Martha Custis Washington

Rachel Jackson died shortly after her husband took office and he blamed her death on the small-minded gossipy Washington, D.C. elite. When long-time friend Peggy Eaton took over the duties of First Lady, Jackson dismantled his Cabinet because they had already begun the gossip attacks on Mrs. Eaton.

Jane Pierce hoped that she would never become First Lady because "she would not like to be at Washington."

What made the position of First Lady so off-putting, particularly to these early First Ladies?

Well, First Ladies are expected to entertain the most important VIPs in the world; to react with poise in the face of death (several First Ladies lost their children or had to endure the assassinations of their husbands); support their husbands in light of scandals, both personal and professional; set a social tenure of the times for the nation; and be subject to intense public scrutiny without flinching.

Hillary Clinton has taken the tradition of politically and socially aware First Ladies one step further with her campaign to become a U.S. Senator from New York.

After all, how many public figures have entire websites devoted to just their hairstyles, as one wag has put together for Hillary Clinton.

Regardless of the pressures involved with the office, some First Ladies have used the office as a platform for pushing through social agendas. Other First Ladies were quite political in their own right.

Sarah Polk helped her husband write speeches and read the newspaper for him. Edith Wilson was called the "Secret President" as she helped to run the office after her husband Woodrow suffered a stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt was as busy as FDR. And Hillary Clinton is using the office a springboard for her own political ambitions — something that would not have occurred to the earliest First Ladies who were expected to entertain and set a mood for the White House and not have a political agenda of their own.

Courtesy of Pop Culture Collecting

The White House Easter Egg Roll was conceived by "Lemonade Lucy" Hayes, wife of Rutherford B. Hayes and an ardent supporter of wholesome, family-oriented events.

The early First Ladies brought their design sense to the White House — which after all is first and foremost a residence. They helped to decide the décor from wallpaper to furniture to artwork. As far as entertaining, some like Abigail Adams preferred a formal European style elegance, while others like "Lemonade Lucy " Hayes preferred more moderate, alcohol-free entertainments and instituted the annual White House Easter Egg hunt.

In some ways Dolley Madison has proven emblematic in combining the qualities necessary to make a successful First Lady. She was socially winning and politically insightful — able to soothe the ruffled feathers of warrior chieftains and charm VIPs from Tunisia to Tennessee.

During the War of 1812, when the British laid siege to Washington, D.C. and ultimately burned the White House, Mrs. Madison saved such imperiled American treasures as a Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington from destruction. After returning to find the mansion in ruins; regardless she entertained as skillfully as ever.

Harriet Lane acted as the hostess for James Buchanan, the President who never married. "Hal" -- as she was known -- was President Buchanan's niece.

Some First Ladies had to deftly steer the course of state through turbulent times. Their opportunity to do so often came at official functions or dinners. Harriet "Hal" Lane, the niece of bachelor President James Buchanan, was an expert helmswoman. Taking on the responsibilities associated with being a First Lady, Lane guided the social life of the White House enthusiastically and with great discretion. As North-South tensions increased, she worked out elaborate seating arrangements for her weekly formal dinner parties. Special attention was paid to give dignitaries their proper precedence while still keeping political foes apart.

Late 19^th and early 20^th century First Ladies have tended to take an activist approach to running the White House. Caroline Harrison worked with women of progressive views to help raise funds for the Johns Hopkins University medical school — on condition that it admit women. Ellen Wilson, Woodrow Wilson's first wife was a descendant of slave owners. She battled for improved housing for African Americans in Washington D.C. Visiting the capital's slums in person, she brought the conditions to the attention of Washington's wealthy women and Congressmen.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is remembered as perhaps the most active and influential of all the President's wives. Mrs. Roosevelt devoted her life to human rights, both during her time in the White House and as a delegate to the United Nations.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a forward-looking First Lady. She lectured on political causes and she also broke precedent by expressing her opinions in a daily syndicated newspaper column. Lady Bird Johnson attacked the war on poverty, declared war on litter, and helped to beautify America's roadsides with a wildflower campaign. Nancy Reagan urged Americans to "just say no" to drugs in a surprisingly effective anti-drug campaign. Barbara Bush worked closely with the Foundation for Family Literacy. Like her husband George, she was a strong advocate of volunteerism. Mrs. Bush helping many causes — including the homeless, AIDS, and care for the elderly.

Elizabeth Dole abandoned her quest for the Presidency of the United States in October 1999. But one must ask: how long will it be until we are welcoming a First Man -- instead of a First Lady -- to the White House?

Most recently, President Clinton appointed First Lady Hillary Clinton to head up the Task Force on National Health Care Reform, one of their highest priorities upon taking office.

In the future we can likely expect a new wrinkle in the office of First Lady. With talented candidates such as Elizabeth Dole running for President, it will only be a matter of time before Americans will have a First Man standing beside a Mrs. President.

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