First Lady of the United States: the wife of the current president of the United States. Although seemingly a trivial title, many first ladies have worked behind the scenes and wielded power in their own right. They have worked with their husband’s achievements and used their influence to break glass ceilings and inspire change all over the world. Some well-known first ladies include Dolley Madison, Edith Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Hillary Clinton.
Dolley Madison, wife of James Madison, was the most important woman in America at the time. Her excellent social graces and political acumen proved to be a valuable asset for her husband, who would ask her to help him smooth over political quarrels and host balls, envoys, and diplomats from all over the world. It was her who would establish the public role of the first lady and create a standard for how first ladies should act. She was the first to create public projects; for example, she fundraised and founded a home for young orphaned girls in Washington, D.C. She was a great patriot, and when the White House was burned down in 1812, she famously refused to leave until George Washington’s portrait was saved. Clearly, Dolley Madison helped to develop the role of the First Lady and increased the sphere of influence women in the White House wielded. She would remain a notable social figure in the public sphere until her death.
When President Woodrow Wilson suffered through a serious stroke in the midst of war, Edith Wilson would be the one who took the reins on his presidency- so much so, in fact, that she would be labeled as the “Secret President”. To protect Wilson’s health, Edith essentially took over the small duties and technicalities of the executive branch. She selected only the most important matters for Wilson to see; everything else was simply dealt by others or herself. When Wilson was the most sick, Edith would even forbid certain advisors and political figures from seeing him. When Wilson did have political meetings, Edith would frequently be found by his side, taking verbatim notes. Although the Wilsons would leave the White House in 1921, Edith continued to take control over Wilson’s health and screened all activities and visitors he had until his death. Edith’s control over the presidency and her husband’s health proved to be remarkably beneficial to him, as the country undoubtedly might have fallen into shambles without her help at the time.
Considered to be one of the greatest first ladies of all time, Eleanor Roosevelt was a greatly influential figure in her own right and also served during war. Just like Dolley Madison, she understood the social role that a First Lady must fulfill and had great political acumen. She also used her influence to help advance certain social justice causes. For example, she frequently campaigned for the New Deal, civil rights proposals, and women’s rights. She was an integral leader of the United Nations after World War II and worked tirelessly to help protect human rights and equal opportunities. Even after Roosevelt’s death, Eleanor would continue to serve society and was on the board of directors for the NAACP. Eleanor Roosevelt was just as influential as her husband and always stood up for causes she believed in.
Hillary Clinton, is, as we all know, the first former First Lady to secure a presidential nomination. She was just as active as her husband Bill Clinton in the political world. Famously, she was even given the role of directing healthcare reform. Although her politics may not be well liked, similar to Eleanor Roosevelt, she did frequently advocate for women’s rights and supported key pieces of legislation for them. After she left the White House, she would go on to serve as a senator for her home state of New York. After losing the presidential nomination in 2008 to Barack Obama, she would go on to become his Secretary of State. Today, everyone knows of Hillary Clinton and the great influence she has wielded in our national affairs for over a decade.
It appears that the role of the First Lady is not simply just a “wife” of the president. Many First Ladies in American History have proved to be enormously powerful and influential- whether it’s socially or politically- and a valuable partner to our presidents.
Sources
- “First Ladies.” The White House, The United States Government, www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-ladies/.
- Kelly, Martin. "The 10 Most Influential First Ladies." ThoughtCo, Apr. 12, 2018, thoughtco.com/top-most-influential-first-ladies-105458.
Interesting post, Jayde. In fact, recently in the headlines has been the death of Barbara Bush, the wife of George H.W. Bush. She, as the matriarch of a Republican political dynasty, was dubbed "the first lady of the greatest generation" during her funeral service. She was a close adviser to her husband during the first Bush Administration and she was a champion for literacy, attending over 500 events related to literacy during her husband's time as Vice President in the Reagan Administration alone. She established the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in March of 1989 during her husband's presidency, as she was inspired by her belief that every man, woman, and child should have the opportunity to secure a better life through literacy.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-literary-legacy-of-barbara-bush/