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First Ladies
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Other First Ladies had little interest in public policy, but they did attempt to influence their husbands’ political appointments and alliances. These First Ladies are “administrative specialists.” Other First Ladies have made their policy beliefs public, in most cases expressing views that support their husbands’ agendas. These are the “policy supporters.”
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The lives of the First Ladies are varied and compelling. Legendary stories such as Dolley Madison's rescue of White House treasures during the War of 1812 sit side by side with lesser-known anecdotes such as Julia Grant's 29-course White House dinner. Many First Ladies embraced causes for which they worked tirelessly. Lady Bird Johnson called for the beautification of cities and highways while Hillary Clinton campaigned for children's rights. Eleanor Roosevelt stands as the most impressive example of the publicly active (and activist) First Lady. On her husband's behalf, she spoke at the Democratic Convention, traveled all over the country and the world, supported causes from civil rights to labor rights for women, and held more than 300 press conferences during her 12-year tenure.
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Several twentieth century First Ladies took public positions on controversial issues. Policy advocates differ from policy supporters in that they advance policies that do not originate with their husbands. They may persuade their husbands to support their agenda, but the initiative for the policy is theirs. Given the limited role of the First Lady historically, policy advocates often find themselves criticized in the media for failing to conform to social expectations about how active the president’s wife should be.
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The purpose of the First Ladies National Historic Site is to preserve and interpret the role and history of First Ladies for the benefit, inspiration, and education of the people of the United States. The Final General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement lays out the resource conditions and visitor experiences that should ultimately be achieved and maintained throughout the park and provides guidance for managing the park for the next 10 to 15 years. Potential consequences and environmental impacts of the preferred alternative are identified and assessed in the General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.
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The 5,000-square-foot exhibit includes several items from the most popular part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection - first ladies' gowns. Among those in Philadelphia are a silk brocade evening dress worn by Dolley Madison, Grace Coolidge's 1920s-style velvet-trimmed lace evening dress, a brocade silk evening dress and matching jacket worn by Jacqueline Kennedy, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's pantsuits, and Laura Bush's suit for the 2005 inaugural.
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The “domestic partners” category contains the largest number of First Ladies and spans the longest period of time, ranging from Martha Washington to Barbara Bush. Given the limited public role permitted women through even the later stages of the twentieth century, it is not surprising that most First Ladies restricted their activities to charitable work, noncontroversial causes, and private support for their husbands’ agendas. Martha Washington set the precedent by acting as a gracious hostess and promoting charitable organizations for veterans. Dolley Madison used her position to draw attention to the plight of orphans, and Abigail Fillmore promoted literacy and libraries. Lucy Hayes worked for the cause of temperance, and Caroline Harrison promoted women’s education. Nellie Taft brought Japanese cherry trees to Washington, D.C., and Ellen Wilson promoted rural American crafts and the causes of poor and neglected children and the mentally ill. Grace Coolidge took a special interest in the education of deaf children, drawing from her past experience as a teacher of the deaf.
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First Ladies