The duties of the first lady have grown more and more demanding as the importance of the United States has grown among the nations of the world. Today, the first lady is expected to take part in her husband's election campaign, if she is able. In fact, her support may be crucial to winning the election in the first place.
And one of the biggest jobs any first lady has is running the president's official house, the White House. There are 132 rooms in the White House, as well as a large staff of household employees. It is the first lady's job to see that the White House staff does its work well. Since the White House is the only American house many important visitors see, the first lady must make sure that it is well run and a pleasant place to visit.
The family that lives in the White House has always been the subject of newspaper and magazine stories. Everything the president's family does becomes national, and even worldwide, news. Therefore there is little privacy. Many first ladies have disliked this part of their official lives. It has been especially difficult for first ladies who have tried to raise children while their husbands have been in office.
