Do you know the stories behind all these influential First Ladies?
Over the course of our nation’s history, the primary role of the First Lady has been filled by a range of personalities. Some of these women lingered in the background, while others used their position to advocate for critical issues.
A few influential first ladies even played an integral role in their husband’s administration, working alongside the president to help legislate policies. As a result, the role of the First Lady has greatly evolved over the years.
In today’s article, I wanted to shed some light on the 11 most influential First Ladies who used their position and power to institute significant changes in our country. Continue reading about them below!
Martha Washington
Martha was the wife of the first US President, George Washington. The couple was married from 1759 to 1799. However, the title of “First Lady” didn’t exist back then. She was, however, known as “Lady Washington.”
Martha was highly instrumental during the Revolutionary War, where she helped oversee her husband’s estate at Mount Vernon and raised money to support troops with supplies. She was the eldest daughter born to Frances Jones and John Dandridge. Our nation’s first president was her first husband, though.
She first married a man named Daniel Parke Custis in 1750, with who she had two children, and inherited his wealth after his passing seven years later. In 1759, she married George and lived a comfortable life at Mount Vernon.
During the beginning years of the Revolutionary War, she visited her husband often. Even though she was originally against George’s decision to become the United States’ first president, this influential First Lady took her duties seriously and hosted numerous events.
In 1776, the US Navy named the USS Lady Washington, a row galley, and the USS Martha Washington, in her honor. Many other colleges, including the Martha Washington College for Women, were also named after her.
Hillary Clinton
Back in 2016, Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first woman and former First Lady to compete in the presidential elections. She lost those elections but remains a significant figure in US politics. For those who don’t know, she’s the wife of the 42nd president, Bill Clinton.
Growing up in Park Ridge, Illinois, this influential First Lady’s parents inspired her to follow her dreams. She studied at Wellesley College and, in 1969, enrolled at Yale Law School, where she met the future president.
The couple got married in 1975, and after graduating, Hillary taught at the University of Arkansas and worked under then-president Jimmy Carter’s administration. As the First Lady, Hillary Clinton was involved in public service and advocated for better healthcare, especially for youths.
Hillary is considered one of the most influential First Ladies because she’s also a relentless women’s activist and wrote considerably about women’s issues. Following her husband’s term, she remained active in politics and was selected as a Senator for New York in 2000, which makes her the first former influential First Lady to be elected into the US Senate.
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was in the position of First Lady of the United States from 1797 to 1801. She and Barbara Bush are the only two women married to one president and the mother of another.
Abigail’s support of women’s rights and equality led her to warn the Founding Fathers to “remember the ladies” during the creation of the United States of America. Her husband, John Adams, was our nation’s second President. Adams was also the mother of the sixth US president, John Quincy Adams.
She came from a wealthy Massachusetts family and married John Adams in 1764. This influential First Lady was intelligent and frequently left to manage her own affairs while John was away. Ultimately, she made good financial decisions that improved the family’s wealth.
Because of her cleverness, her husband went to her for advice many times during his administration. The Adams family became the first to reside in the White House, and during her term as America’s First Lady, she supported all of her husband’s policies, which included the 1798 Alien and Sedition Act, which was highly controversial at the time.
After serving as First Lady, Abigail remained active in politics. She sent letters to later presidents, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson, and was instrumental in the election of her son, John, even though she didn’t live long enough to see him get elected for office.
As I mentioned earlier, Abigail holds an impressive record of being the wife of a US president (John Adams) and also the mother of a US president (John Quincy Adams). The only other person to hold this record is Barbara Bush, the wife of President Bush Senior and the mother of President Bush Junior.
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama’s rise to First Lady of the United States of America was monumental in our nation’s history because she was the first African American to receive the position.
She’s married to Barack Obama, who served as our country’s 44th president. Growing up, Michelle was taught by her parents to adopt a spirit of determination and be hard-working.
She went to Princeton University and Harvard Law School. After becoming a lawyer, this influential First Lady went back to her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, where she met Barack, and the couple married in 1992.
After she became First Lady in 2009, Michelle Obama worked tirelessly in several fields. But overall, most of her activities were spent on family life, education, and supporting military officers and their families. She also formed the “Let’s Move!” initiative to advocate for healthier food options in America’s public schools.
Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s wife, served as First Lady during one of the most turbulent times in American history: the Civil War. A woman of keen intellect and strong opinions, this influential First Lady came from a politically active family with a deep interest in governance.
But, her time in the White House was scarred by personal tragedies, such as the loss of her son Willie in 1862. Mary faced criticism for her lavish spending on White House renovations for her Southern family ties and during wartime.
Despite these difficulties, she provided relentless support to her husband and is remembered as one of the most influential First Ladies for her strength during a national crisis.
Sarah Polk
Throughout the 19th century, Sarah Polk was one of the few intellectual women, and she used her vast knowledge to write some of her husband’s, James Polk’s, letters and speeches. This influential First Lady met James at the beginning of his political career, and they got married on New Year’s Day back in 1824.
The couple couldn’t have any children, so she spent most of her time accompanying her husband to Washington. Not long after, they became pretty well-known among Washington’s social circles, and during that time, she began writing some of her husband’s speeches, though they were penned in secret.
After she became the First Lady of the US in 1845, Sarah took her duties seriously. She had a knack for socializing and entertaining and frequently sought advice from the former First Lady, Dolley Madison. She was quite popular and was extremely respected in Washington.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Originally from New York City, Eleanor Roosevelt was married to President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1903 to 1945. Just as her husband was the longest-serving president in US history, Eleanor is also the longest-serving First Lady. Eleanor is actually considered the most influential First Lady in history.
She was renowned for her inspirational quotes, with her most popular one being: “Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual; you must be one. You cannot make any useful contribution in life unless you do this.”
Besides acting as our nation’s First Lady, Eleanor also served as US Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly between 1945 and 1952. President Harry S. Truman portrayed her as the “First Lady of the World” in honor of her incredible achievements in diplomacy and human rights campaigns.
She married Franklin D. in 1905, and in 1910, she started her career by helping her husband in political affairs. After Franklin D. Roosevelt became ill with poliomyelitis, she stayed active in politics to keep him inquisitive.
Finally, in 1933, she became First Lady and used her new position to support women’s and civil rights activities. She vigorously advocated for equal opportunities and quality education.
After Franklin passed away, this influential First Lady remained active in politics and became a respected spokesperson for the US in the United Nations. She died in November 1962 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Rosalynn Carter
During President Jimmy Carter’s administration between 1977 and 1981, this influential First Lady spearheaded numerous mental health initiatives and was one of her husband’s closest advisers. As a young girl, Rosalynn had to help her mother with work after the passing of her father.
She later attended Georgia Southwestern College, where she met the future president, Jimmy Carter, and the couple got married in 1946. Jimmy was in the Navy at the time, and the young family, including their daughter, Amy, moved a lot. After Jimmy’s father passed away, he left the Navy to run his family’s business.
Carter entered politics in 1962 and won the Georgia Senate seat. His wife was invaluable during his campaign, and when he was campaigning for president, she played a subtle role behind the scenes, which was influential in his success.
As First Lady, Rosalynn worked hard to fight the stigma about mental health issues, acting as the esteemed Honorary Chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health. She was also a big supporter of the creative arts.
After her husband term was over, she wrote her autobiography “First Lady from Plains.” In 1982, the Carter Center was founded to promote global peace and human rights. Carter served as the center’s vice president until her passing in 2023.
Dolley Madison
Dolley Madison was First Lady as the wife of James Madison, who served as the 4th President of the United States. But, there was more to this influential First Lady than just being a wife to one of our nation’s most notable presidents.
Dolley played a pivotal role in the birth of bipartisan relations, where people from different political parties could negotiate amicably and socialize. Because of this, Madison pretty much became the blueprint for future first ladies, especially in regard to their duties.
Dolley Payne was born into a Quaker family from Piedmont, North Carolina, and she grew up with a strict background. Regardless, she remained a pleasant and all-around warm person. In 1790, she got married to her first husband, John Todd, and they had two sons.
Unfortunately, John and their younger son passed away during the yellow fever epidemic. She later met Madison, and the couple married in 1794. Before James even became President, this influential first lady was popular among social circles and was known as a proficient negotiator.
Under President Thomas Jefferson’s administration, she served as hostess to Jefferson, who never remarried after the passing of his wife, Martha. Madison is famously known for reportedly saving the Lansdown portrait, which is a life-size portrait of George Washington and other national treasures during the British invasion of DC in 1814.
For this accomplishment, she was recognized as a national heroine. Had it not been for her efforts, much of our nation’s history would have been lost in the defacement of the White House. It’s no surprise that Madison is one of the most-loved first ladies ever served in the nation.
Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson was married to President Lyndon B. Johnson and served as First Lady between 1963 and 1969. She was well-known for her enthusiastic interest in environmental conservation and beautification projects.
She brought an atmosphere of peace and calm following the circumstances of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Born Claudia Alta Taylor and earning her nickname “Lady Bird” as a child, this influential First Lady graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in arts and journalism.
She met Lyndon Johnson in 1934 when he was a Congressional secretary. They married later that same year, and right from the beginning, Lady Bird helped her husband with his political career.
While her husband was serving in the Navy during World War II, she maintained his Congressional office open and continued to operate it even after he had a heart attack. The pair had two daughters.
During her time as the First Lady, she traveled a lot, visiting more than 33 countries on goodwill missions on behalf of the United States government.
Lady Bird took her work in environmentalism very earnestly and launched the First Lady’s Committee for a More Beautiful Capital project. She also concentrated on initiatives developed to eradicate poverty and give kids more access to preschool.
After her husband’s death and later years, Lady Bird Johnson still supported multiple causes and established the National Wildflower Research Center in 1982. She was also nominated trustee emeritus of the National Geographic Society.
Jacqueline Kennedy
Throughout her lifetime, this influential First Lady was well-known for many things, like being an international fashion icon. But she’s most remembered for showing immense strength during a time when the United States was rocked to its core following the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy.
In 1952, she met Kennedy through a mutual friend. John was a member of the US House of Reps at that time.
The couple married the following year and had three children together: Arabella (who passed away at birth), Caroline, and John Jr. In 1961, she became the First Lady of the United States of America when John won the 1960 presidential election.
During the time she lived at the White House, much of her work was dedicated to mending the White House and advancing the American creative industry. Jackie established the White House Historical Association and the Committee for the Preservation of the White House and was the first to employ a White House Curator.
On November 21st, 1963, she traveled to Texas with her husband. While driving down Elm Street in a convertible, John was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. She refused to take off her bloodstained clothes while standing next to Vice President Lyndon Johnson when he was sworn into office.
In her later years, she chose to retreat from the public and later married Aristotle Onassis. Jackie passed away in 1993.
Did you know the facts about all these influential First Ladies? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your thoughts with us. But don’t leave yet! Today On Politics has many more fascinating articles for you to read.
For example, I highly recommend checking out: 9 Most Shocking Presidential Scandals That Rocked the Nation