lafayette who came to the aid of the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Madame Lafayette was imprisoned during the French Revolution, awaiting the guillotine when Elizabeth Monroe visited her. Afterward, the French, not willing to risk their good relationship with the newly formed United States of America, released Madame Lafayette from prison.

Louisa Adams

Louisa Adams (February 12, 1775 - May 15, 1852), wife of John Quincy Adams, was another First Lady who smoothed over the rough edges of her socially challenged husband. Where her husband was dour, rigid and not particularly likeable, Louisa was witty, charming and a social triumph.

Louisa was also a bold and independent woman. In 1814, just after Napoleon had escaped from the island of Elba, Louisa was en route from St. Petersburg to Paris with her young son and a few servants to meet her husband when her carriage was attacked by a group of drunken Napoleonic soldiers. Louisa talked the soldiers out of murdering them by proclaiming that she was an American and shouting "Vive Napoleon!"

John Adams refused to participate in his campaign for the presidency and it was Louisa's political and social savvy that won him the election. It was an ill-fated administration. Congress blocked every move President Adams made and Louisa felt like a prisoner in the White House.

Louisa took up raising silkworms, wrote her autobiography, "The Adventures of a Nobody," and became active in anti-slavery and women's rights movements.

Rachel Jackson

Rachel Jackson (June 15, 1767 - December 22, 1828), wife of President Andrew Jackson, was one of the most politically attacked First Ladies in history. She was a strong frontier woman who smoked a pipe and lived on the frontiers of Tennessee and Kentucky where the rule of law was found at the end of a gun.

Andrew Jackson was Rachael's second husband. Her first husband, Lewis Robards, whom she married at 17, was violently abusive. She escaped to her mother's house for protection and from there was sent to live at a relative's house, escorted by a young lawyer named Andrew Jackson. Robards petitioned for divorce, and Andrew, who had fallen in love with Rachel, asked her to marry him. This made Rachel Jackson the first future First Lady to have ever been divorced -- except that two years after Rachel and Andrew Jackson were married, it was discovered that Robards never completed the divorce process, making Rachel Jackson the first (and only) future First Lady who was an accidental bigamist. The Jacksons got the matter straightened out and then remarried, but Rachel never overcame the stigma of being thought of as an adulterous woman.

This happened years before Jackson ran for president and, of course, the scandal surfaced during the campaign. Her husband managed to successfully shield her from hearing the vicious personal attacks waged against her until one day, just after her husband won the presidential election but before they had left for Washington, she was shopping in Nashville for some clothes and chanced to read a political campaign pamphlet that revealed the full extent of the venomous attacks against her. She became hysterical and soon after fell ill, dying of a heart attack before she could take her place beside her husband in the White House.

Hannah Van Buren

Like Martha Jefferson, Hannah Van Buren (March 8, 1783 - February 5, 1819) died long before her husband became president and, like Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren never remarried.

Hannah and Martin Van Buren were childhood sweethearts and he called her by the Dutch form of her name, Jannetje. Hannah was the first wife of a president to be born as an American citizen.

Hannah was a passionate advocate for the poor and supported teaching reading to "unletterd waifs of the streets" even over the objections of many of the parishioners in her church, in which she was quite active.

It is believed that Hannah contracted tuberculosis during the severe winter of 1818. She died the following year after giving birth to her fourth son. It was the custom for pallbearers to wear scarves provided by the family of the deceased, however Hannah had left instructions that the money for scarves be donated to the poor instead.

John Chester, the Presbyterian minister of the church Rachel attended, said "her heart was the residence of every kind of affection and glowed with sympathy for the wants and sufferings of others."

While in the White House, Martin Van Buren's daughter-in-law, Angelica Singleton Van Buren served as his hostess. As a distant relative to Dolley Madison, she fulfilled her duties with the style and enthusiasm of her famous relation.

Anna Harrison

Anna Harrison (July 25, 1775 - February 25, 1864) was another First Lady who never actually served in the White House. Her husband, William Henry Harrison, caught pneumonia after attending his inauguration on a bitterly cold January afternoon and died before his wife could join him in Washington.

Anna Harrison has the distinction of being the first First Lady to have received a formal education. She met Harrison when he was an army officer and followed him as he served in military garrisons during the Indian Wars. They had 10 children. Although she was First Lady for only a month, she was the grandmother of another president, Benjamin Harrison.

Letitia Tyler

Letitia Christian (November 12, 1790 - September 10, 1842) was the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner. While courting her, John Tyler wrote her sonnets and love letters for five years but did not so much as kiss her on the hand until three weeks before they were married.

She had seven children before having a stroke in 1839, which left her partially paralyzed and bedridden. When John Tyler was elected Vice President to President William Henry Harrison in 1841, he intended to have his wife and family remain in Virginia, but when President Harrison died in office after only one month, Letitia and her children had to move to Washington.

Letitia was unable to perform any duties as First Lady so she delegated them to her daughter-in-law, Priscilla Cooper Tyler. The only time Letitia left the family rooms at the White House was to attend her daughter, Elizabeth's wedding. She died after suffering a second stroke in 1842.

Julia Tyler

Julia Gardiner (May 4, 1820 - July 10, 1889) met the widowed President John Tyler at a presidential dinner in 1843. She was 30 years his junior (and was even younger than Tyler's daughter, Elizabeth), but the president fell in love at first sight. He proposed two weeks later, but she did not immediately accept.

After a freak accident during a pleasure outing aboard a navy frigate when a canon exploded, killing Julia's father and seven others, President Tyler personally carried the distraught Julia ashore. They were married in a private ceremony a few months later.

Julia Tyler was First Lady only eight months but in that time she was hostess to a dazzling array of parties -- including one where the polka, a dance that was considered audaciously risqué, was introduced.

Julia offended some by what was perceived as her regal attitude. She received her guests while seated in an armchair that was placed on a platform -- too closely resembling a throne for some tastes. This image was not helped by the headdresses she often wore that many criticized for being crown-like. Many others, however, found her charming and she is credited with making her rather unpopular husband's administration appear successful.

Julia Tyler has the distinction of being the first to arrange for "Hail to the Chief" to be played by the United States Marine Band when her husband made an official appearance.

Sarah Polk

Sarah Polk (September 4, 1803 - August 14, 1891) worked extremely hard along-side her husband during his administration. She managed his correspondences, previewed newspapers, selected articles for him to read, and took part in political discussions.

President James Polk was a micro-manager who delegated work only to Sarah. It was common for them to work 12-hour days. For religious as well as work-ethic reasons, drinking, dancing and card-playing were banned in the Polk White House.

President Polk, it is said, worked himself literally to death. At the end of his term he fell ill from exhaustion and died shortly after returning to his Tennessee home. Although Sarah survived her husband by 40 years, she rarely left her home except to go to church.

Margaret "Peggy" Taylor

Margaret "Peggy" Taylor (September 21, 1788 - August 18, 1852) was more enthusiastic about following her husband, "Old Rough and Ready" Zachary Taylor to remote military encampments for 40 years than she was following him to the White House in 1849. She was the victim of vicious rumors depicting her as a corncob-smoking hick even though she was in truth a very refined lady. As First Lady she kept to the family rooms and let her daughter, Betty play the hostess of the White House.

Margaret was worried that the enormous responsibility of the presidency would be harmful to her husband's health -- and she was right. Zachary Taylor died 15 months into his term. Margaret left Washington immediately afterwards and remained out of the public eye.

Abigail Fillmore

Abigail Powers (March 13, 1798 - March 30, 1853) was a teacher by the age of 16. At 19, she met her husband, Millard Fillmore he walked into her classroom as a student. She did not give up her teaching career after they were married, and kept teaching even after her husband was elected to the state assembly, continuing to teach until their first daughter was born. Although she then gave up teaching, she continued her studies in French and piano. It is said that she was happiest when her nose was in a book.

When she became First Lady, Abigail Fillmore discovered that the White House did not contain a single book so she arranged for Congress to appropriate $2,000 for the purchase of books. She chose an oval room on the second floor for her library -- what is now the Oval Office -- and often entertained small groups of people there.

Abigail caught pneumonia at the inauguration of her husband's successor, Franklin Pierce. She died a few weeks later.

Jane Pierce

Jane Pierce (March 12, 1806 - December 2, 1863) was called "a shadow in the White House" while she was First Lady because she suffered one heartbreaking tragedy after another. She hated politics and found living in Washington intolerable.

Years before her husband, Franklin became president, their first son died in 1836, just three days after he was born. Jane fell into a depression that would recur throughout her life. They had two more sons, the eldest of whom died just after her husband was elected to the Senate.

For Jane's sake, Franklin turned down several prestigious government positions, but when his party nominated him for president in 1852, he could not refuse. When Jane heard the news, she fainted.

After her husband was elected, but prior to his taking office, their only remaining son, Bennie was killed right before their eyes in a horrific train accident. Jane was convinced that Bernnie's death was God's divine retribution for Franklin's ambition. She remained in seclusion throughout her husband's term and Franklin was considered largely ineffectual as president.

Harriet Lane

Harriet Lane (May 9, 1830 - July 3, 1903) served as First Lady for her bachelor uncle, James Buchanan, between 1857 and 1861. Buchanan became Harriet's legal guardian when he was a senator, after her parents died when she was a child.

Harriet was a First Lady in the tradition of Dolley Madison -- she was the darling of Washington. She also was an advocate for Native Americans. The Ojibwe Tribe dubbed her the "great mother of the Indians" for her work to improve health and education programs. Harriet Lane is also remembered for the children's hospital she established and for the collection of fine art that she amassed, which she bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution.

Mary Lincoln

Much has been written about Mary Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 - July 16, 1882) whose fragile mental and physical health was to bring her husband no small measure of controversy.

Mary Lincoln desperately wanted to make her mark as First Lady, but there was a strong bias against westerners in Washington society at the time, and the times were the darkest the country had yet seen. Both she and her husband were targets of hate mail, death threats and vicious attacks in the press. Although she cared for sick and wounded soldiers, it was her love for elegant clothes that was written about in the press. She suffered from bouts of debilitating headaches followed by fits of uncontrollable rage.

Her second son, Willie, died from typhoid fever while in the White House; another son died in battle early-on in the Civil War. Then, just as the war was ending and her husband, Abraham Lincoln had won reelection, he was assassinated, sending her into a deep despondency. She did not relinquish living in the White House until long after her husband's successor, Andrew Johnson, took office.

Eliza Johnson

Eliza Johnson (October 4, 1810 - January 15, 1876) was another First lady who had considerable influence over her husband, President Andrew Johnson. She was also one who rarely left the family quarters of the White House.

Eliza, like her husband, came from an impoverished background. Despite this, she was able to receive a good education, especially considering the times in which she lived.

Her husband became president upon the assassination of President Lincoln. By this time, Eliza had contracted tuberculosis and was a virtual invalid while in the White House. Her daughter, Martha took on the duties of First Lady.

Julia Grant

After a long succession of First Ladies who were miserable in their White House roles as presidential wives, Julia Grant (January 26, 1826 - December 14, 1902) wrote in her memoirs that her "life at the White House was like a bright and beautiful dream" and that she was "immeasurably happy." It is said that just after his swearing-in, her husband, President Ulysses S. Grant, leaned over and whispered in his wife's ear, "And now, my dear, I hope you're satisfied." Unlike many of her predecessors, she was disappointed when her husband chose not to run for a third term.

Ulysses and Julia were an adoring couple and doting parents. Unlike Mary Lincoln, the public's affection for Julia Grant could not be compromised by Julia's lavish spending. Although Grant's presidency was plagued with financial scandals, the Grants left office popular and well-loved.

Lucy Hayes

Lucy Hayes (August 28, 8131 - June 25, 1889) was the wife of the 19th president of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes. She is best remembered for banning liquor from the White House, earning her the nickname "Lemonade Lucy," while her husband, because of one of the most highly contested elections outside the 21st century, was nicknamed "His Fraudulency."

Lucy Hayes has the historical distinction of being the first First Lady to have a college degree. The causes she chose to take up as First Lady were in the areas of mental hospitals and the protection of children, indigent women and veterans. While in her youth it appeared that she might be a supporter of women's rights, as First Lady, she declined to take a stand.

Lucretia "Crete" Garfield

Lucretia "Crete" Garfield (April 19, 1832 - March 13, 1918) was another First Lady who was unable to make her mark due to tragedy. She contracted malaria just two months after her husband, James A. Garfield, was inaugurated and was still recuperating in New Jersey when he was shot on July 2, 1881. She nursed him until his death on September 15th.

If her character is any indication, she would most likely have been a First Lady who would have remained in the background. Where her husband was gregarious and extroverted, Lucretia was reserved and undemonstrative. After attending Ohio College, she became a teacher and was considered intelligent with an independent mind and feminist leanings. She was reluctant to marry and give up her autonomy. It is said that their marriage did not start out as a happy one. During their four years of marriage, Crete remarked that they had been together for only 20 weeks. Garfield was flirtatious with other women and at one point, Garfield told his wife that their marriage had been a mistake.

Adversity brought them together, however; including the death of two of their children. In time, they became deeply attached to each other and Lucretia's youthful inclinations toward independence and women's rights gave way to complacency in a subsidiary role.

Ellen "Nell" Arthur

Ellen Arthur (August 30, 1837 - January 12, 1880) was yet another First lady in name only as she died before her husband became president. She died of pneumonia a few months before her husband, Chester A. Arthur was elected vice president to James Garfield, very soon to become president when Garfield died from a gunshot wound.

Nell's family were slaveholders and Chester was from an abolitionist family -- as a lawyer, he even represented fugitive slaves in court. When the Civil War came, their families, like thousands of others, were torn apart. In spite of their differences, Chester did what he could to help Nell's family, who were hard-hit by the war.

President Arthur's sister, Mary Arthur McElroy, acted as White House hostess.

Frances "Frankie" Cleveland

Grover Cleveland was not married when he was elected president; he said that he was waiting for "his wife to grow up." Cleveland became the guardian to his late law partner's daughter, Frances "Frankie" Folsom (July 21, 1864 - October 29, 1947), 27 years his junior. When Frankie graduated from Wells College, Cleveland proposed. Their engagement remained a secret while Frankie toured Europe for a year. His attentions to Frankie did not go unnoticed by the press, but it was assumed that Cleveland was interested in Frankie's mother.

The truth was well received when it came out, however and the public was obsessed with the newlyweds. Journalists camped out at the honeymoon cottage with binoculars. Frances became a media darling; her hairstyles were imitated and her picture appeared in countless advertisements. By all accounts, she loved the attention and loved being First Lady. When her husband was defeated for reelection, she told the White House staff that she would be back in four years ... and she was right.

Caroline "Carrie" Harrison

Caroline "Carrie" Harrison (October 1, 1832 - October 25, 1892) was an accomplished musician and artist. During the Civil War, she did charitable work in support of the Union cause and later for other charities, especially orphanages.

Carrie Harrison has the distinction of bringing electricity to the White House. She did this as part of the extensive restoration efforts required when her husband took office.

Another notable contribution she made was to assemble the various partial sets of china that previous First Ladies had left behind. She put these on display along with her own pattern that she designed herself as an accomplished painter of china.

As First Lady, Caroline was an organizer of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also exerted considerable influence when she became involved in raising money for John Hopkins Medical School; she conditioned her support on their admitting women to the program.

Caroline Harrison died in office of tuberculosis, leaving her daughter, Mary McKee to carry on.

Ida McKinley

Ida McKinley (June 8, 1847 - May 26, 1907) was another First Lady plagued with tragedy. Throughout her husband's term in office she suffered from severe depression, difficulty walking due to a vein disease and seizures, possibly from epilepsy. While pregnant with her second child, her own mother died. The birth of her baby was particularly difficult and he lived only a few months. Then her first baby died of typhoid fever.

Ida spent a great deal of her time knitting, donating over 3,500 pairs of bedroom slippers to charity. While her illnesses made many things difficult, she persevered, joining her husband as much as possible.

Epilepsy was not only untreatable at the time, there was a stigma attached to it. When the McKinleys were in the company of others and Ida began to have a mild seizure, her husband would calmly drape a handkerchief over her face until the convulsion passed and then removed it as if nothing had happened.

When her husband was shot and killed by an anarchist, Ida held up bravely. She returned to her hometown of Canton, Ohio and lived six more years, curiously, without any of the symptoms that plagued her during her marriage. Her Canton home now houses the National First Ladies' Library.

Edith Roosevelt

Edith Roosevelt (August 6, 1861 - September 10, 1948) was the childhood sweetheart of Theodore Roosevelt growing up in New York and everyone assumed that they would eventually marry. However, when Theodore went off to Harvard University, he met and fell in love with a bright, outgoing girl named Alice Hathaway Lee, whom everyone called "Sunshine." Theodore married Alice, but their happiness was cut short when she died of kidney disease two days after the birth of their daughter (also named Alice). Theodore vowed never to remarry, quit his post in the New York State Legislature and went to live the life of a cowboy in North Dakota.

When he returned to New York, he purposely avoided any contact with Edith, but they eventually ran into each other at his sister's house. Their romance rekindled and before long, they were married. By the time Theodore ascended to the presidency after McKinley was assassinated, they had five children, in addition to Theodore's daughter, Alice, who by this time was a rebellious teenager.

The six children wreaked havoc in the White House (two of the Roosevelt sons once smuggled a 350-pound pony into the White House elevator). In addition to her efforts in keeping her children under control, Edith was able to get an addition built on the White House, something her predecessors had tried and failed to do).

Edith was also credited with establishing the First Ladies' Portrait Gallery, honoring the wives of past presidents.

Helen Taft

It was William Howard Taft's ambition to be a Supreme Court Justice -- and twice he was offered the job by President Theodore Roosevelt -- but Taft's wife, Helen "Nellie" (June 2, 1861 - May 22, 1943) talked him out of it, convinced that he had a shot at the presidency. She had vowed to live in the White House the first time she visited it when she was 17, as a guest of Rutherford and Lucy Hayes. And she made good on her vow.

Helen Taft was the first First Lady to accompany her husband on the ride from the inauguration to the White House. She also sat in on most of his meetings, although she refrained from expressing her opinion until they were alone. It is said that one of the reasons she attended the meetings was so she could discreetly nudge her husband in case he began to doze off.

Helen was a micro-manager and a perfectionist who oversaw every detail of the tasks at hand. Just two months after the inauguration, she suffered a stroke. Her husband spent hours at ther bedside and she was eventually able to resume many of her activities.

She is best remembered for the 3,000 cherry trees along the Potomac River, for the program was her idea. She also initiated the collection of First Ladies' inaugural gowns in the Smithsonian collection.

Nellie was devastated that her husband lost his reelection bid -- but in 1921, William Howard Taft realized his dream when he became a Justice on the Supreme Court.

Ellen Wilson

Before Ellen Wilson (May 15, 1860 - August 6, 1914) married Woodrow Wilson, she was an accomplished artist who lived on her own in New York City (a very bold move for a single woman at the time) while attending the Art Students League. After marrying, Ellen was very supportive of her husband's political ambitions, advising him on his speeches and helping him navigate the political waters in New Jersey, where he was governor, and later Washington, as president.

Ellen Wilson was horrified by the poverty in our nation's capitol and she made it her mission to clean up the slums and provide decent housing for the poor. It was her efforts that brought what was called "The Alley Bill" to Congress. The bill was stalled in Congress when the First Lady was stricken with kidney failure. As she lay dying, she told her husband that she would die more peacefully if she knew that the bill was passed.

The president's secretary rushed to deliver her message to Capitol Hill. Upon receiving the First Lady's plea, the Congress immediately passed the bill, which became known as "Ellen Wilson's Bill."

Edith Wilson

Edith Gault (October 15, 1872 - December 28, 1961) was a wealthy widow and an astute businesswoman when she met the widower president. Edith and President Wilson quickly became close. Woodrow Wilson was a man who had a high regard for women and came to rely on the advice and companionship of the women close to him. In this way, Edith was no different. He came to rely so heavily on Edith's advice that he had a special phone installed that connected his White House office directly to Edith's home.

They married in the White House just before the United States became embroiled in World War I. Throughout the war, Edith was active with work for the Red Cross. After the war, President Wilson kept up an exhaustive pace touring the country while promoting his plan for the League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations. He suffered a massive stroke and, while the doctors said that his mind was sound, he remained bedridden.

Edith became the gatekeeper. She alone made every decision regarding what was to be given to the president and everything -- every piece of paper, every message, every question -- had to go through her. It is still not known how much power she yielded, but the president's condition eventually improved, although he never fully recovered. Edith Wilson remained by his side throughout his presidency and until the end of his life.

Florence Harding

Florence Harding (August 15, 1860 - November 21, 1924) was truly the driving force behind her president-husband. Warren G. Harding was her second husband; her first is described as a ne'er-do-well who abandoned her.

Florence consulted a fortune teller without telling her who she was. Madame Marcia predicted that her husband would become president but that he would die in office. This did not deter Florence from pushing her husband to run, even though he was reluctant to pursue it. Once elected, Florence was always at his side. Both her husband and his friends nicknamed her "The Duchess."

Florence was the first First Lady to open up the White House to public tours -- which she would often show up spontaneously to conduct herself.

Her husband enjoyed having all-night poker parties with his friends during which, despite Prohibition, liquor was served. Harding appointed many of his poker buddies to important government positions, which ultimately led to his downfall as they engaged in egregious graft and corruption. Harding attempted to rehabilitate his reputation with a national speaking tour, but the stress proved too much for him. He fell ill and died in San Francisco on August 3, 1923. Florence burned most of his papers. She died 15 months later.

Grace Coolidge

Where many First Ladies kept close watch over their president-husbands and actively participated in their husband's political affairs, Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge were exactly the opposite. Calvin Coolidge made it clear that he would not permit his wife to have any part in his work and even discouraged her from attending any of his speeches. He arranged her schedule without consulting her and told her what she could and could not do. He even bought her clothes.

By all accounts, she handled her husband's heavy hand with good humor. She was enormously popular and was even compared to Dolley Madison in her ability to make anyone feel at ease.

Of her role as First Lady, Grace Coolidge said, "This was I and yet not I."

Lou Hoover

Lou Hoover (March 29, 1874 - January 7, 1944) was a dynamic woman who loved sports and the great outdoors. She was the first woman to earn a geology degree from Stanford University, which is where she met her husband, who was a mining engineer there.

They were living in London when World War I broke out and Lou worked to raise money for emergency relief, coordinated hospital programs and even organized knitting factories. In 1917, she began her life-long association with the Girl Scouts.

As First Lady, she spearheaded the project to document the history of the White House and set out to refurnish it with period furniture.

Lou Hoover personally donated a great deal to charity, the extent of which was not even known by her husband until after her death.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 - November 7, 1962) transformed herself from a painfully shy, awkward child to one of the most admired and influential women in history. She was born to exceedingly attractive and charming parents who died when Eleanor was still a young girl and she never overcame the self-doubt forged at a very young age.

As the wife of Franklin Roosevelt, she lived under the thumb of his domineering mother. When World War II broke out, Eleanor threw herself into volunteer work. The feeling of usefulness she derived from it became the driving force that would sustain her throughout her life.

In many aspects, Eleanor was not only the "eyes and legs" of her president-husband after he was stricken with polio, she was also his conscience, encouraging him on important issues. Even after the long-term affair her husband carried on even during his years in the White House, she remained resolute in her devotion to the causes she worked tirelessly for, such as civil rights for African Americans, opportunities for women and social reforms for the disadvantaged.

As First Lady, she traveled over 40,000 miles and made 70 speeches per year; she wrote 2,500 newspaper columns, 300 magazine articles, six books and hundreds of thousands of correspondences.

After her husband's death, Eleanor Roosevelt continued to work tirelessly for humanitarian causes and progressive politics. President Truman appointed her to the United Nations where she was instrumental in the drafting of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Elizabeth "Bess" Truman

Elizabeth "Bess" Truman (February 13, 1885 - October 18, 1982) is quoted as saying, "a woman's place in public is to sit beside her husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight." Behind the scenes, however, it is said that she was her husband's closest confidante and "chief adviser."

Bess was an intensely private person. Her father committed suicide when she was 18 and she was afraid all her adult life that her husband's political opponents would use that against her. Her style was in stark contrast her to predecessor, Eleanor Roosevelt. Mrs. Truman did not make speeches, she cancelled the press conferences that had become customary under Mrs. Roosevelt and she did not go on the record as having any opinions. Then, behind the scenes, she edited her husband's speeches and he sought out her judgment on all his decisions.

Mamie Eisenhower

Like many First Ladies before her, Mamie Eisenhower (November 14, 1896 - November 1, 1979) had well-honed social skills that smoothed over her president-husband's rough edges. She was friendly and approachable with the public, but she stayed out of politics.

It is said that she entered the Oval Office only four times during the eight years of her husband's term.

She had no pet causes.

According to Mamie, she had "only one career, and his name is Ike."

Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy

Few First Ladies have captured the public's imagination as thoroughly as Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier Kennedy (July 28, 1929 - May 19, 1994). Jackie grew up in a world of privilege and she married the handsome young Massachusetts senator, John F. Kennedy in a glamorous society wedding. Her fashion sense set trends around the world but she never adjusted to being the object of such fascination.

Jackie's personal causes over which she exerted her influence had to do primarily with the performing arts and American culture. She won an Emmy on February 14, 1962 for her performance in "A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy."

Six years after her husband's assassination, she married the Greek shipping tycoon, Aristotle Onassis. After his death, she became a highly respected book editor and lived a quiet life in New York City. She died of cancer in 1994.

Iconic Images

Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson

Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (December 12, 1912 - July 11, 2007) received her unusual nickname from the nurse who was present at her birth who remarked that she was "as pretty as a lady bird." She received bachelor degrees in history and journalism from the University of Texas but the role of First Lady was one that she admitted she was unprepared for. Consequently, she employed a top-notch staff and ran the office of First Lady like a CEO of a corporation, bringing a new level of professionalism to the role.

Lady Bird Johnson chose to promote the preservation of America's natural beauty as the driving force behind the Highway Beautification Act, which limited billboards and set aside millions of acres for designated wilderness areas and national parks. She was also deeply involved in the campaign known as the War on Poverty that was a key program in her husband's administration, particularly the Head Start Program for preschool-age children.

Thelma "Pat" Nixon

Thelma "Pat" Nixon (March 16, 1912 - June 22, 1993) received her nickname from her Irish father because she was born just hours before St. Patrick's Day. She had a difficult childhood; she put herself through college after her parents died. She met her future husband, Richard Nixon, at an audition for an amateur theatrical group.

When Richard Nixon ran as Eisenhower's running mate in 1952, he was accused of mishandling campaign funds, resulting in a humiliating television speech (the "Checkers" speech). Pat begged him not to run for office again, but he couldn't stay away from politics. She stood by him, but became distant and reserved. Her demeanor led to the press dubbing her "Plastic Pat," although in private and in small groups, it was said that she was personable and warm.

Her causes as First Lady were to encourage volunteerism and visiting soldiers wounded in the Viet Nam War. No amount of goodwill could restore the public's opinion of her husband once the Watergate scandal broke; the scandal that resulted in her husband being the only United States president to be forced to resign the presidency.

Elizabeth "Betty" Ford

Elizabeth "Betty" Ford (April 8, 1918 - July 8, 2011) was known as a forthright, gutsy woman who spoke her own mind, even about controversial issues and private matters including her progressive stances on sex, abortion, feminism and gun control.

Her husband, Gerald Ford became the first vice president to take office due to the resignation of a sitting vice president (Spiro Agnew) and was also the first president to take office due to the resignation of a sitting president (Richard Nixon) -- this, after he had promised his wife to retire from politics.

Betty grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was a dancer and dance instructor before she met and married Gerald Ford.

As First Lady, Betty had liberal social views and pressured her husband to appoint more women to important government offices. One example of her courage and independence is that she was a vocal supporter of the Equal Right Amendment for Women, a position in opposition to her president-husband. In spite of extreme pressure from her husband's political party, she stood her ground.

She was so respected and admired that when her husband ran for president after serving out the term of Richard Nixon, campaign signs read "Keep Betty Ford in the White House!"

At a time when cancer was still considered a taboo subject, Betty Ford spoke openly about her fight with breast cancer and later, about her treatment for addiction to painkillers and alcohol. Her courage did not stop there. She later founded and put her name to the drug and alcohol addiction treatment center that became synonymous with hope and compassion: The Betty Ford Center.

Betty Ford died from natural causes in California at the age of 93.

Rosalynn Carter

Rosalynn Carter (August 18, 1927 - ) is another First Lady who was a true, full partner, confidante and trusted adviser to her president-husband, Jimmy Carter, even to the point of sitting in on cabinet meetings.

She grew up in the small town of Plains, Georgia and prior to becoming First Lady of the United States, she was First Lady of Georgia. Rosalynn was deeply involved in numerous human rights causes including, the Equal Right Amendment (for which she won the Award of Merit), the Special Olympics (for which she was honorary chairperson), and the National Association of Mental Health.

As First Lady, she represented her husband in a special envoy to Latin America in 1977, led a delegation to Thailand to address the issues of Cambodian and Laotian refugees in 1979, and was honorary chairperson to Friendship Force International, as well as honorary chairperson on the President's Commission on Mental Health; it was in this capacity that she became the second First Lady in history to testify before Congress (the first being Eleanor Roosevelt).

Her dedication to human rights issues did not diminish after leaving the White House. She co-founded the non-profit Carter Center with her husband and continues to work tirelessly for human rights issues around the world.

Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan (July 6, 1921 - ) was an actress in Hollywood when she met her then-actor husband, Ronald Reagan.

Nancy Reagan got off to a bumpy start as First Lady. During the campaign, the way she looked so admiringly at her husband ("The Gaze") while he was delivering speeches brought accusations of "hero worship," a practice that was considered out of date in the 1980s. She was then credited with throwing the most lavish inaugural ball in history and spending enormous sums of money redecorating the White House, bringing criticisms of being out of touch with a country struggling through a recession. Her penchant for expensive designer clothes resulted in the press dubbing her "Queen Nancy." She also came under criticism when it became known that she consulted astrologers.

In an attempt to improve her reputation, Nancy Reagan, with the help of some hand-picked advisors, launched her "Just Say No" campaign against drug abuse. The program backfired with criticisms of it being an insipid over-simplification of a complex problem and made her seem more out of touch than ever, although over time her work in the program gained her more respect and it is considered her primary contribution as First Lady.

After leaving office, she became a champion against Alzheimer's Disease, the disease that eventually took her husband's life.

Barbara Bush

Barbara Bush (June 8, 1925 - ) was very supportive of her husband, George H. W. Bush throughout his career in politics and public service, in spite of the many hardships a political life entails. They moved so many times during his political career, it was once reported that they had lived in 29 homes in 17 cities.

Barabra Bush and Abigail Adams are the only First Ladies to have both husbands and sons serve as President of the United States.

Barbara Bush was already deeply committed to eradicating illiteracy in the United States when her husband took office as president and she continued her efforts in the White House by founding the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Mrs. Bush is well known for being independent-minded. Her views on social issues, such as abortion and gun control, were more moderate than her husband's, although she generally refrained from disagreeing with him on the record and was adept at avoiding controversy. She was a popular First Lady, admired for her warm-heartedness, good humor and authenticity.

The White House in Winter

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton (October 26, 1947 - ) is the only former First Lady in history to be elected Senator and to later run for the presidency herself; she also became the only former First Lady to serve in a high-level cabinet position when she was appointed Secretary of State by her rival in the 2008 presidential race, President Barack Obama.

Hillary grew up in Illinois, was the first student of Wellesley College to give the Commencement Address, graduated from Yale Law School and had a prestigious career as a lawyer, which included being Congressional Legal Counsel. She continued her career as a lawyer even after her husband, William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton, was elected governor of Arkansas.

Advances in the women's equality movement at the time her husband was elected to the presidency seemed to indicate that the public would welcome a strong-minded, politically active First Lady. President Clinton appointed his First Lady-wife to head a task-force on healthcare reform. Not only was her plan rejected by Congress, she came under venomous attacks from conservatives for wielding power without being an elected official and for being inappropriate and un-ladylike.

Hillary pushed forward, although she was forced to tone down her activism. When knowledge of her husband's infidelities became public, a circus atmosphere took over Washington and Hillary was forced to navigate the high-wire act of politics for the remainder of her husband's presidency as she stood by him through impeachment proceedings.

Laura Bush

Laura Bush (November 4, 1946 - ) earned a bachelor degree in education and a master's in library science. She intended to become a teacher before meeting her future husband at a backyard barbeque in Austin, Texas. They married three months after their first date -- and the day following their wedding, they began her husband's unsuccessful campaign for congress.

When her husband, George W. Bush, was elected president, Laura stayed away from controversial issues and did not advise him on policy, but she did use her considerable influence as First Lady to promote reading and literacy. She conducted a series of White House symposia on American Literature and established a semi-annual National Book Festival in 2001.

Other major issues she championed as First Lady include women's health through The Heart Truth, an organization established by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and the Laura Bush Institute for Women's Health within the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama (January 17, 1964 - ) is the first African-American First Lady of the United States. She was raised on the South Side of Chicago and attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School before returning to Chicago where she met her future husband at the law firm of Sidley Austin. When Barack was hired by the firm, she was assigned to mentor him. In Chicago, she worked as part of the staff of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and for the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Like Jacqueline Kennedy, she instantly became a fashion icon and a role model for many women, both in America and throughout the world. As First Lady, she works extensively as an advocate for poverty awareness and healthy eating.

In 2011, Forbes Magazine named Michelle Obama the eighth most powerful woman in the world on their list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.

The Election Heard 'Round the World

Inspiration + Enthusiasm

Candid Moments in a New Era