Type above and press Enter to search. Ranking America's First Ladies from Most to Least Popular. Obama also did well in the public image category due to her general popularity. Nixon took great care of the residence, personally guided tourists and ensured the disabled had equal access. Do you agree with our rankings? She bravely spoke up about mental illness and encouraged the nation to understand the taboo. She also remained active as a writer and lecturer during her husbands administration. A controversial First Lady, Hillary Clinton is exactly halfway down the table. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis received the highest ranking in this inaugural First Ladies Greatness Poll, with 65%. Reagan put her husband above everything, even her own children at some points. Rosalynn Carter ranks high among Americas first ladies. I was so surprised to learn, speaking of more recent administrations, that Laura Bush wasnt a so-called traditional first lady if you look at the number of public appearances she did, the public relations work she did on behalf of the administration and how targeted it was. Scholars and experts rated Laura Bush, wife of former President George W. Bush, as the first lady who could have done more with her time at the White House. Your email address will not be published. It aims to decrease childhood obesity, and make sure that children are leading healthy lives that can follow them into adulthood. Id put her higher than Hillary Clinton. Her background and being her own woman gets her the biggest marks - she graduated from two Ivy League colleges and had a successful career. Its their communications instincts. She fought for permission from Congress to build the first White House library, and spent countless hours selecting books, as she won approval. However, she was also at the center of a scandal involving Peggy Eaton. Slightly underneath her immediate successor, Barbara Bush makes eighth place. She was actually the daughter-in-law of President Van Buren, taking on the role and duties of first lady after his wife Hannah died untimely. What do you think? We, AOL, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. It is important to note that the husbands of these top three John Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Ronald Reagan were also popular and well-liked former presidents. As the first first lady, Martha Washington set a precedent for how the role could be approached. She was an advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment, mental health issues, and the Habitat for Humanity organization. She often appeared as a representative abroad on behalf of the president, particularly in Latin America. Notably, Louisa did not attend her husbands inauguration due to the nature of his victorious election. Lady Bird Johnson was a trailblazer in many ways as she consistently ranks in the top 7 of first ladies in Siena Research Institutes study. I would rank Obama within the top half of First Ladies at least. Her lowest scores came in public image and being her own woman. Her weakest scores were in public image and accomplishments simply because we didnt see much of her. Melania has been called out for things like the "I really don't care, do u?" Hollywoods Biggest Stars And Their Bodyguards, Remembering the Biggest Draft Busts in NFL History, The Biggest Power Couples In The NBA Playoffs 2022. What would be your ratings for each category? Hes very qualified to do that, but the purpose of socializing those interests early on in the campaign is so it wont be big news if Hillary gets elected. Nixon was often seen as being an extension of her own husband and ensured she did nothing to ruin her husbands career. She often appeared on radio broadcasts to promote volunteerism and other issues. Lowest rated FLOTUS'. Jackie O. was an icon in the creative fields of fashion, art, and photography. A person very shy, not a good people person, or who resists social graces would obviously not be a good fit as first lady. Bushs integrity, public image and value to the President also rank highly. She was often called Lady Washington because there was no official term for the first lady at that time. Emily was a sociable person and even befriended President Jacksons rival, John Quincy Adams. She was generally average in most categories, for Truman didnt particularly want to be First Lady. Abigail Filmore had a great passion for the arts. Results have been cited or published in journals, and both academic and popular outlets including Presidential Quarterly, Betty Boyd Caroli's First Ladies, American First Ladies edited by Lewis L. Gould, the New York Times and CBS, as well as used by high schools and colleges to stimulate interest in First Ladies. +~UhK1iEh*vFYsP|&QyqHxPTj$:YxP+uF ``M6PZEa'?+ktM]| C&nYDq3lA[U|hd` XVGt7zJCFN;AYV5Ak? C-SPAN teamed up with Siena College for its fifth comprehensive study to rank the First Ladies of the United States, and our current . The duties of the first lady in America are determined by some important points, which include the type of woman the first lady seems to be, the year, and also the social context at the time of her and her husband, and the president's tenure. "More fake news," Donald Trump said when asked if Melania Trump planned not to join him during an appearance on Fox & Friends this week. I was unsure about public opinion due to her eventually being able to be voted to the Senate, but she was also very Marmite. bAu She was known for always looking her best and being down to earth. My book is the first to do this. As such, she is credited for solidifying the much more social role as the first lady. The stroke left him bedridden and paralyzed, though the true extent of Woodrow Wilsons condition was hidden from many in both the public and government by Edith and his doctors. Privacy was also extremely important to Bess, who hated the loss of personal privacy that came with being first lady. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. She married President Grover Cleveland, who was 28 years her senior and who had entered the White House as a bachelor, in 1886. The role of first lady is one that has been filled by many women over the years, and each one brings her own unique style and set of skills to the role. While her husband was in office, Abigail served as the formal entertainer, meaning she focused on the critical social status and reputation of the president and, ultimately, the White House. 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An unexpected First Lady, Bess Truman is first from bottom. On the write up the author skipped the number 13. Since 1982 she is consistently ranked as top 1 according to Siena Research Institute, described as the most effective and popular first ladies in history. I also cant fault someone who likes pink. To make it easier, Ive only included First Ladies from Eleanor Roosevelt onwards, so favourites like Dolley Madison and Abigail Adams wont be on here. Not the greatest First Lady but played well with the gender roles of the time. Other first ladies' approval ratings tended to be in . I'm convinced that the term "pearly whites" was inspired by Michelle because, come on, her teeth actually match her necklace. At number 14 in the Siena Research Institutes 1982 survey is Louisa Adams, the first lady from 1825-1829 during President John Quincy Adams term. Eleanor Roosevelt served as the United States first lady. She was also an outspoken supporter of AIDS awareness during the 1980s and early 1990s. All eyes may be on the new president when he takes the oath of office this week, but if the past is prologue, come the inaugural partying Friday night, all e. She also helped begin lessen the stigma of mental health issues similar to Betty, Nancy was most protective of the President to the point of being a shield. According to a series of Gallup. Although she made only two public appearances during her husbands presidency once at a reception for Queen Emma of Hawaii and again at a levee Mrs. Johnson still managed to make her mark on history. In fact, in C-Span's Presidential Historians Survey of 2021, JFK, Reagan, and Obama received final scores of 699, 681, and 664, respectively, sitting in 8th, 9th, and 10th place. She focused on social affairs and hosting political engagements during her time as the first-ever first lady of the United States, as the roles were not defined just yet. First ladies have given more public speeches than vice presidents in the last three administrations, especially in the Bush and Obama years. It could be an asset. Mary Todd Lincoln was not a popular first lady. Amazed at Sylvia's beauty, Chantal Biya, the First Lady of Cameroon named her the "most beautiful First Lady in all of Africa." 10. Her openness about her mastectomy helped thousands of women check themselves. The options for each included an overall score of Great, Near Great, Average, Below Average, and Failure. It shows Michelle Obama as #13, yet NO writeup!?!? To see more about the First Ladies study and the C-SPAN First Ladies: Image and Influence series visit the C-SPAN site. What would you answer someone who says attention to the first lady is silly? Angelica Rivera Via wikimedia.org I rated her highest for her courage, integrity, accomplishment, leadership and being her own woman. As the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, she lived with her husband in many military postings before he assumed the role as President of the United States. What Im interested in is what can administrations and campaigns do to persuade the public. During her time in the White House, she managed the presidential household and held weekly receptions. Roosevelt is remembered for her activism in regards to civil rights, her advancement of womens rights and assisting the poor. The average first lady's final popularity rating before Trump was 71% with an unpopularity rating of 21%. I might put Michelle Obama one step higher, time will tell. The first lady is known to be a socialite and also very knowledgeable in finance and investments. Even as the first lady, she continued to work as a lecturer and writer while in service. Pats major initiative was in encouraging volunteerism. Julia Grant ranks highly among her successors. The first lady is the spouse of the president, who assumes the political role as the first woman in the country alongside her husband. Her value to her husband cannot be overstated she vetted his speeches, gave counsel and calmed him down when he went into a mood. Eliza Johnson was one of Americas most private first ladies. But she is most notable as the first First Lady to aggressively manage her image. Id rank her at Number 1 on my personal list. While some first ladies are more popular than others, it can be hard to rank them in order from most to least popular. She had the highest marks in all but one category. If you talk to Michelle Obamas staff, they say the same thing about her. This, however, made Roosevelt the longest-serving first lady in the White House. When Dr. Jill Biden ranks as one of the most popular first ladies in American history, it's no surprise that she's also one of the most accomplished. While she may not have been as iconic or well-known as some other first ladies, Ida McKinleys story is nonetheless a tragic and fascinating one. Obama also did well in the public image category due to her general popularity. But, there are only 14 women on the chart. Eleanor Rosalynn Carter ranks among Americas most influential first ladies. In a survey carried out by the Siena Research Institute in the year 2003, Bush had a high approval rating of 76% and was ranked the 24th first lady. With an approval rating of 75% and is ranked in the top 9 first ladies, Betty Ford is rated as one of the most beloved first ladies in the white house. While finishing my PhD at Georgetown, I was in a presidency class where it was made abundantly clear that theres no empirical research on this topic. Her particular initiative was focused on mental health. Florence Harding seems to be a pretty interesting person. Angelicas status as First Lady was great politically for President Van Buren, who was now more deeply entrenched into the Old South. District Profiles: Alabamas Congressional Districts, Debbie Stabenows Retirement Shakes Up 2024 Senate Contests, Pennsylvania House Elects Consensus Speaker, With a Twist, Elections to Watch Across the Globe in 2023. She performed for the cameras (in a way that we would now see as commonplace). She was just 57 years old. She is perhaps best known for insisting on Hail to the Chief being played whenever her husband, the 10th president of the United States, made an appearance. You can see now that the Clinton campaign, for example, is already trying to socialize this idea of Bill Clinton being an economic advisor. One of her main causes that she focused on was improving D.C. housing, particularly for Black Americans. Sarah Stook is a freelance writer with a great interest in US politics. As first lady, Edith Roosevelt was ranked number 10 in Siena Research Institutes study. Her sense of style is top notch and she has an ass than drives everyone crazy. Martha Washington had great insight into what people wanted of her and how she could deliver a message that the president couldnt or didnt have time to deliver. As the first first lady, Martha Washington set a precedent for how the role could be approached. Eleanor Roosevelt ranks as one of the most popular first ladies in American history. Here's How Melania Trump Ranks As A Former First Lady. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. The first lady often traveled for political appointments with the president and also on her own. In fact, it was revealed after her death that she no longer considered herself a Republican towards the end of her life. In addition to being an advocate for free community college and education access, Dr. Biden is also a lecturer and academic who earned her doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Delaware. These two also became true icons while serving as first ladies. She was known for her elegant fashion sense and for her work as an advocate for the arts. Melania Trump's stint in the White House was a hot topic in recent weeks. She was also the first First Lady to be nicknamed First Lady, a title which has since been used by all subsequent wives of presidents. Ida McKinley became a virtual recluse in the years following her husbands death, rarely leaving the presidential mansion and shunning all social interactions. Roosevelt was not particularly known for her interest in the White House or its preservation. She was also a very popular housewife whose recipes were widely copied. In addition to being an advocate for free community college and education access, Dr. Biden is also a lecturer and academic who earned her doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Delaware. After her time in the White House came to an end, she continued to work tirelessly on behalf of womens rights until her death in 1889. This deal secured votes for Adams and promised Clay the position of Secretary of State. She served as national GSUSA president on two separate occasions. I decided to do my own version using the Siena categories. However, things took a turn when President Wilson suffered a massive stroke in October of 1919. %PDF-1.3 The First Ladies Study has been conducted five times over the past thirty-one years. "That means the average net popularity rating for these first ladies . Though her approval rating never reached particularly high levels, Nancy Reagan was able to make a significant impact during her time as first lady. She also traveled with him on campaign trails, writing for a newspaper to help support his candidacy. She had a particular interest in making sure that there was funding for research in the mental health field. She was also known for her love of luxury and her many extravagant parties. Grant became an acclaimed hostess as First Lady, while at the same time championing womens rights and pushing forward the importance of her role. It was while in Gabon that she got married to Ali Bongo Ondimba, in 1989. Prestige was key in political negotiations, especially at the time. Melania Trump leaves the White House with the worst popularity rating for any first lady at the end of her term in polling history. Above everything, even her own rights, her advancement of womens rights and assisting the.! 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