The First Lady is a title normally used for the wife of the President of the United States though nowadays it is fashionable to refer to the spouses of the other heads of state too by this title. The term “First Lady” is so popular that recently it has led to the creation of the term “First Gentleman” as the title for the husband of state governors or state heads. If being the head of the state of is a responsible job, then being the wife of the head of the state is not a simple task either. As the spouse of the head of the state, there are various roles she has to play in the social and political scenario. Over the past several decades First Ladies have played the part of White House managers and hostesses. Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John F. Kennedy, was not just a great hostess who renovated the White House, but was also a fashion icon to America’s young women. The more recent First Ladies like Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama have taken up the roles of campaigners and social activists. Read on to learn about the life and works of various famous First Ladies.
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Feminist and civil rights icon Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was the longest-serving U.S First Lady. She was a prominent human rights activist, wrote columns, and hosted a radio show. She was named to Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century in 1999.
Wife of the former U.S President, Barack Obama, and one of the most popular First Ladies of the United States, Michelle Obama is a celebrity in her own right. She is still very popular and is a sought-after speaker around the globe and often lends her voice to issues like poverty awareness, education, nutrition, women’s rights, immigration and racism.
Jackie Kennedy was a literature editor, photographer, and socialite who was once married to the former American President John F. Kennedy. She became the First Lady of the United States when her husband became the president. She was known for her iconic fashion style. She is considered one of the most popular and recognizable First Ladies in American history.
Laura Bush is an American educator. She served as the First Lady of the US from 2001 to 2009, during which she encouraged education and helped advance women's causes through non-profit organizations. Regarded as one of the most famous American First Ladies, Laura Bush focused on raising awareness about malaria and HIV/AIDS.
The first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, Barbara Bush was the wife of the 41st US President George H. W. Bush. She was also the mother of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of US. As the first lady, she focused on family literacy and was the founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of Abraham Lincoln. She played an important role during the American Civil War as she worked hard to keep the morale of the country high throughout the war. Mary invariably finds a place in stories and biographies written about Abraham Lincoln as she was seated next to him when he was killed.
Lady Bird Johnson was an American socialite who served as the First Lady of the US from 1963 to 1969. As First Lady, Johnson was responsible for the passage of the Highway Beautification Act, which was nicknamed Lady Bird's Bill. She was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1977 and 1988, respectively.
Rosalynn Carter, served as the U.S. First Lady from 1977 to 1981, as the wife of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. She promoted human rights, peace, and mental health awareness. She was also an envoy to Latin America and launched Every Child By Two, a childhood immunization awareness program.
Nancy Reagan was an American actress who also served as the first lady of the US between 1981 and 1989. One of her major initiatives as the first lady was her role in founding a drug awareness campaign called Just Say No. She had a strong influence on President Ronald Reagan, having an impact on many of his diplomatic decisions.
The former Second Lady of the United States, Jill Biden is the wife of Joe Biden, the 2020 presidential candidate. A passionate educator who is also fiercely independent, Jill continued to work as a full-time professor even when she was the Second Lady. A vocal supporter of community colleges, she has also been supportive of military families and cancer research.
Abigail Adams was the closest advisor and wife of the second president of the United States, John Adams. She is credited with influencing John Adams in many ways as the latter often sought the advice of his wife. Adams feature prominently in musicals, films, and TV series that discuss her husband. She has been portrayed by actresses like Laura Linney.
Martha Washington became the inaugural First Lady of the United States when her husband George Washington took office as the first President of the United States in 1789. She was the daughter of a wealthy man and was first married to Daniel Parke Custis, with whom she had four children. Following Custis’ death, she married George Washington.
Betty Ford served as the First Lady of the US from 1974 to 1977. One of the most popular First Ladies in history, Ford was a passionate supporter of abortion rights and worked towards raising breast cancer awareness. She commented on topics like sex, drugs, abortion, and equal pay. In 1991, she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Pat Nixon was an American educator who served as the First Lady of the US from 1969 to 1974 during which she promoted several charitable causes. She is also one of the most traveled First Lady in the history of the United States, accompanying her husband Richard Nixon on his trips to the Soviet Union and China among other countries.
Born to Syrian-origin parents in Britain, Asma al-Assad is now the First Lady of Syria, through her marriage to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. In 2021, an investigation related to her alleged involvement in war crimes in Syria was opened, which if proven could strip her of her British citizenship.
Mamie Eisenhower was the First Lady of the U.S. through her marriage to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Her love for elegant attires got her featured on the New York Dress Institute’s list of the best-dressed women. She gave rise to the Mamie Look and the Mami Pink shade.
Married to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Sajida Talfah was also his first cousin. Theirs was an arranged marriage fixed before the two were even 10. Fond of her luxurious lifestyle, Sajida also often mistreated her servants. She disappeared during the Gulf War, like many other fugitives.
Not only does Moza bint Nasser, the former queen of Qatar, have an impeccable fashion sense, but she also holds various degrees, including honorary doctorates from Carnegie Mellon and Texas A&M universities. She is known for her love for matching turbans and designer shoes, and for her philanthropic work.
