It all began with @Martha @Washington, the wife of the first president of the @United @States. When she took up residence in the @President's @House in New @York City in 1789, the @American people had a new interest -- their first lady. Since Martha Washington's time, the interest of the American people in the wife of their president has grown stronger and, sometimes, more affectionate.
From the moment her husband becomes president, a first lady's life is changed. She becomes a public figure -- a celebrity, whose face is seen in every magazine and newspaper and on every television screen. Her personal life has to take second place to her responsibilities as first lady. She becomes the country's official hostess, the person who welcomes the rulers of many nations to the United States in the name of the American people. Since the United States has become a leading power in the world, Washington has become a world capital as well as the national one. The first lady is now expected to be a hostess to the world, as well as to the nation. She must entertain people whose customs and language are completely different from those of the United States. And millions of people -- some tourists, some famous diplomats, some royalty -- pass though the White House each year.
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.
But many first ladies, despite all of their household duties, have played important roles in their husbands' careers and in the life of the nation. Let's look at a few.
@Martha @Dandridge @Custis Washington grew up on a large plantation in @Virginia. She had no formal education, for girls in those days were rarely taught outside their own homes. She learned reading and writing from private tutors who came to her. She also had lessons in sewing, housekeeping, cooking, dancing, and music û essential subjects for girls at that time.
At 17, she was one of the most popular young ladies in @Williamsburg, and at 18 she married a prosperous planter named @Daniel @Parke Custis. Seven years after their marriage, Custis died, leaving Martha a wealthy young widow with two small children.
Martha Custis first met @Colonel @George Washingon a year after her husband's death. They were married in 1759 and settled down at @Mount @Vernon, Washington's plantation. Their gracious, comfortable life was interrupted when Washington was called to head the @Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
During the war years, Lady Washington, as she was called, did not spare herself. She joined her husband at winter headquarters every year for eight winters. She did everything she could to encourage and help the tattered soldiers.
As the wife of the first president, Mrs. Washington had no traditions to follow. With only her common sense and sound social training to guide her, she proved to be a fine model for the first ladies who followed her. With the President at her side, she greeted the guests who attended their weekly levees (receptions) with dignity and charm.
Although she always remained cheerful and happy, Mrs. Washington felt she led an extremely dull life in New York City. She was more content when the capital moved to @Philadelphia in 1790. They spent the balance of the President's first term and all of his second term in Philadelphia. There were no regrets, however, when they returned to their beloved Mount Vernon in 1797. This famous couple spent their final years happily surrounded by their grandchildren, friends, and visitors.
@Abigail @Smith @Adams was the wife of one United States president and the mother of another. She was a remarkable woman who served her country well. It's unfortunate, then, that she is too often remembered only as the president's wife who solved her laundry problem by drying her clothes in the East Room of the executive mansion.
Mrs. Adams had made it possible for her husband, @John Adams, to work in Philadelphia for the freedom of the colonies. Almost single-handedly she ran the family farm at @Braintree, @Massachusetts, where she supported and raised their children. She wrote to her husband constantly during his many long absences from home on government business, keeping up his morale.
No woman could have been better prepared for the position of first lady than Mrs. Adams. The years she had spent with her husband during his government missions in @Paris and @London had taught her a great deal about social and political life. For example, she was the first American woman to be presented at the @British @Court.
In 1800, the capital was moved from Philadelphia to Washington, then a town in the wilderness. Mrs. Adams was the first president's wife to live in the new executive mansion. This was not exactly a pleasure, though, as the building that would be called the White House was unfinished, damp, and uncomfortable. Although she complained privately, Mrs. Adams made the best of the situation. All told, though, she was happy to leave public life in 1801, although her husband bitterly resented it. They returned to their home in Braintree, where they enjoyed 17 years of peace and companionship.
Thomas Jefferson had no official hostess. @Martha @Wayles @Skelton, a noted Virginia beauty, had died 19 years before her husband became president, and of their six children, only two daughters lived. Duties were shared by his surviving daughters, Martha Jefferson @Randolph, the wife of @Thomas @Mann Randolph, and @Maria Jefferson @Eppes (known as @Polly), who was married to John @Wayles Eppes. @Dorothea (Dolley) @Madison, wife of Jefferson's secretary of state, and other wives of his cabinet members also helped run the White House's social affairs.
By all accounts, Jefferson was a good father. He carefully supervised his daughters' schooling, manners, and dress. Mrs. Randolph took a more active part in the social life of the White House than her sister. Her extensive travels and years of education abroad, and her association with her father and his friends, had prepared her to be mistress of the White House. Mrs. Eppes, the beauty of the family, was very frail.
After Maria Eppes' death, Mrs. Randolph and her family moved into the White House to help ease Jefferson's grief. They all accompanied President Jefferson to @Monticello, his beautiful house in Virginia, on his retirement. There Mrs. Randolph acted as her father's companion and hostess.
Dolley Madison later became an actual first lady, and of them all, none has had a greater reputation for grace and charm than she. These qualities made her one of the best-known American women.
Dolley Madison was brought up in the @Quaker faith. Her first husband died in the yellow-fever epidemic in 1793. The blue-eyed, black-haired young widow had many suitors, but the "great little Madison," 17 years older than she, won her. She supplied all the social graces that her brilliant but quiet husband lacked.
The 8 years of Madison's presidency were filled with colorful parties and receptions. Mrs. Madison seemed able to make everyone feel at home. She remembered the names and faces of everyone she met.
Madison's second term in office saw the troubled years of the War of 1812. When the British attacked Washington, Mrs. Madison was one of the last people to leave the White House. Before she fled to safety, she packed trunks of important state papers and rescued the famous @Gilbert @Stuart painting of George Washington, which hung in the White House.
Unlike Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison thoroughly enjoyed being first lady. She loved Washington and never wanted to be any other place. In her later years, when she was a widow with little money, she remained "Queen Dolley" to her many friends. The most important men in Washington came to her home to pay their respects.
Beautiful @Elizabeth @Kortright of New York City was 17 when she married James @Monroe, a Virginia lawyer. She spent much of her early married life in various capitals in @Europe, where her husband served as United States representative.
The @Monroes were very popular in @France, where the graceful, blue-eyed Mrs. Monroe was known as la belle @AmΘricaine ("the beautiful American"). She played a dramatic part in saving @Madame @Lafayette, the wife of America's great friend, the @Marquis de Lafayette, from the guillotine during the @French @Revolution. Riding in the official carriage of the United States legation, she went to the Paris prison in which Madame Lafayette was awaiting execution. Mrs. Monroe demanded to see the prisoner. This action demonstrated the interest of the United States in the case. Madame Lafayette was released soon after.
Although she was a good hostess, Mrs. Monroe's years as first lady were not completely successful. A combination of poor health and a desire for privacy caused her to limit her social activities. And Washington society, accustomed to Dolley Madison's lavish hospitality, was critical of Madison's successor. In time the unpleasantness passed, but the Monroes were pleased to return to their lovely home in Virginia after 8 years in the White House.
Their younger child, Maria, was the first president's daughter to be married in the White House.
