First ladies occupy a delicate role in American society. Their – unpaid – job is twofold; to advance issues of their own whilst also being a supportive spouse,
On October 3rd, three staffers of former first ladies joined the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF) for “Inside the East Wing: The Role of the First Lady” to share stories of their time in the White House with students, faculty and guests.
They explained that the role of a first lady has been defined by certain women who have taken up the mantle. Anita McBride, director of the First Ladies Initiative at American University and former chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush, said that Eleanor Roosevelt was the most activist first lady in our history.
Roosevelt stood alongside her husband for 12 years as first lady, but also served an important public facing role. She hosted a radio broadcast and wrote a daily column.
“She was afraid to be conscripted to the role of first lady, that that would convey somehow that all she would do would be a social hostess, she wanted more,” McBride said.
Some first ladies came to the office with prior experiences that informed the issues they took on. McBride explained Barbara Bush’s establishment of the Bush Foundation for Family Literacy stemmed from her love of reading and writing.
Years later, Laura Bush was a teacher, then a librarian before she was the wife of the president.
“She was an advocate for education reform as first lady in Texas, and brought that with her,” McBride said.
In fact, on likely the most important day of her husband’s career, September 11, 2001, Laura Bush was on Capitol Hill, ready to give a speech about education. When the events of that day unfolded, she insisted it be postponed rather than canceled.
This wasn’t the only instance of world events impacting the role of First Lady. Tina Tchen, former chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama recalled the only time in eight years Mrs. Obama was called in to see her husband; the day of the Sandy Hook shooting.
Tchen said “politics is a family affair,” and recalled instances on the campaign trail when the Obama’s had worked together on the road to the White House.
“Back in 2007 he was Mr. Long Shot,” Tchen explained that the campaign saw the two play different roles. “He’s the thinker, she’s the emoter…that connection was key to him becoming president of the United States.”
Similarly, Noelia Rodriguez served as press secretary and director of communications for First Lady Laura Bush, called her boss the “comforter in chief,” using her platform to do what she could to support her husband and protect children.
Moderator Marylouise Oates, a former activist and L.A. Times journalist who covered first ladies, explained this isn’t a new trend.
“Ronald Reagan if he hadn’t been married to Nancy Reagan wouldn’t have become President Reagan,” Oates said.
Moderator and Director of USC CPF Bob Shrum, explained that Nancy Reagan pushed her husband to do something about the AIDS crisis, which was one of his landmark achievements.
Like Barbara Bush, current First Lady Jill Biden was an educator before her time in the White House. Unlike Bush, Biden has not given up her day job and is an adjunct professor at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.
She is also out on the campaign trail supporting Vice President, Kamala Harris in her fight to succeed President Joe Biden.
At an event hosted by the Arizona Education Association in Phoenix, Arizona on October 12, Biden spoke to a room of educators before they began canvassing. Donning a blue National Educators Association shirt reading “Educators for Kamala and Tim,” she spoke about the importance of discussing the cost of living, housing prices and abortion with voters.
Even after their husbands leave the White House, First Ladies can still occupy an important role in politics. Earlier this year, at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama gave a speech calling for voters to “do something.” She repeatedly criticized former President Donald Trump, for his numerous comments about “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs.”
“She would never have given a speech like she did at the convention as First Lady,” Tchen said.
Former First Lady Melania Trump recently released a book detailing her belief in a woman’s right to choose when it comes to reproductive health – a direct contrast to her husband’s policy as he runs for president this year for the third time.
McBride said “she’s not the first first lady to have a difference of opinion with her husband,” but all panelists agreed the timing of this information being released was “weird.”
American first ladies occupy an unusual position in society. “The high visibility of the spouse is unique,” Tchen said, and referenced in particular the number of staff first ladies are assigned. She recounted that in contrast, the prime minister’s spouse in the United Kingdom has one staffer, whose salary is only half-paid by the PM’s office. They are not expected to host politicians or take up social causes in the same way American first ladies are.
Perhaps this role will soon change. With Harris and Trump in a “dead heat” in an NBC poll out October 13, there is a real possibility that America’s newest first spouse will be a first gentleman.