They were the First Lady of the United States
From Jackie Kennedy to Jill Biden, take a look back at these women who were the “First Ladies” of the United States. How did they mark the presidency of their spouses?
In the United States, the First Lady has an important role. From the presidential campaign, where she accompanies her husband, to his accession to the White House, she surrounds herself with a team responsible for assisting her in her daily missions and her charitable commitments.
As publicized as the president, the First Lady represents him in certain trips and often supports several causes. It is not uncommon for her popularity to exceed that of her husband.
Back to the American "First Lady", from the iconic Jackie Kennedy to Jill Biden.
Jill Biden, First Lady since 2021
As of January 20, 2021, Jill Biden has been the First Lady of the United States. Married to Joe Biden since 1977, she has been his staunch ally since her beginnings in politics, in her home town of Delaware. An English teacher, she also obtained a doctorate in educational sciences in 2007, just before becoming Second Lady, during the presidential term of Barack Obama, and while her husband was appointed vice-president.
Very committed to access to education, it is a cause that she should promote thanks to her new role. "Teaching is not my job. It's who I am," she wrote on Twitter during her husband's presidential campaign.
She is even expected to be the first First Lady to keep her job after her husband's accession to the White House.
Melania Trump, First Lady from 2007 to 2021
Married to Donald Trump, Melania Trump was First Lady from January 2017 to 2021. While pursuing a career in modeling, it was in 1999, during a parade, that she met Donald Trump. After both appearing on several television shows, they married in 2005 in Florida.
Very present alongside her husband at the start of her mandate, she quickly became involved in the protection of children. More withdrawn during the second part of the mandate, Melania Trump limited her public appearances, even during the presidential campaign for the re-election of Donald Trump. She has often been referred to as an "introverted First Lady".
In 2018, Melanie Trump caused a scandal by wearing a coat with the message "I don't care, do you?" (“I really don't care, do you?” In English), as she went to a military camp for migrant children.
With ABC, she assured that her outfit did not refer to the military camp, but constituted an attack on the media that criticize her: "I was speaking to people and left-wing media who criticize me. I wanted to show them that I didn't care. Tell them they could criticize me as much as they wanted. But that won't stop me from doing what I think is right. "
Michelle Obama, First Lady from 2009 to 2017
Married to the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, Michelle Obama served as First Lady from 2008 to 2017.
First a lawyer, it was in the firm where she worked that Michelle met Barack Obama, who then began her career. A professional activity that she left aside after arriving at the White House. Very involved in the political career of her husband, Michelle has invested heavily, particularly in education, women's rights and health.
Figure of the ambitious woman with an accomplished career, she cultivates the image of a modern and even "cool" First Lady, like the videos of her dancing and playing sports to promote access to health for young Americans, with his movement "Let's move!"
Particularly popular during Barack Obama's two terms - and even more so than him - she has remained so ever since. She published her memoirs in 2018, with the title Become and has since aroused great hope among many Americans: that of one day being a candidate for the presidential election. Michelle Obama continues to repeat, however, that she will not get into politics.
In 2020, she displayed, with her husband, strong support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which she reiterated in a post posted on Instagram in December 2020: "What perhaps struck me the most was the passionate message of justice and empathy that has defined Black Lives Matter's manifestations around the world. "
Laura Lane Welch Bush, First Lady from 2001 to 2009
Wife of George W. Bush, son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush, Laura Lane Bush was First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009.
First a teacher, then a librarian, Laura Lane Bush has invested a lot in missions to help underprivileged children, and in education in general.
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, First Lady from 1993 to 2001
Married to former President of the United States Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton held the position of First Lady from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. A lawyer specializing in children's rights, Hillary was deeply involved in her husband's political career. .
In 1998, the Lewinsky affair shook up the presidency. In front of the cameras, on August 17, Bill Clinton admits to having had a relationship with Monica Lewinsky, intern at the White House. An impeachment procedure is launched against the president, which does not succeed. Throughout this period, Hillary Clinton displayed firm support for her husband, and even testified to the media. Never seen.
In 2016, she spoke to CNN for the first time: "It was something to face as you have to get up every morning with all your public responsibilities to cover. It was a real challenge."
The former First Lady continued her political career by becoming Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 2009, then candidate for the President of the United States in 2016, where she bowed to Donald Trump.
Barbara Bush, First Lady from 1989 to 1993
Wife of President George Herbert Walker Bush, Barbara Bush was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 1993. A mother of six, she would remain a discreet first lady during her husband's presidency.
She has long been nicknamed "the grandmother of the United States", in reference to her phrase spoken during her husband's election campaign: "I am everyone's grandmother!"
Nancy Davis Reagan, First Lady from 1981 to 1989
Wife of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan served as First Lady from January 20, 1981 to January 20, 1989. The two met during their past acting careers, while Ronald Reagan was president of the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, First Lady from 1977 to 1981
Wife of President Jimmy Carter, Eleanor Rosalynn Carter was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981.
Human rights activist, Eleanor R. Carter has been heavily involved in helping people with disabilities. She was also named Honorary President of the Georgia Special Olympics for Children with Mental Disabilities, when her husband was Senator from Georgia.
Elizabeth Ann Warren Ford, First Lady from 1974 to 1977
Elizabeth Ann Warren Ford, more commonly known as Betty Ford, was the wife of President Gerald Rudolph Ford and therefore served as First Lady from August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977.
Symbol of free thought, Betty Ford has established herself as a spokesperson for women's rights. Nicknamed "Fighting First Lady" by Time, she was particularly involved in the recognition of the right to abortion.
Thelma Catherine Nixon and Richard Nixon, First Lady from 1969 to 1974
Wife of President Richard Nixon, Thelma Catherine Nixon was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 1969 to August 9, 1974.
Very present alongside her husband, she has sought to support many charitable causes. She is notably the first First lady to have visited a combat zone in Vietnam.
Claudia Alta Johnson, First Lady from 1963 to 1969
Better known as "Lady Bird Johnson", Claudia Alta Johnson is the wife of Lyndon Baines Johnson, President of the United States from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969.
During her years as First Lady, Lady Bird was particularly involved in projects for the environment.
Jacqueline Lee Kennedy, First Lady from 1961 to 1963
Wife of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy occupied the place of First Lady of the United States from January 20, 1961 to November 22, 1963, when JFK was assassinated. During this short term, Jacqueline Kennedy made it a priority to restore the White House.
On November 22, 1963, images of the assassination of the President of the United States in Dallas traveled the world. Beside him as a bullet hits JFK's head, the First Lady rushes into the back of the car. Urgently taken to hospital, the 35th President of the United States died on the spot.
Hours later, the young widow takes a seat aboard the presidential plane, where new president Lyndon Johnson is sworn in. Jackie still wears her legendary Chanel pink suit, stained with her husband's blood. Refusing to remove it before she returned to the White House, she explained that she wanted to "show what they did".
The First Lady was also passionate about fashion. It was dressed by big names in haute couture, such as Chanel, Dior and Givenchy that she made her appearances.
