First Ladies For Dummies

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Marcus A. Stadelmann PhD. First Ladies For Dummies

First Ladies For Dummies® To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “First Ladies For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box. Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Illustrations

Guide

Pages

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Understanding First Ladies

The Changing Role of First Ladies in the United States

First Ladies in U.S. History

Defining a First Lady

FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF BEING FIRST LADY

Powers of the First Lady

Assuming head of state roles

Having unseen powers

Getting into the limelight

Becoming institutionalized

The Evolution of the Position of First Lady

Phase I (1789–1829)

Phase II (1829–1869)

Phase III (1869–1933)

Phase IV (1933–Present)

First Lady Rankings and Evaluations

Evaluating the First Ladies

Ranking U.S. First Ladies

The Siena Research Institute Survey

Discussing ten evaluation criteria

White House steward

Value to president

Own woman

Public image

Accomplishments

Value to country

Leadership

Integrity

Background

Courage

Setting the Precedent

Becoming the First First Lady

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731–1802)

Joining Forces with George, the Love of Her Life

Taking an active role

Becoming a war hero

Going First: From Lady Washington to First Lady

Learning her way

Starting traditions

Taking sides

Hosting the World in Retirement

Setting Precedents

Abigail Smith Adams (1744–1818)

Becoming a revolutionary

Living life abroad

Becoming First Lady

Turning into Mrs. President

THE ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS

HOW THE WHITE HOUSE BECAME THE WHITE HOUSE

Moving to and hating Washington, D.C

Living out her life

Becoming famous after her death

Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson (1748–1782)

Dying too soon

Becoming First Lady after her death

Dolley Payne Todd Madison (1768–1849)

Moving forward with charm and popularity

Blazing the trail for future First Ladies

Saving a painting

THE STORY OF A MISSPELLED NAME

Becoming the first lady named First Lady

Continuing to Set an Example

Elizabeth Kortright Monroe (1768–1830)

Going abroad and saving an American hero’s wife

Embracing European life

DEAL OF THE CENTURY!

Going home and being miserable

Louisa Johnson Adams (1775–1852)

Living an adventure

Becoming First Lady

Seeking the election of 1824

Going back to Washington, D.C

Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767–1828)

Meeting Jackson

Almost becoming First Lady

SCANDAL: THE PEGGY EATON AFFAIR

Leading Up to a Civil War

Calling in a First Lady Substitute

Hannah Hoes Van Buren (1783–1819)

Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison (1775–1864)

Letitia Christian Tyler (1790–1842)

Being the wife of an absent politician

Allowing Priscilla Tyler to step in

Julia Gardiner Tyler (1820–1889)

Becoming the youngest First Lady, briefly

Going home to Virginia

Dying a Confederate

Acting Like a President

Sarah Childress Polk (1803–1891)

Becoming a Politician-Er, Wife of One

Getting into politics

Becoming a “working” First Lady

Being advised by a former First Lady

Fearing for her husband

Helping make policy

MANIFEST DESTINY

Going into Retirement Alone

To Be or Not to Be First Lady

Margaret Smith Taylor (1788–1852)

Having a family and traveling America

Preferring to remain private

Abigail Powers Fillmore (1798–1853)

Tutoring the (future) president

Becoming First Lady by default

Jane Means Appleton Pierce (1806–1863)

Living not so happily ever after

Retiring, or not

Refusing to be a First Lady

Harriet Lane (1830–1903)

Growing up in politics

Becoming a single First Lady

Living her own life

Living a Life of Tragedy

Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–1882)

Moving away from home

Meeting Lincoln

Making a president

Failing as First Lady

Spending like crazy

Changing moods

Enduring tragedy

Losing her children and brothers

Watching the assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Going On After Abraham’s Assassination

KEEPING POLITICS IN THE FAMILY

The Civil War, Reconstruction, and Becoming a World Power

Reconstructing a Country

Eliza McCardle Johnson (1810–1876)

Meeting and helping her husband

Staying in Tennessee as Johnson’s career grows

Becoming a recluse in the White House

Being revered for being frugal

Avoiding impeachment

Remaining together to the end

Julia Dent Grant (1826–1902)

Being at odds with family on slavery

Finding their way back to the battlefield

Loving the White House

Redirecting retirement through writing

Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831–1889)

Getting involved in civic causes

Riding the bumpy road to the White House

Improving lives as First Lady

BECOMING A NEW WOMAN

Abstaining from alcohol

Enjoying new technology

Showing compassion

Lucretia Rudolph Garfield (1832–1918)

Staking independence

Making changes for each other

Serving less than a year as First Lady

Getting Close to the 20th Century

Ellen Herndon Arthur (1837–1880)

Pushing her husband’s political career

Missing out on being First Lady

Frances Folsom Cleveland (1864–1947)

Growing up with Uncle Clev

Turning the tides to husband

Being the youngest First Lady ever

Staging a comeback

Getting remarried and caring about education

Caroline Scott Harrison (1832–1892)

Living life in Indiana

Making improvements as First Lady

Letting her artistic side shine

Getting involved in public causes

Dying in the White House

Ida Saxton McKinley (1847–1907)

Excelling in a man’s world

Living with tragedy

Having a devoted husband

Remaining a strong First Lady

Becoming a World Power

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt (1861–1948)

Building a life with Teddy

Taking control as First Lady

Updating the White House

Enjoying a long, active life after retirement

Helen Herron Taft (1861–1943)

Being a free thinker

Becoming the First Lady of the Philippines

Moving to Washington

Finally becoming First Lady

Creating a beautiful capital

Writing an autobiography

MAKING THE MOST OF A SILVER ANNIVERSARY

Ellen Louise Axson Wilson (1860–1914)

Becoming an artist and practicing for First Lady

Being adept at First Lady

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson (1872–1961)

Meeting the President

Running the country

Thriving as Mrs. Wilson

Changing the Roles of Women

Florence Kling Harding (1860–1924)

Dealing with affairs

Getting into politics

Succeeding as First Lady

Dying during their first term

Grace Goodhue Coolidge (1879–1957)

Being a politician’s wife

Experiencing tragedy

Working as a hostess and an advocate

Retiring and living a long life

Louise Henry Hoover (1874–1944)

Carrying a pistol

Traveling the world and becoming wealthy

Getting into politics

Being charitable

Dealing with staff

Retiring in style

Modern First Ladies

First Lady of the World

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)

Marrying a Roosevelt and Living with a Dominant Mother-in-Law

Moving in Social Circles

Getting Active in Politics in the 1920s

Becoming First Lady of New York

Being an Activist First Lady

Advocating for women’s rights

Advocating for civil rights

Working the media

Supporting the troops

The Story Isn’t Over: Moving on After the White House

Three Cold War First Ladies

Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman (1885–1982)

Finding early romance

Getting into politics

Being a strong First Lady behind the scenes

Retiring to Independence

Mamie Doud Eisenhower (1896–1979)

Being a military wife

Appealing to the average American

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy (1929–1994)

Joining forces with JFK

Becoming a First Lady everyone admired

Turning celebrity

Restoring the White House

Going international

Living through an assassination

Marrying a billionaire

Becoming Politically Active

Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson (1912–2007)

Marrying Johnson and moving to D.C

Getting familiar with politics

MAKING A MEDIA EMPIRE

Helping a presidential campaign

Advocating for her husband and her causes

Pushing for the Head Start Program

Beautifying the country

Going back to Texas

Thelma Catherine Ryan Nixon (1912–1993)

Building a life with Nixon

Becoming Second Lady

Being active and popular

Being left out

Retiring disgraced

Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Ford (1918–2011)

Perfecting her stage presence

Marrying a man like her father

Talking to the American people

Battling cancer

Being controversial

Retiring early and doing more good

Ending a Cold War

Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter (1927–)

Relishing travel but returning home

Changing gears to politics

Running for president

Loving it as First Lady

Being an official U.S. representative

Being an assistant president

Being active in retirement

Nancy Davis Reagan (1921–2016)

Catching the acting bug

Meeting Ronald Reagan

Taking on the governorship

Becoming First Lady

Acting like a queen

Campaigning for Just Say No

Protecting her husband

Advising a president

Becoming an informal chief of staff

Facing health issues

Barbara Pierce Bush (1925–2018)

Making family priority #1

Becoming Second and then First Lady

Fighting illiteracy

Winning over a hostile crowd

Capturing popularity

Creating a legacy

Almost Becoming President

Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947–)

Meeting Bill Clinton

Starting a career and getting into politics

Moving up to First Lady

Becoming co-president

Failing with healthcare

Dealing with scandal — Part I

Hating her second four years

Dealing with scandal — Part II

Owning her own political career

Running for president — Part I

Serving as secretary of state

Running for president — Part II

Being careless

Getting rich

Losing in 2016 and moving on

Using the Power of the Position

Laura Welch Bush (1946–)

Meeting and marrying George

Moving to Washington, D.C

Championing the First Lady role

Fighting disease and campaigning for women’s rights

Pushing for change and making a difference

Fighting oppression in Burma

Retiring but staying active

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (1964–)

Meeting of the minds

Balancing politics and family life

Winning in the media

Sealing the deal on the campaign trail

Serving as mom-in-chief

Getting kids to move it, move it

Reaching high

Helping veterans

Going global

Enjoying retirement

The Model and the Educator

Melania Knauss Trump (1970–)

Choosing modeling and Donald Trump

Becoming an American citizen

Taking a backseat to politics

Being a quiet and private First Lady

Fighting online bullying

Staying away from the media and the campaign trail

Standing her ground

Retiring with controversy

Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden (1951–)

Marrying a politician and continuing her education

Working double-duty

Serving the community (colleges) and the military

Leaving D.C. and returning as First Lady

The Part of Tens

The Ten Most Influential First Ladies

Eleanor Roosevelt

Abigail Adams

Dolley Madison

Hillary Clinton

Betty Ford

Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson

Sarah Polk

Rosalynn Carter

Harriet Lane

Michelle Obama

The Ten Least-Known Facts about U.S. First Ladies

Dolley Madison: Dining and Dashing

Julia Grant: Using Foresight

Caroline Harrison: Leaving the Light On

Edith Roosevelt: Playing I Spy

Edith Wilson: Wielding a Famous Relative

Lou Hoover: Dodging Bullets

Mamie Eisenhower: Working from Bed

Jacqueline Kennedy: Upsetting the Public

Lady Bird Johnson: Not Letting Anything Stop Her

Barbara Bush: Taking Chances

Index. A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Z

About the Author

Dedication

Author’s Acknowledgments

WILEY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

Отрывок из книги

Over the last 232 years, the United States has had 47 First Ladies. While presidents have dominated U.S. politics and history, most of our First Ladies are relatively unknown. The U.S. public might know about the most recent First Ladies, such as Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, or Dr. Jill Biden, and/or the most famous ones, such as Eleanor Roosevelt. However, most people are unfamiliar with many of the U.S. First Ladies.

While almost every American can name the current president, significantly fewer can name the current First Lady. Public school curricula and college courses focus on the U.S. presidents and not First Ladies. Academic books and autobiographies on American presidents and their administrations are readily available and fill many shelves in bookstores. Not so for First Ladies. The first memoirs of a First Lady didn’t hit the bookshelves until the 20th century.

.....

George Washington died two years later, and Martha was once again a widow. Martha burned all their correspondence. She didn’t want anyone else to know about her husband’s feelings, fears, and opinions of colleagues. Historians found only two letters hidden in her desk after she died. One was from her husband written after he accepted the offer to become the Commander of the Continental Army. In the letter, George wrote:

“My dearest, I had to accept this. My honor required it. But please, my dear Patsy, don’t be angry with me.”

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