First Lady of the United States

The First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the official host of the White House and is often, though not always, the wife of the President of the United States. Some women who have been considered First Ladies have been female relatives of the president. The role of FLOTUS has changed significantly over time, with each First Lady choosing how to define the role for herself in different ways. One important duty of the FLOTUS is to act as the official host of the White House. The First Lady can also choose to act as a confidant to the president or as an influential member of the White House who can advise on issues that are meant to help the American people. Because the FLOTUS is a spouse or family member of a president, she is not herself elected to office. For this reason, some Americans believe the First Lady should not take part in discussions of policy.

Background

The first “First Lady” was Martha Washington, the wife of America’s first president, George Washington. Washington did not have the official title of First Lady while in office. However, she did act as a host. Known by many as Lady Washington during her husband’s time in office, Washington set a precedent for future spouses and family members to act as hosts and to be involved in the president’s social life. Martha Washington was not referred to as First Lady until more than forty years after her death. In the early 1800s, the term was used infrequently to refer to the spouse of the president. The term was not used regularly until the 1890s, when Frances Folsom Cleveland, wife to President Grover Cleveland, became known as the “First Lady of the Land.” This term was eventually shortened to First Lady. This term became commonly used in the 1940s when referring to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Although the role of First Lady has most often been held by presidential wives, some women who have served in the role were other family members of the president. Angelica Van Buren served as First Lady for President Martin Van Buren from 1837 to 1841. She was married to Abraham Van Buren, the president’s son. President Van Buren’s wife, Hannah, died nearly two decades before he took office, and he never remarried. Angelica took over the role as host and held formal gatherings similar to those of Queen Victoria’s court in England. Harriet Rebecca Lane Johnston acted as First Lady for President James Buchanan from 1857 to 1861. Buchanan was a lifelong bachelor and never married. Lane Johnston was raised by Buchanan after she was orphaned at age eleven.

Overview

In her capacity as the traditional White House host, the First Lady welcomes foreign dignitaries, members of Congress, heads of state, and other important guests to the White House. The FLOTUS often helps to coordinate and plan important White House functions, including state dinners, which are events that honor a visiting head of government or reigning monarch. These events are some of the grandest held in the White House. Decisions about the menu, china patterns, decorations, and other considerations often fall to the First Lady for such events. As with all the roles of the First Lady, the role of host has been embraced by some women and shunned by others. For example, Martha Washington held weekly receptions at which she would welcome members of Congress, foreign dignitaries, and others. Hillary Clinton, who was First Lady during her husband Bill Clinton’s presidency, gave up her host role in the late 1990s to focus on a run for the US Senate.

Another role that many First Ladies have filled has been that of an advocate for the American people. One famous example was Eleanor Roosevelt, who championed social justice issues such as poverty, labor relations, and racial inequality. Roosevelt was a famously active First Lady who not only traveled around the country but also communicated with the American people through a newspaper column that she wrote. As the longest-serving First Lady, Roosevelt became a popular and long-enduring public figure during the Great Depression and World War II. Another role that some First Ladies have embraced is that of a policy advocate. This role became well established at the end of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century, a time when the role of women in American society was changing. In the 1980s, First Lady Nancy Reagan famously advocated for a campaign against drug use. In the 2000s, First Lady Laura Bush influenced policy on literacy and global human rights issues, such as the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan. Dr Jill Biden began some of the first White House initiatives focused on women in medical research.

The First Lady is also often seen as a teammate to the president. Many women who have acted as FLOTUS have been advocates for the president and presidential policies. When the First Lady supports a certain policy or action, she can help gain public support for the issue. Some First Ladies have avoided becoming involved in policy or politics, while others have accepted that role. During President Bill Clinton's presidency, Hillary Clinton attempted to create healthcare reform. Generally, public polling has found that the First Lady, regardless of who she is, is more popular than the president. Public polling concerning the FLOTUS started in the 1930s. Since then, public opinion polls have shown that the American public generally has a positive view of the acting FLOTUS. Because of that, the First Lady’s support can help a president or a particular policy become more popular.

No woman has served in the role of President of the United States, although women were the Democratic candidates in the 2016 and 2024 elections. Furthermore, no male had served as the spouse of the president. However, when a male finally becomes the first spouse, it is not entirely clear what his role will be. The first spouse, possibly called the first gentleman or first partner, will most likely be a teammate and champion of his spouse, but it is unclear whether he will serve in the role of host. Because the role was first defined in the late eighteenth century, some of the expectations of the First Lady have been gender-typical for females of that era; however, the modern roles of both men and women will likely shape the future duties of a male presidential spouse.

Bibliography

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