XVII.VI.XXVI
SPECIAL FEATURE/Lengthy Read/Video Embedded
INSIDE WHITE HOUSE
FIRST LADIES FIR$T
By Rajan Grover
Curiosity about the lives of Kings, Emperors and the nobles have always been a part of the innate psychology and kinks since ages; it has spilled over in the modern age to the spouses of Presidents and the Prime Ministers of the countries.
Due to the dominating role of the US in global affairs, personal life of POTUS (President of the United States), especially, the wife of the President/First Lady, grabs keen attention and almost devotional paparazzi chase!
The wife of the US President, the First Lady, is fondly called FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States) and is always under the watchful eyes of the global media. Over the years, the US has gone through various reform movements for Civil Rights, human rights and especially feminine voice.
It has changed not only the attitude of the American society but has helped also to redefine the role and the status of the First Ladies. Once working quietly behind the scene, they are now increasingly vocal and visible in the mass media voicing views and are perfectly using their influence and charisma to further their point of view or opinions and even shaping fashion.
Despite the constructive roles played by the First Ladies, they also had their own share of criticism and the negative media coverage due to their ‘wrongdoing’ perceived by the public. Any balanced discussion about them will naturally also involve the controversies surrounding them.
A brief peek into the lives of some remarkable First Ladies of the US, becomes imperative starting from 20th century.
Edith Roosevelt (1901–1909): The wife of US Prez Theodore Roosevelt from the Republican party is considered the first truly modern occupant of her post. She hired a first Social Secretary for First Lady which helped to develop this office as an institution of its own. She was involved in the renovation of the White House and created the official gallery of the First Ladies' portraits. An avid reader, she had a strong liking for Western Literature. She was more social and active, preferred Horse Back riding to automobiles and she is not known to have campaigned for any major social or political movement.
Edith Wilson (1915–1921): The wife of Prez. Woodrow Wilson from Democratic party (1913–21). During the stint of this Prez saw two First Ladies. After the death of first wife Ellen Wilson in 1914, Prez Wilson married Edith Wilson in 1915, who was a widow at that time. She worked as a personal Secretary of the President for some time. In her stay as First Lady, women got Constitutional right for voting. After the severe stroke suffered by President Wilson, she reportedly took over the administration and controlled the access to the President, keeping his declining health a secret.
Florence Harding (1921–23) : The wife of President Warren G. Harding from the Republican party.Before marrying Pres. Harding in 1891, she had a son from her first marriage which ended in a divorce. After her second marriage, she managed the family business of her in-laws, took active part in politics and public affairs. She believed in astrology and is considered as a strong willed, ambitious woman.
She reportedly knew about her husband's multiple extra-marital affairs. Prez. Harding died in 1923. A long standing rumour claimed Florence had poisoned him (Gaston Means's book). However, there is no official confirmation about this serious allegation.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1933–45): The wife of Prez Franklin D. Roosevelt from the Democratic party was the longest serving First Lady and is ranked among the most outspoken and influential. To support the Civil Rights and Women's Rights, she held her own press Conferences and wrote a daily column in a newspaper advocating racial equality long before it became a mainstream political issue. She was an active member of Democratic Party and was a towering political figure in her own right. After leaving the White House she chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights. Her biggest legacy is her important role in drafting the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
The only controversy about her is that some historians doubt that she had a secret lesbian affair with a female journalist Lorena Hickock, on the basis of their mutual correspondence.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1961–63) : The wife of the President John F. Kennedy from the Democratic party, occupies a unique place in public memory. When this couple reached White House in 1961, JFK was 43 — one of the youngest presidents and she was only 31. They both were photogenic, fashionable and personified youth and glamour. She transformed the White House from just a political office to a museum of painting, art and culture which later became a part of national heritage. She understood the power of aesthetics and was a global fashion icon. Due to her fluency in multiple languages, she captivated international crowds and world leaders. Through her Cultural diplomacy, she promoted the 'Soft Power' of the US by frequently inviting the writers, artists and Nobel Laureates in White House.
After JFK's assassination, she became a symbol of national mourning, grief and displayed extraordinary courage and composure. Five years later she married Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis which did not go well with a section of American Society who had idealized her as a perpetual grieving widow. Her famous Quote: *"I will be a wife and mother first, then First Lady."*
Lady Bird Johnson (1963–1969): The wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson from the Democratic party, was a skilled business woman and gave financial support to launch the political career of Lyndon Johnson in his early days. She was the 'First Lady' during the most important legislative victories of the Civil Rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr.; the passage of Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which she had actively supported. She led the Campaign of beautification of Urban Spaces including the plantation of trees and flowers along the highways for better environment and clean air. The only criticism which she faced was her alleged support to her husband's decision to prolong the Vietnam War. Her famous Quote: *"When flowers bloom, so does hope."*
Betty Ford (1974–1977): The wife of President Gerald Ford from Republican Party, who rose to the highest office after President Nixon resigned due to Watergate Scandal.
No other First Lady could be as frank, candid and influential as Betty Ford. She worked as dance instructor and fashion model before entering the political life. Her first troubled marriage ended in divorce and she married Gerald Ford in 1948. She is remembered for speaking openly about the subjects like addiction of substance, breast cancer, alcohol dependence and mental health issues through she personally had to go through as part of her struggle. This helped to reduce the stigma about those issues and people started to seek medical help, which in itself was a great achievement. She was one of the earliest supporters of LGBTQ and right of abortion by women. Her bold photograph standing on the Cabinet room table wearing pants on her last day at White House was not taken kindly by the public.
Nancy Reagan (1981–89): Just like President Ronald Reagan from the Republican party, she was a former Hollywood actress like her husband. She was a remarkable woman with a slim figure, beautifully styled hair, having an elegant posture and excellent sense of fashion. She understood the Camera and media very well. Her favourite colour was red, which she wore it so often that led media to nickname her 'Nancy Red'. She started the "Just Say No" anti-drug Campaign for school children.
After the assassination attempt on her husband, she became more protective and anxious about his safety and started consulting the astrologer Joan Quigley to schedule the dates and timings of his visits, speeches and other events, which drew a lot of criticism. Nancy was not a major Civil Rights figure and is condemned for not doing much for the AIDS and its patients. However, after leaving White House and President Reagan's Alzheimer diagnosis, she promoted the awareness and the research funding of stem cells for the cure of this disease.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (1993–2001): The wife of President Bill Clinton (Democrats), she initiated a major health care reform and is remembered for her role in policy making. Due to her political acumen, she rose to the post of 'Secretary of State' and was a presidential nominee in later part of career. She strongly favoured LGBTQ rights and the abortion rights of women. She was the first one who wore pants (trousers) in public and made it her style statement and symbol. During the highly challenging period of the Clinton–Lewinsky Scandal, she firmly stood by her husband despite the extreme pressure and media scrutiny. Her iconic words: *"Women's rights are human rights."*
Michelle Obama (2009–2017): President Barack Obama (Democrats), is considered highly educated First Lady along with Hillary Clinton. She earned the law degree from a prestigious American University and had a distinguished professional career before becoming the First Lady. She is known for promoting girl's education, healthy lifestyle and fitness programmes.
Melania Trump (2017–2021 / 2025–present): As wife of President Donald Trump, Melania she is the only naturalized citizen (not born in US, became citizen after due process) to become a First Lady. She is also the first one in US history to assume this office twice in 'Non-Consecutive Terms'. She is the third wife of Prez Trump and is highly polished, glamorous and extremely beautiful lady.
Melania Trump is not known as a great speaker. Perhaps, she uses her wardrobe as a tool for communication. As a former model, she is not a stranger to the power of fashion and knows very well how to use the clothes. Till now she is keeping a low profile presence in the media and is fully focused on family and kids.
In her early days, she was featured in a nude photoshoot for a 1997 issue of Max, a French men's magazine, with another female model. These photos were re-published by the New York Post in 2016 during her campaign for Donald Trump's presidency, which created a lot of controversy. Another incident she faced criticism was when visiting a child migrant detention centre, she wore a jacket which read *"I really don't care, do you?"*
The world looks forward for more such lovely ladies — the torch-bearers of the future path! So, we know who really comes first in merit....
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Rajan Grover is a regular editorial writer with fnbworld.com/News For Soul. He hails from Indian state of Punjab and is a senior academician and keen observer/analyst of global politics.
