56 First Ladies of the United States

First Ladies National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in Canton, Ohio. During her residency in Washington, D.C. Mary Regula, wife of Ohio congressman Ralph Regula, spoke regularly about the nation's first ladies. Recognizing the paucity of research materials available she created a board to raise funds and for a historian to assemble a comprehensive bibliography on American first ladies. From these inspirations came a National First Ladies’ Library, established in 1996, and the First Ladies National Historic Site. The site was established in 2000 to commemorate all the United States first ladies and comprises two buildings: the Ida Saxton McKinley Historic Home and the Education & Research Center. Tours start at the Education & Research Center, located one block north of the Saxton McKinley house on Market Avenue. The 1895 building, formerly the City National Bank Building, was given to the National First Ladies’ Library in 1997.

First Ladies: Influence & Image is a 35-episode American television series produced by C-SPAN that originally aired from February 25, 2013 to February 10, 2014. Each episode originally aired live and looked at the life and times of one or more of the First Ladies of the United States. Episodes featured interviews with historians, journalists, and other experts; included footage of locations significant to the featured first lady and interviews with several contemporary first ladies; and incorporated calls and tweets from viewers. C-SPAN has archived all video from the series to its website. It was produced in cooperation with the White House Historical Association, and was hosted by C-SPAN co-CEO Susan Swain.

The first lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the hostess of the White House, usually the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the United States. Since the early 20th century, the first lady has been assisted by official staff, now known as the Office of the First Lady and headquartered in the East Wing of the White House.

The Henry G. Freeman Jr. Pin Money Fund was the operating name of an annuity fund of the Henry G. Freeman Jr. Trust, benefiting the First Ladies of the United States. The fund was established as part of the will of Henry G. Freeman Jr., a prominent Philadelphia real estate developer.

The first lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, but, on occasion, the title has been applied to women who were not presidents' wives, such as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the first lady. The first lady is not an elected position; it carries no official duties and receives no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president. Traditionally, the first lady does not hold outside employment while occupying the office, although Eleanor Roosevelt earned money writing and giving lectures, but gave most of it to charity. She has her own staff, including the White House social secretary, the chief of staff, the press secretary, the chief floral designer, and the executive chef. The Office of the First Lady is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House, and is a branch of the Executive Office of the President.

Thirteen first ladies of the United States have written a total of twenty-two memoirs. The first lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, with some historic exceptions. Every memoir by a first lady published in the 20th and 21st centuries has been a best seller, at times outselling those of their presidential husbands.

Office of the First Lady of the United States

The Office of the First Lady (OFL) is the staff accountable to the first lady of the United States. The office and its responsibilities, while not constitutionally mandated, have grown as the role of the first lady has grown and formalized through the history of the United States. The Office of the First Lady is an entity of the White House Office, part of the Executive Office of the President. It is located in the East Wing.

Abigail Adams was the wife and closest advisor of John Adams, as well as the mother of John Quincy Adams. She is sometimes considered to have been a Founder of the United States, and is now designated as the first second lady and second first lady of the United States, although these titles were not used at the time. She and Barbara Bush are the only two women to be married to one U.S. president and the mother of another.

Louisa Catherine Adams was the first lady of the United States from 1825 to 1829 during the presidency of John Quincy Adams. Born in London, she was the first, first lady to be born outside the United States or the preceding Thirteen Colonies—a distinction that would not be shared until 192 years later by Melania Trump.

Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden is an American educator and the current first lady of the United States as the second wife of President Joe Biden. She was previously the second lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Since 2009, Biden has been a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College.

Barbara Pierce Bush was the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993 as the wife of President George H. W. Bush, and the founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She previously was the second lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Among her six children are George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, and Jeb Bush, the 43rd governor of Florida. She and Abigail Adams are the only two women to be married to one U.S. president and the mother of another.

Laura Lane Welch Bush is an American teacher, librarian, memoirist and author who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Bush previously served as the first lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000. She is the wife of President George W. Bush.

Eleanor Rosalynn Carter is an American writer and activist who served as first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981 as the wife of President Jimmy Carter. For decades, she has been a leading advocate for numerous causes, including mental health. Carter was politically active during her White House years, sitting in on Cabinet meetings. She was her husband's closest adviser. She also served as an envoy abroad, particularly in Latin America. Like her husband, Rosalynn Carter is considered a key figure in the Habitat for Humanity charity.

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is an American politician, diplomat, lawyer, writer, and public speaker who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, as a United States Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, and as first lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, as the wife of President Bill Clinton. She became the first woman to be nominated for president of the United States by a major political party when she won the Democratic Party nomination in 2016. She was the first woman to win the popular vote in an American presidential election; however, she failed to win the Electoral College.

Grace Anna Coolidge was the wife of the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. She was the first lady of the United States from 1923 to 1929 and the second lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1902 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching and joined the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Northampton, Massachusetts, to teach deaf children to communicate by lip reading, rather than by signing. She met Calvin Coolidge in 1904, and the two were married the following year.

Emily Donelson was the niece of Rachel Donelson Jackson, the daughter-in-law of U.S. President Andrew Jackson. She served as White House hostess and first lady of the United States.

Mary Geneva "Mamie" Eisenhower was the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and first lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961.

Abigail Fillmore, wife of President Millard Fillmore, was the first lady of the United States from 1850 to 1853. A teacher by profession, she was a notable scholar, who built a library at the White House and started a literary salon. Her husband respected her political judgment, and was willing to consult her on state matters.

Elizabeth Anne Ford was the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, as the wife of President Gerald Ford. As first lady, she was active in social policy and set a precedent as a politically active presidential spouse. Ford also served as the second lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974.

Lucretia Garfield was the first lady of the United States from March to September 1881, as the wife of James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States.

Julia Boggs Grant was the first lady of the United States and wife of President Ulysses S. Grant. As first lady, her time marked a turning point in her life, when she became a national figure. Her memoirs, The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant were published in 1975.

Florence Mabel Harding was the first lady of the United States from 1921 to 1923 as the wife of President Warren G. Harding.

Anna Tuthill Harrison was the wife of President William Henry Harrison and grandmother of President Benjamin Harrison, and was nominally first lady of the United States during her husband's one-month term in 1841, though she never entered the White House. At age 65 at the start of her husband's presidential term, she was the oldest woman ever to assume the role of first lady, a record held until Jill Biden became first lady at age 69 in 2021. She also has the distinction of holding the title for the shortest length of time, and the first first lady to be widowed while holding the title. She was the last first lady to have been born in British America.

Caroline Lavinia Harrison, was a teacher of music, the wife of President Benjamin Harrison and mother of two surviving children; she was the first lady of the United States from 1889 until her death. She was the second first lady to die while serving in that role.

Jane Harrison briefly acted as first lady of the United States, performing the duties of presidential hostess during the administration of her father-in-law William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States. She was also a maternal and paternal aunt of the 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison.

Lucy Ware Hayes was the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes and served as first lady of the United States from 1877 to 1881.

Lou Hoover was the wife of President Herbert Hoover and served as the first lady of the United States from 1929 to 1933.

Sarah Jackson was the daughter-in-law of U.S. President Andrew Jackson. She served as White House hostess and first lady of the United States from November 26, 1834, to March 4, 1837.

Eliza Johnson was the first lady of the United States from 1865 to 1869. She served as the second lady of the United States in 1865. She was the wife of Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States.

Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson was an American socialite and first lady of the United States as the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1963 to 1969. She had previously served as the second lady from 1961 to 1963 when her husband was vice president.

Jacqueline Lee "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A popular first lady, she endeared the American public with her fashion sense, devotion to her family, and dedication to the historic preservation of the White House. During her lifetime, she was regarded as an international fashion icon.

Harriet Rebecca Lane Johnston acted as first lady of the United States during the administration of her uncle, lifelong bachelor President James Buchanan, from 1857 to 1861. She has been described as the first of the modern First Ladies, being a notably charming and diplomatic hostess, whose dress-styles were copied, and who promoted deserving causes. In her will, she left funds for a new school on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral. Several ships have been named in her honour, including the cutter USCGC Harriet Lane, still in service, as of 2021.

Mary Ann Lincoln was the wife of Abraham Lincoln the 16th president of the United States and as such, the first lady of the United States from 1861 to 1865. Today, she is commonly known as Mary Todd Lincoln, though she did not use the name Todd after marrying.

Dolley Todd Madison was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was noted for holding Washington social functions in which she invited members of both political parties, essentially spearheading the concept of bipartisan cooperation, albeit before that term was in use, in the United States. While, previously, founders such as Thomas Jefferson would only meet with members of one party at a time, and politics could often be a violent affair resulting in physical altercations and even duels, Madison helped to create the idea that members of each party could amicably socialize, network, and negotiate with each other without resulting in violence. By innovating political institutions as the wife of James Madison, Dolley Madison did much to define the role of the President's spouse, known only much later by the title first lady—a function she had sometimes performed earlier for the widowed Thomas Jefferson.

Ida McKinley was the first lady of the United States from 1897 until 1901, as the wife of President William McKinley.

Elizabeth Monroe was the first lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825, as the wife of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States. Due to the fragile condition of Elizabeth's health, many of the duties of official White House hostess were assumed by her eldest daughter, Eliza Monroe Hay.

Patricia Ryan Nixon was an American educator and the wife of President Richard Nixon. During her more than 30 years in public life, she served as both the second (1953–1961) and first lady of the United States (1969–1974).

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is the wife of President Barack Obama.

Jane Means Pierce, wife of President Franklin Pierce, was the first lady of the United States from 1853 to 1857. Disliking politics, she was unhappy in the role, often unable to perform her duties, as she suffered from poor health as well as grief for the death in childhood of all three of their sons.

Sarah Polk was the first lady of the United States from 1845 to 1849. She was the wife of the 11th president of the United States, James K. Polk.

Frances Clara Cleveland Preston was first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897 as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. Becoming first lady at age 21, she remains the youngest wife of a sitting president.

Nancy Davis Reagan was an American film actress and first lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. She was the second wife of President Ronald Reagan.

Edith Kermit Roosevelt was the second wife of President Theodore Roosevelt and the first lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909. She also was the second lady of the United States in 1901. Roosevelt was the first first lady to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary. Her tenure resulted in the creation of an official staff, and her formal dinners and ceremonial processions served to elevate the position of first lady.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was an American political figure, diplomat and activist. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office, making her the longest-serving first lady of the United States. Roosevelt served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. President Harry S. Truman later called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements.

Letitia "Letty" Christian Semple was an American society lady, educator, and briefly an unofficial First Lady during her father John Tyler's presidency. The National First Ladies' Library named Semple and her sister-in-law Priscilla Tyler "First ladies who never married presidents". Semple served in this role from March to June 1844.

Helen Louise Taft, known as Nellie, was the wife of President William Howard Taft and the first lady of the United States from 1909 to 1913.

Margaret "Peggy" Mackall Taylor was the wife of President Zachary Taylor. She was the first lady of the United States from 1849 to 1850.

Elizabeth Virginia Truman was the wife of President Harry S. Truman and the first lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953. She also served as the second lady of the United States in 1945.

Melania Trump, is a Slovene-American former model and businesswoman who served as the first lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021, as the wife of President Donald Trump.

Julia Tyler was the second wife of John Tyler, who was the tenth president of the United States. As such, she served as the first lady of the United States from June 26, 1844, to March 4, 1845.

Letitia Tyler was the first wife of President John Tyler and first lady of the United States from 1841 to 1842.

Elizabeth Priscilla Cooper Tyler was the daughter-in-law of John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States. She served as official White House hostess and first lady of the United States from September 10, 1842 to June 26, 1844.

Sarah Angelica Van Buren, was the daughter-in-law of the eighth President of the United States Martin Van Buren. She was married to the President's son, Abraham Van Buren II. She assumed the post of first lady because the president's wife, Hannah Van Buren, had died and he never remarried. She is the youngest woman ever to act as the White House hostess.

Martha Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington served as the inaugural first lady of the United States. During her lifetime, she was often referred to as "Lady Washington".

Edith Wilson was the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson and served as the first lady of the United States from 1915 to 1921. She married the widower Wilson in December 1915, during his first term as president. Edith Wilson played an influential role in President Wilson's administration following the severe stroke he suffered in October 1919. For the remainder of her husband's presidency, she managed the office of the president, a role she later described as a "stewardship," and determined which communications and matters of state were important enough to bring to the attention of the bedridden president.

Ellen Louise Axson Wilson, was the first wife of President Woodrow Wilson and the mother of their three daughters. Like her husband, she was a Southerner, as well as the daughter of a clergyman. She was born in Savannah, Georgia, but raised in Rome, Georgia. Having an artistic bent, she studied at the Art Students League of New York before her marriage, and continued to produce art in later life.