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Who was the very first lady of the United States?
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".
Who was the 2nd first lady of the United States?
As the wife of John Adams, Abigail Adams was the first woman to serve as Second Lady of United States and the second woman to serve as First Lady. She was also the mother of the sixth President, John Quincy Adams.
Who was the first lady of the White House?
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving First Lady throughout her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office (1933-1945).
Which US president did not have a first lady?
He remains the only President to be elected from Pennsylvania and to remain a lifelong bachelor. Tall, stately, stiffly formal in the high stock he wore around his jowls, James Buchanan was the only President who never married.
Who was the youngest First Lady?
Frances Clara Cleveland Preston (born Frank Clara Folsom; July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897 as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. Becoming first lady at age 21, she remains the youngest wife of a sitting president.
Is there a third lady?
In countries which have more than one vice presidential position (e.g. Peru, Afghanistan), the Second Lady would be the spouse of the First Vice President, the Third Lady would be the spouse of the Second Vice President, and so on.
What president married his niece?
Mary Dimmick Harrison, nee Lord (April 30, 1858 – January 5, 1948) was the second wife of the 23rd United States president Benjamin Harrison. She was nearly 25 years younger than Harrison, and was the niece of his first wife.
How many first ladies are still living?
There are five living former first ladies: Rosalynn Carter, married to Jimmy Carter; Hillary Clinton, married to Bill Clinton; Laura Bush, married to George W. Bush, Michelle Obama, married to Barack Obama; and Melania Trump, married to Donald Trump.
Who was the first First Lady to be photographed?
Sarah Polk First first lady to be photographed while in office. First first lady to serve as a secretary to the president. First first lady to have no children.
How many first ladies were there?
Over 47 women have held the role of First Lady as of 2017. However, not all those who have served as a first lady were spouses to the presidents.
Who was the biggest President?
TaftTaft, the nation's largest President; stood over six feet tall and weighed over three hundred pounds.
Who was the first person to get married in the White House?
"I must go to dinner," he wrote a friend, "but I wish it was to eat a pickled herring a Swiss cheese and a chop at Louis' instead of the French stuff I shall find." In June 1886 Cleveland married 21-year-old Frances Folsom; he was the only President married in the White House.
Who was the first lady of the United States?
The first first lady was Martha Washington, married to George Washington. Presidents John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson had two official first ladies; both remarried during their presidential tenures.
Who were the first ladies?
There are five living former first ladies: Rosalynn Carter, married to Jimmy Carter; Hillary Clinton, married to Bill Clinton; Laura Bush, married to George W. Bush, Michelle Obama, married to Barack Obama; and Melania Trump, married to Donald Trump. The first first lady was Martha Washington, married to George Washington.
Who is the hostess of the White House?
The first lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, but, on occasion, the title has been applied to women who were not presidents’ wives, such as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable ...
Is the First Lady an elected position?
The first lady is not an elected position; it carries no official duties and receives no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president.
What did Biden do during her first term in the White House?
During her first White House tenure, Dr. Biden traveled to nearly forty countries, visiting military bases, hospitals, and refugee camps, and advocating for education and economic empowerment for women and girls. Dr. Biden’s advocacy for more cancer education and prevention began in 1993, when four of her friends were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Who is Jill Biden?
Jill Biden, Ed.D., is the First Lady of the United States, a community college educator, and bestselling author. Dr. Biden also served as Second Lady of the United States from 2009–2017.
Where did Jill Biden teach?
Jill Biden taught English at Rockford Center psychiatric hospital while also pursuing a Master of Arts in English from Villanova University. In 1993, she accepted a job at Delaware Technical Community College. In 2007, she received a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.
What is joining forces with Michelle Obama?
As Second Lady, she launched Joining Forces with First Lady Michelle Obama, an initiative to support service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
What is the title of the first lady?
United States title. First lady, wife of the president of the United States. Although the first lady’s role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the nation.
When did the title "First Lady" become popular?
After journalists hailed her as “first lady of the land,” the title entered common usage. Following the production of a popular play, First Lady, in 1911 , the title became still more popular, and in 1934 it entered Merriam-Webster’s New International Dictionary. Load Next Page.
Why was Martha Washington important to the first president?
Because the framers of the Constitution left the chief executive considerable latitude in choosing advisers, he was able to seek counsel from a wide variety of friends and family, including his wife. The first president made decisions that highlighted the consort’s role. When Martha Washington (first lady from 1789 to 1797) joined President George Washington in New York City a month after his April 1789 inauguration, she arrived on a conspicuous barge and was greeted as a public hero. The president had already arranged to combine his office and residence in one building, thus providing her with ample opportunity to receive his callers and participate in official functions. Although she refrained from taking a stand on important issues, she was carefully watched and widely hailed as “Lady Washington.”
Who was John Quincy Adams' wife?
Louisa Adams (1825–29), the wife of John Quincy Adams, struggled with the same problem her predecessor had faced: how to deal with the tension already evident in American culture concerning whether the president’s family should mix freely and live simply or reside in luxury and be revered from afar.
Who helped Dolley Madison decorate the President's residence?
With the assistance of architect Benjamin Latrobe, she decorated the president’s residence elegantly and entertained frequently. Her egalitarian mix of guests increased her popularity.
Who is the current first lady?
The current first lady is Jill Biden .
What does the First Lady do?
What the First Lady does. The First Lady is not chosen by the people of the United States, and there are no jobs she is officially required to perform. Though she is not paid for being the First Lady, her role includes involvement in political campaigns, management of the White House, championing social causes and representing ...
Who is Martha Washington?
Martha Washington. Formation. April 30, 1789. Website. whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies. The First Lady of the United States sometimes abbreviated as ( FLOTUS) is the wife of the President of the United States.
Who is the oldest first lady?
At age 69, Biden is the oldest first lady to assume the role. She is also the first Italian American first lady.
When was Jill Biden's daughter born?
The Bidens' daughter Ashley Blazer was born on June 8, 1981, and Jill stopped working for two years while raising the three children. Jill and Joe Biden met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in April 1980.
Who is Jill Biden?
Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden (formerly Stevenson; born June 3, 1951) is an American educator, who is the current first lady of the United States. She was previously the second lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She has a bachelor's degree and a doctoral degree from the University of Delaware, as well as two master's degrees from West Chester ...
Did Biden want her husband to run for president in 2004?
Role in 2008 presidential campaign. Despite personally opposing the Iraq War, Biden had not wanted her husband to run in the 2004 presidential election, to the point where she interrupted one strategy meeting discussing the possibility by entering in a swimsuit with the word "NO" inscribed on her stomach.
Is Michelle Obama a founder of joining forces?
She is now the founder of the Biden Breast Health Initiative non-profit organization, co-founder of the Book Buddies program, co-founder of the Biden Foundation, is active in Delaware Boots on the Ground, and with Michelle Obama is co-founder of Joining Forces. She has published a memoir and two children's books.
Is it rare for a second lady to work while her husband is vice president?
In White House announcements and by her preference, she was referred to as "Dr. Jill Biden".
Overview
The 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. Since the early 20th century, the first lady h…
Origins of the title
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 Wash…
Role
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. The role of the first lady has evolved over the centuries. She is, first and foremost, the hostess of the White House. She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the preside…
Office of the First Lady
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 …
Exhibitions and collections
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 p…
Fashion influence
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. 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…
Causes and initiatives
Since the 1920s, many first ladies have become public speakers, adopting specific causes. 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
Living former first ladies
As of 2022 , there are five living former first ladies: Rosalynn Carter (wife of Jimmy Carter), Hillary Clinton (wife of Bill Clinton), Laura Bush (wife of George W. Bush), Michelle Obama (wife of Barack Obama), and Melania Trump (wife of Donald Trump).
• Rosalynn Carter served 1977–1981 born 1927 (age 94) wife of Jimmy Carter
• Hillary Clinton served 1993–2001 born 1947 (age 74) wife of Bill Clinton
Overview
The first lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, but, on occasion, the title has been applied to women who were not presidents' wives, such 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. The first lady is not a…
Current living first ladies
Living first ladies as of June 7, 2022 (from oldest to youngest):
• Rosalynn Carter (1977–1981) Born August 18, 1927 (age 94 years, 293 days)
• Laura Bush (2001–2009) Born November 4, 1946 (age 75 years, 215 days)
• Hillary Clinton (1993–2001) Born October 26, 1947 (age 74 years, 224 days)
Other spouses of presidents of the United States
Certain spouses of presidents of the United States are not considered first ladies of the United States.
Four presidents were widowed prior to their presidencies:
• Thomas Jefferson was married to Martha Wayles from 1772 until her death in 1782.
• Andrew Jackson was married to Rachel Donelson from 1794 until her death in 1828.
See also
• Bibliography of United States presidential spouses and first ladies
• Second Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States
• First family of the United States
• List of children of presidents of the United States
External links
• The First Ladies – White House
• Biographies of the First Ladies of the United States of America – National First Ladies' Library
• First Ladies National Historic Site
Early Life and Career
Second Lady
- As Second Lady, Dr. Biden focused on advocating for community colleges, military families, and the education of women and girls around the world. As the Obama-Biden Administration focused on recovering from the 2008 economic recession, Dr. Biden worked to underscore the critical role of community colleges in the nation’s economy. She hosted the first-ever White House Summit o…
Life After The Obama-Biden Administration
- Following the Obama-Biden Administration, then-former Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden launched the Biden Foundation and the Biden Cancer Initiative. Her New York Times bestselling memoir, Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself was published in 2019.That was followed by her second children’s book, JOEY: The Story of Joe Biden,which was published i…
First Lady
- As First Lady, Dr. Biden continues her work for education, military families, and fighting cancer. She is a professor of writing at Northern Virginia Community College.