The Famous First of First Ladies.

It often seems that before the twentieth century the position of first lady held little political power and served as nothing more that a "housekeeper" for the White House. It's not quite that simple. Like all women of their time the first ladies had to use their subtle influence and charm to shape their worlds. Eventually the idea of the benevolent First Lady became so ingrained in fabric of the White House that when James Buchanan was elected president he informally appointed his niece Harriet Lane to the position although no one was called the First Lady until Rutherford Hayes took the office.

These women were pioneers in their own right and many of them broke new ground and those would be first lady first.

Lucy Ware Webb Hayes

Lucy Ware Webb Hayes was the wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president, and she was the first to bear the title First Lady. From Martha Washington until Julie Grant the president's wife had no official title until 1876 when Lucy Ware Webb Hayes was called the First Lady in the column of Mary Clemmer Ames entitled "Woman's Letter from Washington."

Frances Folsom Cleveland

The first First Lady to be married in the White House was Frances Folsom Cleveland. The 21 year old Frances Folsom married the 49 year old President Grover Cleveland on June 2, 1886. It was the first nuptials to be performed in the White House for a presidential couple. Mrs. Cleveland also hold two other First Lady firsts being that she was the first First Lady to give birth in the White House and the youngest First Lady. She was 28 when her daughter Ester was born.

Letitia Christian Tyler

The next First Lady first had to be awarded posthumously to Letitia Christian Tyler, wife of John Tyler the 12th president. John Tyler became president when President William Henry Harrison died a mere 30 days after being sworn in after catching pneumonia while delivering the longest inaugural address ever lasting over two hours. Letitia Tyler had actually suffered a stroke several years earlier so her duties as First Lady were entrusted to her daughter-in-law Priscilla Cooper Tyler. Letitia Tyler eventually succumbed to an illness, most likely tuberculosis, in September 1842.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

She needs no introduction because her name is as synonymous with tragedy and it is with grace and glamour but what most people don't know is she is the only First Lady to ever receive an Emmy award. Mrs. Kennedy hosted a televised tour of the White House in an effort persuade Congress to pass a bill that would award the presidential home permanent museum for which she was awarded a special Emmy.

Learn more about this author, Richard Morris.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The most influential first ladies in American history?
We want to hear your view. Write now!