"Separate Roles": Jill Biden Breaks a Barrier as US First Lady
Returning to classes as an English teacher, she became the first wife of a U.S. president with a full-time job outside the White House.
WASHINGTON.- After an extensive debate on formal, legal and even security issues, Jill Biden was able to resume her task as a teacher, and thus, for the first time in history, the wife of an American president has a full-time job abroad. of the White House.
But getting Dr. Biden back into the classroom required months of negotiations, concerns about how to include her on the roster, and a careful reading of the Constitution's Emoluments Clause, among other things, according to hundreds of documents obtained by CBS News. through a public records request to Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).
The emails reflect an attempt by the first lady to keep a low profile even as she is now much more recognized than she was when she taught during her time as second lady in the Barack Obama presidency. For weeks special considerations were discussed, such as whether it was appropriate for Dr. Biden's name to appear at the available times to sign up for her English classes. It was finally decided that it should be so.
The first lady also sought to differentiate her high-profile job in the White House from her teaching job.
"I'm an English teacher at NOVA, not a first lady," she wrote to her colleagues in an email the week after President Biden's inauguration, to avoid a possible mention of her role in the White House on a campus flier. . “I'm trying to keep my roles separate like I did as second lady [being Biden's wife when she was vice president under Barack Obama]. I appreciate her enthusiasm, but I want students to see me as their English teacher. I won't mention it in my classes at all. Thank you for honoring my identity as a teacher. Jill ”.
This semester, Jill Biden is teaching three introductory English courses, two of which are “hybrid” courses with live-streamed instruction and independent online class work, in accordance with academic schedules, which are available on public records.
Her separation of roles seems to be important to her not only for personal and professional reasons, but also for legal and ethical issues.
The issue apparently examined by Biden's attorneys was the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which stipulates appropriate compensation for the president and makes clear that the president “will not receive any other emolument from the United States, or from any of the states. "
"The clause is specific to the president and not the first lady [...] But since NOVA is a state school and Jill and Joe file [taxes] together, the 'neither state' clause is a problem" explained the dean of NOVA.
Finally, it was decided that Professor Jill Biden's annual salary of $ 81,904 should be paid by the NOVA Foundation, made up of non-state funds, and for now she carries out her tasks virtually.
Biographical comic
Meanwhile, Jill Biden will have hers of her own biographical comic strip, joining women like Vice President Kamala Harris, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and country star Dolly Parton on the TidalWave Comics series "Female Force." The 69-year-old first lady will star in the 22-page comic “Female Force: Jill Biden,” which will be released in print and digital on April 7. A coloring book will also be published.
A longtime champion of community colleges and women's education, Biden joins the stars in the biographical comic series dedicated to inspiring women. Previous leads also include former first lady Michelle Obama, singer Cher, and actress Betty White. "We believe it is important that readers have inspiring role models, that they meet extraordinary people who have overcome challenges to make a difference in the world," TidalWave Comics said in a statement.
