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.[1] Since the early 20th century, the first lady has been assisted by official staff, known as the Office of the First Lady and headquartered in the East Wing of the White House.
Jill Biden has served as the first lady of the United States since 2021, as the wife of the 46th president, Joe Biden.
While the title was not in general use until much later, Martha Washington, the wife of George Washington, the first U.S. president (1789–1797), is considered to be the inaugural first lady of the United States. During her lifetime, she was often referred to as "Lady Washington".[2]
Since the 1900s, the role of first lady has changed considerably. It has come to include involvement in political campaigns, management of the White House, championship of social causes, and representation of the president at official and ceremonial occasions.
Though, additionally, over the years individual first ladies have held influence in a range of sectors, from fashion to public opinion on policy, as well as advocacy for female empowerment.[3] Historically, when a president has been unmarried or a widower, he has usually asked a relative to act as White House hostess.
The use of the title First Lady to describe the spouse or hostess of an executive began in the United States. In the early days of the republic, there was not a generally accepted title for the wife of the president. Many early first ladies expressed their own preference for how they were addressed, including the use of such titles as "Lady", "Mrs. President" and "Mrs. Presidentress"; Martha Washington was often referred to as "Lady Washington". One of the earliest uses of the term "First Lady" was applied to her in an 1838 newspaper article that appeared in the St. Johnsbury Caledonian, the author, "Mrs. Sigourney", discusses how Martha Washington had not changed, even after her husband George became president. She wrote that "The first lady of the nation still preserved the habits of early life. Indulging in no indolence, she left the pillow at dawn, and after breakfast, retired to her chamber for an hour for the study of the scriptures and devotion."[4]
Dolley Madison is said to be the first wife of a president to be referred to as "First Lady" (at her funeral in 1849).
According to popular belief, Dolley Madison was referred to as first lady in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor; however, no written record of this eulogy exists, nor did any of the newspapers of her day refer to her by that title.[5] Sometime after 1849, the title began being used in Washington, D.C., social circles. The first person to have the title applied to her while she was actually holding the office was Harriet Lane, the niece of James Buchanan; Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper used the phrase to describe her in an 1860 article about her duties as White House hostess. Another of the earliest known written examples comes from a November 3, 1863, diary entry of William Howard Russell, in which he referred to gossip about "the First Lady in the Land", referring to Mary Todd Lincoln. The title first gained nationwide recognition in 1877, when newspaper journalist Mary C. Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as "the First Lady of the Land" while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes. The frequent reporting on Lucy Hayes' activities helped spread use of the title outside Washington. A popular 1911 comedic play about Dolley Madison by playwright Charles Nirdlinger, titled The First Lady in the Land, popularized the title further. By the 1930s, it was in wide use. Use of the title later spread from the United States to other nations.
When Edith Wilson took control of her husband's schedule in 1919 after he had a debilitating stroke, one Republican senator labeled her "the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man".[6]
According to the Nexis database, the abbreviation FLOTUS (pronounced /ˈfləʊtɪs/) was first used in 1983 by Donnie Radcliffe, writing in The Washington Post.[7][8]
Each of the 45[A] presidents of the United States have been male, and all have either had their wives, or a female hostess, assume the role of first lady. Thus, a male equivalent of the title of first lady has never been needed. However, in 2016, as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win a major party's presidential nomination, questions were raised as to what her husband Bill would be titled if she were to win the presidency. During the campaign, the title of First Gentleman of the United States was most frequently suggested for Bill Clinton, although as a former president himself, he might have been called "Mr. President".[10] In addition, state governors' male spouses are typically called the First Gentleman of their respective state (for example, Michael Haley was the first gentleman of South Carolina while his wife, Nikki, served as governor).[11] Ultimately, Hillary Clinton lost the election, rendering this a moot point.
In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first woman to hold a nationally elected office when she took office as vice president, making her husband Doug Emhoff the first male spouse of a nationally elected officeholder. Emhoff assumed the title of Second Gentleman of the United States ("gentleman" replacing "lady" in the title) making it likely that any future male spouse of a president will be given the title of first gentleman.[12]
The position of the first lady is not an elected one and carries only ceremonial duties. Nonetheless, first ladies have held a highly visible position in American society.[13] The role of the first lady has evolved over the centuries. She is, first and foremost, the hostess of the White House.[13] She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the president. Lisa Burns identifies four successive main themes of the first ladyship: as public woman (1900–1929); as political celebrity (1932–1961); as political activist (1964–1977); and as political interloper (1980–2001).[14]
Martha Washington created the role and hosted many affairs of state at the national capital (New York and Philadelphia). This socializing became known as the Republican Court and provided elite women with opportunities to play backstage political roles.[15] Both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were treated as if they were "ladies" of the British royal court.[13]
Dolley Madison popularized the first ladyship by engaging in efforts to assist orphans and women, by dressing in elegant fashions and attracting newspaper coverage, and by risking her life to save iconic treasures during the War of 1812. Madison set the standard for the ladyship and her actions were the model for nearly every first lady until Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s.[13] Roosevelt traveled widely and spoke to many groups, often voicing personal opinions to the left of the president's. She authored a weekly newspaper column and hosted a radio show.[16]Jacqueline Kennedy led an effort to redecorate and restore the White House.[17]
Many first ladies became significant fashion trendsetters.[13] Some have exercised a degree of political influence by virtue of being an important adviser to the president.[13]
Over the course of the 20th century, it became increasingly common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the first lady to hire a staff to support these activities. Lady Bird Johnson pioneered environmental protection and beautification.[18]Pat Nixon encouraged volunteerism and traveled extensively abroad; Betty Ford supported women's rights; Rosalynn Carter aided those with mental disabilities; Nancy Reagan founded the Just Say No drug awareness campaign; Barbara Bush promoted literacy; Hillary Clinton sought to reform the healthcare system in the U.S.; Laura Bush supported women's rights groups, and encouraged childhood literacy.[13]Michelle Obama became identified with supporting military families and tackling childhood obesity;[19] and Melania Trump used her position to help children, including prevention of cyberbullying and support for those whose lives are affected by drugs.[20]
The Office of the First Lady of the United States is accountable to the first lady for her to carry out her duties as hostess of the White House, and is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House. The first lady has her own staff that includes a chief of staff, press secretary, White House Social Secretary, and Chief Floral Designer. The Office of the First Lady is an entity of the White House Office, a branch of the Executive Office of the President.[22] When First Lady Hillary Clinton decided to pursue a run for Senator of New York, she set aside her duties as first lady[23] and moved to Chappaqua, New York, to establish state residency.[24] She resumed her duties as first lady after winning her senatorial campaign,[25] and retained her duties as both first lady and a U.S. senator for the seventeen-day overlap before Bill Clinton's term came to an end.[26]
Exhibitions and collections
Established in 1912, the First Ladies Collection has been one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian Institution. The original exhibition opened in 1914 and was one of the first at the Smithsonian to prominently feature women. Originally focused largely on fashion, the exhibition now delves deeper into the contributions of first ladies to the presidency and American society. In 2008, "First Ladies at the Smithsonian" opened at the National Museum of American History as part of its reopening year celebration. That exhibition served as a bridge to the museum's expanded exhibition on first ladies' history that opened on November 19, 2011. "The First Ladies" explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The exhibition features 26 dresses and more than 160 other objects, ranging from those of Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, and includes White House china, personal possessions and other objects from the Smithsonian's unique collection of first ladies' materials.[27]
Official portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy at the White House
Fashion influence
Some first ladies have garnered attention for their dress and style. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for instance, became a global fashion icon: her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and imitated by many young women, and she was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1965.[28][29] Mamie Eisenhower was named one of the twelve best-dressed women in the country by the New York Dress Institute every year that she was First Lady. The "Mamie Look" involved a full-skirted dress, charm bracelets, pearls, little hats, and bobbed, banged hair.[30] Michelle Obama also received significant attention for her fashion choices: style writer Robin Givhan praised her in The Daily Beast, arguing that the First Lady's style had helped to enhance the public image of the office.[31]
Causes and initiatives
First lady Melania Trump attending a "Be Best" rally with children
Since the 1920s, many first ladies have become public speakers, adopting specific causes.[32] It also became common for the First Lady to hire a staff to support her agenda. Recent causes of the First Lady are:
^Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, so he is counted twice, as both the 22nd and 24th president.[9] Here, "presidents" refers to the 45 men who have held the office and not the 46 presidencies that have been held.
^Burns, Lisa M. (2008). First Ladies and the Fourth Estate: Press Framing of Presidential Wives. DeKalb, IL: Northern Illinois University Press. ISBN978-0-87580-391-3.
^"The First Ladies". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
Abrams, Jeanne E. . First Ladies of the Republic: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and the Creation of an Iconic American Role. New York New York University Press, 2018. ISBN978-1-4798-8653-1.
Berkin, Carol, ed. (Spring 2013). "America's First Ladies". History Now. 35. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013. Popular essays by scholars.
Böck, Magdalena (2009). The Role of First Ladies: A Comparison Between the US and Europe (eBook ed.). Munich: GRIN Verlag. ISBN978-3-640-42153-4.
Brower, Kate Andersen (2016). First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies. New York: Harper. ISBN978-0-06-243965-9.
Caroli, Betty Boyd. "The Role of First Lady" in Graff, Henry F., ed. The presidents: A Reference History (3rd ed. 2002)
Deppisch, Ludwig M. (2015). The Health of the First Ladies: Medical Histories from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. McFarland.
Gould, Lewis L. "First Lady as Catalyst: Lady Bird Johnson and Highway Beautification in the 1960s". Environmental Review 10.2 (1986): 77–92. onlineArchived September 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
Gould, Lewis L. Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment (UP Kansas, 1988) onlineArchived September 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
Gould, Lewis L. Helen Taft: Our Musical First Lady (UP Kansas, 2010).
Gould, Lewis L. Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Creating the Modern First Lady (2012) onlineArchived September 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
Hummer, Jill Abraham. First Ladies and American Women: In Politics and at Home (UP of Kansas, 2017); 269 pages;
Lugo-Lugo, Carmen R. & Bloodsworth-Lugo, Mary K. (2011). "Bare Biceps and American (In) Security: Post-9/11 Constructions of Safe(ty), Threat, and the First Black First Lady". Women's Studies Quarterly. 39 (1): 200–217. doi:10.1353/wsq.2011.0030. S2CID85344609. On media images of Michelle Obama.
Watson, Robert P. (2003). "Toward the Study of the First Lady: The State of Scholarship". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 33 (2): 423–441. doi:10.1111/j.1741-5705.2003.tb00038.x.
Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento ingegneria ha un'ottica geograficamente limitata. Contribuisci ad ampliarla o proponi le modifiche in discussione. Se la voce è approfondita, valuta se sia preferibile renderla una voce secondaria, dipendente da una più generale. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Il viadotto è un genere di ponte stradale o ferroviario a più campate[1] utilizzato per superare un ostacolo naturale o un'altra infrastruttura. Indice 1 Viadotti in …
artikel ini perlu dirapikan agar memenuhi standar Wikipedia. Tidak ada alasan yang diberikan. Silakan kembangkan artikel ini semampu Anda. Merapikan artikel dapat dilakukan dengan wikifikasi atau membagi artikel ke paragraf-paragraf. Jika sudah dirapikan, silakan hapus templat ini. (Pelajari cara dan kapan saatnya untuk menghapus pesan templat ini) SMA Negeri 1 YogyakartaInformasiDidirikan16 Desember 1957JenisSekolah Nasional Bertaraf Internasional Cambridge International center ID071AkreditasiA…
German retail holding company Tengelmann Warenhandelsgesellschaft KGTrade nameTengelmann GroupFormerlyWilh. Schmitz-SchollCompany typePrivate holding companyIndustryRetailPredecessorsKaiser’s Kaffee-Geschäft AGEmil Tengelmann GmbHFounded1867 (1867)FounderWilhelm Schmitz-SchollHeadquartersMülheim an der Ruhr, GermanyNumber of locations4,170[1] (2014)Key peopleChristian W. E. Haub, CEOJens-Jürgen Böckel, CFOServices Grocery stores Discount stores Home improvement and DIY st…
Legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void Family law Family Marriage and other unions and status Types of marriages Cohabitation Concubinage Common-law marriage Civil union Domestic partnership Validity of marriages Marriage licence Marriage certificate Prenuptial agreement Matrimonial regime Void and Voidable marriages Annulment Marriageable age Sham marriage Amatonormativity Dissolution of marriages Divorce Adultery Grounds for divorce No-fault divorce Matrimonial Causes Act Legal…
Perangkat FinFET gerbang ganda, menunjukkan sumber (Source), gerbang (Gate), dan kuras (Drain) Transistor efek medan sirip (Inggris: Fin field-effect transistor, FinFET) adalah perangkat multi-gerbang, MOSFET (transistor efek medan semikonduktor oksida logam) yang dibangun di atas substrat di mana gerbang ditempatkan pada dua, tiga, atau empat sisi saluran atau dililitkan saluran, membentuk struktur gerbang ganda atau bahkan multi-gerbang. Perangkat ini diberi nama generik FinFET karena daerah s…
Kereta api Fajar dan Senja Utama SoloKereta api Senja Utama Solo yang mengalami keterlambatan saat foto ini diambil dikarenakan adanya jembatan yang roboh di petak Bumiayu-LinggapuraInformasi umumJenis layananKereta api antarkotaStatusBeroperasiMulai beroperasi14 Oktober 1978Operator saat iniPT Kereta Api IndonesiaLintas pelayananStasiun awalSolo BalapanStasiun akhirPasar SenenJarak tempuh570 kmWaktu tempuh rerata7 jam 52 menit[1]Frekuensi perjalananSatu kali keberangkatan tiap hari deng…
Andrej BabišMP Perdana Menteri Ceko ke-12Masa jabatan6 Desember 2017 – 28 November 2021PresidenMiloš ZemanWakilRichard BrabecMartin Stropnický PendahuluBohuslav SobotkaPenggantiPetr FialaWakil Perdana Menteri CekoMasa jabatan29 Januari 2014 – 24 Mei 2017Perdana MenteriBohuslav Sobotka PendahuluJan FischerPenggantiRichard BrabecMenteri KeuanganMasa jabatan29 January 2014 – 24 May 2017Perdana MenteriBohuslav Sobotka PendahuluJan FischerPenggantiIvan PilnýAnggot…
Ini adalah nama Tionghoa; marganya adalah To. Andrew To Kwan-hang陶君行 Ketua Liga Sosial DemokratMasa jabatan1 Februari 2010 – 8 November 2011 PendahuluWong Yuk-manPenggantiTang Tsui-chung (pelaksana jabatan)Anggota Dewan Distrik Wong Tai SinMasa jabatan1 April 1991 – 31 Desember 2011Sekretaris-Jenderal Federasi Pelajar Hong KongMasa jabatan1989–1990 PenggantiRichard Tsoi Informasi pribadiLahir7 Februari 1966 (umur 58)Partai politikSerikat Demokrat (1990–94)Par…
Piala Dunia Futsal FIFA 2008(Portugis) Copa do Mundo de Futsal da FIFA Brasil 2008Informasi turnamenTuan rumah BrasilJadwalpenyelenggaraan30 September s.d. 19 Oktober 2008Jumlahtim peserta20 (dari 6 konfederasi)Tempatpenyelenggaraan2 (di 2 kota)Hasil turnamenJuara Brasil (gelar ke-4)Tempat kedua RusiaTempat ketiga IranTempat keempat PortugalStatistik turnamenJumlahpertandingan56Jumlah gol387 (6,91 per pertandingan)Jumlahpenonton292.161 (5.217 per pert…
Grand Prix Kanada 2015 Lomba ke-7 dari 19 dalam Formula Satu musim 2015← Lomba sebelumnyaLomba berikutnya → Tata letak Sirkuit Gilles Villeneuve.Detail perlombaanTanggal 7 Juni 2015Nama resmi Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2015[1]Lokasi Sirkuit Gilles VilleneuveMontreal, Quebec, KanadaSirkuit Sirkuit jalan rayaPanjang sirkuit 4.361 km (2.710 mi)Jarak tempuh 70 putaran, 305.270 km (189.686 mi)Cuaca Cerah20–21 °C (68–70 °F) temperatur udara39 °…
Craig MazinLahir8 April 1971 (umur 52)Brooklyn, New York, A.S.PendidikanUniversitas PrincetonPekerjaanSutradara film, penulis naskahTahun aktif1997–sekarang Craig Mazin (lahir 8 April 1971) adalah penulis naskah dan sutradara film Amerika Serikat. Ia dikenal sebagai penulis naskah Identity Thief, The Hangover Part II, The Hangover Part III, dan The Huntsman: Winter's War. Ia memproduseri miniseri lima episode untuk HBO dan Sky tentang bencana Chernobyl. Mazin mengisi siniar Scriptnot…
HustlersPoster resmiSutradaraLorene ScafariaProduser Jessica Elbaum Will Ferrell Adam McKay Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas Jennifer Lopez Benny Medina Ditulis olehLorene ScafariaBerdasarkanThe Hustlers at Scores: The Ex-Strippers Who Stole From (Mostly) Rich Men and Gave to, Well, Themselvesoleh Jessica PresslerPemeran Constance Wu Jennifer Lopez Julia Stiles Keke Palmer Lili Reinhart Lizzo Cardi B SinematograferTodd BanhazlPenyuntingKayla EmterPerusahaanproduksi Gloria Sanchez Productions Nuyorican Pr…
Jelly Belly Candy CompanyJenisJelly Beans & ConfectionsIndustrigula-gulaDidirikan1869KantorpusatFairfield, CaliforniaWilayah operasiseluruh duniaTokohkunciHerm Rowland, Ketua Dewan dan CEOProdukJelly Beans dan berbagai jenis permenPendapatanAS$58,9 jutaKaryawan650AnakusahaHerman Goelitz Candy CompanySitus webhttp://www.jellybelly.com/ The Jelly Belly Candy Company, atau biasa disebut Jelly Belly adalah perusahaan pembuat kacang jeli (jelly bean) dan berbagai jenis permen lainnya. Dulunya per…
Nama ini menggunakan cara penamaan Spanyol: nama keluarga pertama atau paternalnya adalah Martínez dan nama keluarga kedua atau maternalnya adalah Fajardo. Eduardo FajardoEduardo Fajardo dalam Django (1966)LahirEduardo Martínez Fajardo(1924-08-14)14 Agustus 1924Meis (Pontevedra), SpanyolMeninggal4 Juli 2019(2019-07-04) (umur 94)MeksikoPekerjaanPemeranTahun aktif1947–2002Suami/istriCarmelita GonzálezAnak7 Eduardo Martínez Fajardo (14 Agustus 1924 – 4 Juli 2019…
Fachrul BaraqbahLahir1925Tenggarong, Hindia BelandaMeninggal1984Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur, IndonesiaPartai politik Partai Komunis IndonesiaGerakan politikBPRI Pemuda Sosialis Indonesia Sayid Fachrul Baraqbah (1925–1984) adalah seorang politikus Indonesia yang merupakan bangsawan Kutai dan mantan Sekretaris Comite Daerah Besar (CDB) PKI di Kalimantan Timur sampai ia ditangkap pada tahun 1965 saat terjadinya represi antikomunis yang mendahului transisi Orde Baru. Sebagai seorang aristokrat, ia…
Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada Januari 2023. Dorcianus angulicollis Klasifikasi ilmiah Kerajaan: Animalia Filum: Arthropoda Kelas: Insecta Ordo: Coleoptera Famili: Cerambycidae Genus: Dorcianus Spesies: Dorcianus angulicollis Dorcianus angulicollis adalah spesies kumbang tanduk panjang yang tergolon…
CurungrejoDesaNegara IndonesiaProvinsiJawa TimurKabupatenMalangKecamatanKepanjenKode pos65163Kode Kemendagri35.07.13.2015 Luas3 km²Jumlah penduduk5,317 jiwaKepadatan1,561 jiwa/km² Foto kantor Desa Curungrejo, Kepanjen, Malang Curungrejo adalah sebuah desa yang terletak di wilayah Kecamatan Kepanjen, Kabupaten Malang,Jawa Timur.[1] Desa Curungrejo terbagi menjadi 3 Dusun yaitu: Dusun Boro Dusun Curungrejo Dusun Semanding Nama jalan di Desa Curungrejo diambil dari nama-nama buah pis…