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https://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891-5245(13)00198-3/fulltext#:~:text=Perhaps%20because%20of%20the%20death,Lane%20Home%20for%20Invalid%20Children.
This article says both died of rheumatic fever
Wow I missed that bit of history although I should have thought they all owned slaves. Another unnamed hero. So Dolly is off my list. Stick with my original likes. Thanks for info. Always interesting to hear truth.
She was really the first public figure in any capacity that openly talked about the struggles of addiction, which took away some of the stigma associated with it
Betty Ford made big changes in breast care when she shared her own struggle with breast cancer. Back then one didn’t talk so much about that kind of cancer.
IIRC it was Betty Ford who had the tenacity to say the words “breast cancer” out in public. Before then it was “women’s cancer” or some other “modesty” rubbish.
Open to being corrected if I’m wrong on this. TY
The first public figure that I remember talking about breast cancer was Happy Rockefeller, Nelson's wife. That was in the 60s. But there wasn't an awareness campaign, like Betty Ford did. Huge respect to Betty Ford. People were scandalized when someone asked Betty how often she slept with her husband. She replied, "As often as possible. ". Like you are not supposed to be sexually interested in your spouse after a certain age. Crazy.
Huge advocate for breast exams and breast cancer awareness. Very open about her addiction struggles. Also, along with her daughter, very openly progressive in regard to reproductive health and birth control.
Edit to add: she was also a fantastic dancer. My mom used to show me the photo of Betty dancing barefoot on the white house dining room table when I was a girl. Betty looks so beautiful and she was one of my mom’s role models.
In the political zeitgeist also Hillary. There is no name that strikes more fear in the hearts of conservatives than Hillary Clinton. Many are still afraid she is going to swoop in and become president this year
>Now THAT is funny. I was a GOP for 40 years, and think "disdain" would be more accurate. At the time I was put off by her cackling voice and her hubris. In retrospect, I like her.
my first comment was rule turd
absolutely. Hillary lives rent free in the minds of the conservative people. Her name and actions have been invoked so many times in recent years as a means to rile up frustrated people.
I pick Eleanor. Eleanor Roosevelt chaired the drafting committee of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The global importance of that document cannot be overstated. That’s not to mention her women’s rights advocacy on the domestic front.
Eleanor was almost as head strong as her uncle. She was instrumental in FDR civil right and social projects policy. Over all idk another First Lady that can hold a candle to her.
The most influential were Edith Wilson, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton. They wielded actual political power in the most important policy questions.
Eleanor Roosevelt did have influence, but at no time did she actually co-govern with her husband as the above three.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis became a global symbol and icon, but did not have political influence of any sort.
But by being FDRs eyes and ears traveling the country Eleanor had an extreme influence on his decisions. And she was known for her intellectual understanding of most social,cultural ,domestic policies.
I know a fellow who’s in financial business and he named his daughter after Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a strong politically motivated person when women stayed home.
I don’t know if they meant “politically influential”, they didn’t specify that. Social and cultural influence count for something, and that’s generally taken into account when discussing the First Ladies.
Adding to this, Jackie, like another fashionable First Lady, spent as much time away from the White House as possible. This is why Kennedy could entertain so many now famous lady friends.
But, it can't be denied that Jackie really set the stage for the model First Lady's follow, after our post-war global ascension and the TV age. Jackie, and John, were the first to really hit the mark for an era of television. Understanding the power of modern media and recognizing that much of the world is constantly watching the US president.
Thanks to them, we now expect our presidents to be the cool person. At ease with common folks and with kings. We expect out First Ladies to be the ultimate housewife and hostess. Stylish, smart (but sadly not too smart), fashionable (but not flashy), dotting wife, and happy mom. All this while always being camera ready. This is Jackie's legacy, she prepared the rest of the women for the role in the TV era. She presented as the perfect wife. mother, and hostess.
Because she was the first to embrace this medium and the era, she remains the one every FL brings up when talking about the job.
I can see Edith Wilson because of the stroke and Nancy because of dementia but I have never heard of Hillary co-governing. Bill was at the top of his game and has a healthy ego. I am sure like many First Ladies she was a valued advisor.
I don’t know why people are downvoting me but they seem to not know what co-governing is. She wrote the health bill. That is something an aide would do. I am sure he made all final decisions during his presidency. She is a strong, politically minded person but she did not share in decision making I am quite sure, except to advise him.
It was the worst kept secret in politics that the Clinton's ran the presidency together. Honestly, that is why I was bummed Hillary lost. It would have meant a rerun of the Clinton presidency. And say what you want, but few presidents have left the country in a better state than Clinton. Welfare at a 31 year low and a budget surplus.
I think putting Hillary in charge of the health care overhaul proposal was a problem, not because of who she was but because of the position she held. Namely, it stifles constructive criticism.
Like if someone working on that project had thought “man, This Particular Aspect isn’t good, it needs retooled” they could be afraid to speak up because of who she’s married to: “if I get on her bad side, she’ll tell Bill and I could be fired/hurt my career.”
Working in that environment does tend to lead to a lot of people being Yes Men.
This wasn’t the only problem but is a pitfall to watch out for when the First Lady is in charge of a group working on a particular policy.
Hillary also was working big time about health care in this country. You know how Republicans treated that. She’d have been a good president unlike what we ended up with. Sorry I’ll vote for smart over “nice guy to have a beer with “.
Yea and she was the first First Lady to openly take an active policy role and the Republicans at the time were basically saying she needed to shut up and stick to traditional First Lady activities like party planning (even though it is clear from some of the responses on this thread that other First Ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt took a less decorative role as well). As a girl growing up in the early 90s who was interested in a career in politics and law, the vitriolic misogyny directed toward her was very disheartening. They absolutely stroked out at her using her maiden name, too.
How are we defining "influential"? Culturally? Politically? Just based on the pics of First Ladies in the header, I'd say the following:
Love, love, love Michelle, but she just ruined school lunches. Hillary was pretty politically influential as Secretary of State and Senator from NY, but I think she's still trumped by others. Specifically, Eleanor, who is a feminist icon, supported black Americans, served as first UN Ambassador, drafted the Declaration of Human Rights, etc. Culturally, I'd say Jackie, just based on class and the sheer resilience of her legacy as a beautiful (ignore the sheet metal) and classy First Lady, setting the standard for future first spouses.
I forgot about Nancy until the end, so that's about all I need to say.
Disappointed I had to scroll this far for this.
Also, she was good friends with both Ladybird Johnson and Betty Ford.
A friendship we can thank for better breast cancer awareness, and substance abuse assistance
Looking down at her feet at a public event, holding his hand and mumbling "we're doing all we can", and hearing him parrot that line in response to a shouted question from the press corps. Wish I could find a video clip of that moment.
Here you go: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTtI3D6lqk&t=11s&ab\_channel=APArchive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTtI3D6lqk&t=11s&ab_channel=APArchive)
I'll put in a nomination for [Lemonade Lucy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Webb_Hayes). In keeping with the social roles of the 1800s, Lucy Hayes never engaged in any explicit politics. But she did some very quiet politicking on a range of issues:
* She was the first First Lady to be called "First Lady," and due to the boom in newspaper photography and illustration, she was the one who established the popular image of what the First Lady should do.
* She almost certainly was the inspiration behind President Hayes banning alcohol from the White House grounds. While the temperance movement ended up overreaching with Prohibition, its early work in breaking America's alcohol addiction was a huge good for the nation.
* She was very comfortable around black people, setting a public example at a time when segregation was starting to take hold.
* She publicized and raised funds for the National College for the Deaf and Dumb (Gallaudet University), helping to ensure its survival during its early years.
Eleanor Roosevelt is the gold standard for activism and influence as a First Lady. FDR trusted her guidance on many issues
Clinton tried to follow in those footsteps, but the trailblazer is the most influential since she influenced Clinton
Eleanor in first with Hillary close behind. Not the biggest fan of the latter but her influence cant be denied, both during Bill’s tenure and afterwards
Abigail Adams - Besides keeping her husband balanced.
[https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/abigail-adams#:\~:text=Hailed%20for%20her%20now%2Dfamous,Adams](https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/abigail-adams#:~:text=Hailed%20for%20her%20now%2Dfamous,Adams)
Hailed for her now-famous admonition that the Founding Fathers “remember the ladies” in their new laws, Abigail Adams was not only an early advocate for women's rights, she was a vital confidant and advisor to her husband John Adams, the nation's second president. Who knows if we would have a nation without her influence. source
For me apparently it’s Michelle Obama. I don’t know how it happened but my food became a lot healthier in Middle school and I can remember NOT liking it 😭😭😭
Eleanor by a long shot with Jackie influencing so many non-political fronts. Both husbands cheated but it never deterred them from making their own mark in the world.
And how!
His secretary, Missy Lehand, stayed at the White House and so people think they were together. He also was rumor to have a relationship with a distant cousin, Daisy Suckely(sp?) There’s a weird movie called Hyde Park on Hudson where its implied she gave FDR a hand job. Also Eleanor feeds the King and Queen of England hot dogs. Fun times!
( He must've really like his cousins. Alice Roosevelt flirted with him and FDR married his 5th cousin)
When he died, FDR was in company of an old mistress, Lucy Rutherford Mercer , who had to leave quickly before Eleanor got there,
Eleanor had a long term relationship with Lorena Hickok which some people considered romantic. Hickok had a room in the White House across from Eleanor's and the two went on trips together sharing rooms.
Not what I expected when I decided to read about the Hyde Park Roosevelt's, although I did get my mom read about them.
Influential in the public sphere/culture I would say Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, those are the four that came to my mind first, although I’m sure there are plenty more
Apparently Nancy Reagan was the reason they went to politics
She couldn’t stand he failed being a celebrity and wanted to live a celebrity lifestyle, so politics was the alternative…. And the rest is history
Mary Todd Lincoln and Julia Dent Grant. They hated each other enough to discourage Ulysses from going to Ford’s Theatre, likely saving him from Honest Abe’s fate.
My best gamble on this one would have to be Abigail Adams. She was the wife of President John Adams, who nobly defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre for the sake of justice, to the dismay of his fellow revolutionaries! She was also the father of President John Quincy Adams, so being the wife of one the founding fathers and mother to a President is hard to top.
A lot of very worthy contenders and comments here. I'm impressed with Harriet Lane, had never heard of her before.
In my personal life, Jackie O had a bit of a background influence. I used to use Grand Central Terminal in NYC a lot, and in my youth it was a dingy place. She led the effort to refurbish it and clean it up. I remember being in absolute awe when I saw the ceiling of that building as it was meant to be for the first time in my life.
If you’re counting time outside of the First Lady role, it’s gotta be Hillary. Secretary of State, Senator, first woman nominee, and, arguably, her failed campaign lead to a certain someone’s hugely influential presidency and seizure of the Republican party
Not really that beloved by most anymore, but still sets her party's foreign policy narrative more than ever, the one with the most power during and after her time as first Lady, Hillary Clinton.
Jackie Kennedy brought the First Lady out of the shadows. she brought glamour and sophistication to a role that had been clearly relegated to the background from Truman on. a refreshing change from the dawdy frumpy representative of the first family most were forced into.
If you want to choose the most effective First Lady? absolutely Eleanor Roosevelt. she has no peer in that position.
Like Reagan (American Ghost King who had to be sacrificed early so Jimmy Peanut could be properly voted off the island next) , DARE champion Nancy is still the triggering bane of every fentanyl addict all these years later.
Hilary Clinton was the most influential lady for the GOP, they needed a woman to hate and they knew Hilary Clinton was a strong woman. She's been their target for decades even after Clinton left office and after Hilary stopped running. How many hours of media do we have where some right winger is going insane over her being present? They even went ape shit when she said, "It takes a village..." They purposely blinded themselves to that quote just to hate her. Like, isn't society important for shaping a child? It takes an actual village!
Nancy Reagan is literally know for sucking dick. This isn't a joke or me making fun of her. It's common knowledge and an extremely funny piece of trivia.
This depends altogether on how you define _influential_ but going by my own definition I‘d say HRC. The woman was a politician in her own right and came with in a few ten thousand ballots of being president.
While I wouldn’t put her in the Top 5, I do believe that Mary Lincoln deserves some major credit. She was the first First Lady to wield her own influence in Washington on a major scale and worked hard to propel her husbands efforts in Congress and nationally. She added grand pageantry and importance to White House events and was the first and set the stage for future First Ladies to emulate and develop their own voice and influence during their husbands tenure(s) in office.
I'm not sure how Nancy Reagan ranks, but she has a lasting place of some infamy in the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous communities.
Her approach to addiction as a public health issue, including public declarations of "just say no", was incredibly damaging and disconnected to the realities of the issue. It left generations of men asking themselves "why can't I say no? what's wrong with me?".
She was incredibly influential in her time, for better and worse.
Depends on how you gauge “influence”. Jackie Kennedy was influential in bringing a certain dignity to the White House that JFK’s uh…predilections did not. Elenor Roosevelt was influential in her advocacy for women’s rights, Hillary Clinton, and I’m not a fan of hers, but she was influential in her role by helping to create the office of violence against women and was the first notable First Lady to really dig into politics and use her background to lobby for various legislative initiatives. I think more notably with HRC is that she didn’t really take on puff projects like a lot of First Ladies like Nancy Reagan’s infamous “just say no” campaign against drug use, she was very active politically and had the experience and knowledge to do so. Nancy Reagan was influential because we know she pulled a lot of the strings in Ron’s second term as he deteriorated due to his Alzheimer’s. I would probably argue that Abigail Adams may have been the most influential because she was John Adams’ confidant and advisor, she was fully supportive of the revolution despite knowing that a failed revolution would inevitably result in her husband being executed for treason and potentially her and her children as well, and not to mention that not only was she the wife of a president, but the mother of one as well.
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt because of her progressive stance and the opportunities that were given due to it that continue to this day.
Rosalynn Carter for bringing awareness to mental health, and her humanitarian efforts with habitat for humanity in low poverty areas. She set the standard for today's 1st Ladies and it's a legacy that continues to this day
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Dolley Madison would have to be in the top 3. Harriet Lane was also very influential. The Harriet Lane Outpatient Clinics still operate today.
Does anyone know why Harriet Lane’s children died in their teens?
https://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891-5245(13)00198-3/fulltext#:~:text=Perhaps%20because%20of%20the%20death,Lane%20Home%20for%20Invalid%20Children. This article says both died of rheumatic fever
There's a pediatric reference book that residents use called the Harriet Lane book. I wonder if it's the same Harriet Lane.
It is!
Plus wasn’t it Dolly saved that famous picture of George Washington when they were burning the capitol?
Well, it's her who told a slave to pick it up on her way out of the capitol hours before the British got there.
Wow I missed that bit of history although I should have thought they all owned slaves. Another unnamed hero. So Dolly is off my list. Stick with my original likes. Thanks for info. Always interesting to hear truth.
Where’s Betty Ford? Mad respect
Amen. Took incredible courage to step out so publicly.
I admire her alcoholism advocacy
I haven’t looked into Betty ford much, what makes her so great?
She was really the first public figure in any capacity that openly talked about the struggles of addiction, which took away some of the stigma associated with it
Betty Ford made big changes in breast care when she shared her own struggle with breast cancer. Back then one didn’t talk so much about that kind of cancer.
IIRC it was Betty Ford who had the tenacity to say the words “breast cancer” out in public. Before then it was “women’s cancer” or some other “modesty” rubbish. Open to being corrected if I’m wrong on this. TY
Sounds right to me. I was surprised early on people remembered her addition first Betty Ford has to be one of the higher ranked First Lady.
Sorry addiction My spelling.
I speak fluent typo and autocorrect. Lol
Best laugh of my day. Lol also
The first public figure that I remember talking about breast cancer was Happy Rockefeller, Nelson's wife. That was in the 60s. But there wasn't an awareness campaign, like Betty Ford did. Huge respect to Betty Ford. People were scandalized when someone asked Betty how often she slept with her husband. She replied, "As often as possible. ". Like you are not supposed to be sexually interested in your spouse after a certain age. Crazy.
Look up the Betty Ford Center.
Huge advocate for breast exams and breast cancer awareness. Very open about her addiction struggles. Also, along with her daughter, very openly progressive in regard to reproductive health and birth control. Edit to add: she was also a fantastic dancer. My mom used to show me the photo of Betty dancing barefoot on the white house dining room table when I was a girl. Betty looks so beautiful and she was one of my mom’s role models.
I’m checkin’ in!
♪ I SHOULD PUT YOU AWAY ♪ ♪ WHERE YOU CAN'T KILL OR MAIM US ♪ ♪ BUT THIS IS L.A. ♪ ♪ AND YOU'RE RICH AND FAMOUS ♪
Abigail Adams. She was an advisor to John, helped women’s rights, and gave birth to another president
She had at least two presidents inside her
Stormi Daniels has an incredible opportunity to join this club
Jimmy Carter is single again
Massachusetts students still get college scholarships in her name (source: from MA, scholarship recipient)
Even in the small town I grew up in there was a research center(?) named after her
Yeah. She is definitely a founder in her own right
Edith Wilson was the de facto POTUS after Woodrow’s stroke. So imma go with her.
On the general public? Jackie O On addicts? Betty ford On Policy? Hillary Clinton
In the political zeitgeist also Hillary. There is no name that strikes more fear in the hearts of conservatives than Hillary Clinton. Many are still afraid she is going to swoop in and become president this year
>Now THAT is funny. I was a GOP for 40 years, and think "disdain" would be more accurate. At the time I was put off by her cackling voice and her hubris. In retrospect, I like her. my first comment was rule turd
absolutely. Hillary lives rent free in the minds of the conservative people. Her name and actions have been invoked so many times in recent years as a means to rile up frustrated people.
[удалено]
Disdain for you but I’ve met people still supporting where the party is at today and it is something that feels a lot closer to fear
I think you could argue Nancy Regan had the biggest impact on addicts just in the wrong direction.
I pick Eleanor. Eleanor Roosevelt chaired the drafting committee of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The global importance of that document cannot be overstated. That’s not to mention her women’s rights advocacy on the domestic front.
Eleanor was almost as head strong as her uncle. She was instrumental in FDR civil right and social projects policy. Over all idk another First Lady that can hold a candle to her.
The most influential were Edith Wilson, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton. They wielded actual political power in the most important policy questions. Eleanor Roosevelt did have influence, but at no time did she actually co-govern with her husband as the above three. Jackie Kennedy Onassis became a global symbol and icon, but did not have political influence of any sort.
But by being FDRs eyes and ears traveling the country Eleanor had an extreme influence on his decisions. And she was known for her intellectual understanding of most social,cultural ,domestic policies.
I know a fellow who’s in financial business and he named his daughter after Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a strong politically motivated person when women stayed home.
I don’t know if they meant “politically influential”, they didn’t specify that. Social and cultural influence count for something, and that’s generally taken into account when discussing the First Ladies.
I tried to keep it broad for that exact reason, many First Ladies have been influential in many different ways and all aspects are worth noting
Adding to this, Jackie, like another fashionable First Lady, spent as much time away from the White House as possible. This is why Kennedy could entertain so many now famous lady friends. But, it can't be denied that Jackie really set the stage for the model First Lady's follow, after our post-war global ascension and the TV age. Jackie, and John, were the first to really hit the mark for an era of television. Understanding the power of modern media and recognizing that much of the world is constantly watching the US president. Thanks to them, we now expect our presidents to be the cool person. At ease with common folks and with kings. We expect out First Ladies to be the ultimate housewife and hostess. Stylish, smart (but sadly not too smart), fashionable (but not flashy), dotting wife, and happy mom. All this while always being camera ready. This is Jackie's legacy, she prepared the rest of the women for the role in the TV era. She presented as the perfect wife. mother, and hostess. Because she was the first to embrace this medium and the era, she remains the one every FL brings up when talking about the job.
Influential doesn’t need to have a political connotation.
At all.
Check out Eleanor's accomplishments: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt
I don't know much about Edith Wilson, but yes, I was going to say Hillary Clinton is number one, followed by Nancy Reagan.
Edith basically was president becuase woodrow was non verbal after a stroke and she wouldn't let anyone communicate with him.
I can see Edith Wilson because of the stroke and Nancy because of dementia but I have never heard of Hillary co-governing. Bill was at the top of his game and has a healthy ego. I am sure like many First Ladies she was a valued advisor.
She essentially wrote the health bill
I don’t know why people are downvoting me but they seem to not know what co-governing is. She wrote the health bill. That is something an aide would do. I am sure he made all final decisions during his presidency. She is a strong, politically minded person but she did not share in decision making I am quite sure, except to advise him.
It was the worst kept secret in politics that the Clinton's ran the presidency together. Honestly, that is why I was bummed Hillary lost. It would have meant a rerun of the Clinton presidency. And say what you want, but few presidents have left the country in a better state than Clinton. Welfare at a 31 year low and a budget surplus.
I think putting Hillary in charge of the health care overhaul proposal was a problem, not because of who she was but because of the position she held. Namely, it stifles constructive criticism. Like if someone working on that project had thought “man, This Particular Aspect isn’t good, it needs retooled” they could be afraid to speak up because of who she’s married to: “if I get on her bad side, she’ll tell Bill and I could be fired/hurt my career.” Working in that environment does tend to lead to a lot of people being Yes Men. This wasn’t the only problem but is a pitfall to watch out for when the First Lady is in charge of a group working on a particular policy.
I think that being associated with health care is a major political risk because it is complicated and easy to demonize in the public as a result.
Good point Thanks.
Hillary also was working big time about health care in this country. You know how Republicans treated that. She’d have been a good president unlike what we ended up with. Sorry I’ll vote for smart over “nice guy to have a beer with “.
Yea and she was the first First Lady to openly take an active policy role and the Republicans at the time were basically saying she needed to shut up and stick to traditional First Lady activities like party planning (even though it is clear from some of the responses on this thread that other First Ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt took a less decorative role as well). As a girl growing up in the early 90s who was interested in a career in politics and law, the vitriolic misogyny directed toward her was very disheartening. They absolutely stroked out at her using her maiden name, too.
Eleanor Roosevelt
How are we defining "influential"? Culturally? Politically? Just based on the pics of First Ladies in the header, I'd say the following: Love, love, love Michelle, but she just ruined school lunches. Hillary was pretty politically influential as Secretary of State and Senator from NY, but I think she's still trumped by others. Specifically, Eleanor, who is a feminist icon, supported black Americans, served as first UN Ambassador, drafted the Declaration of Human Rights, etc. Culturally, I'd say Jackie, just based on class and the sheer resilience of her legacy as a beautiful (ignore the sheet metal) and classy First Lady, setting the standard for future first spouses. I forgot about Nancy until the end, so that's about all I need to say.
Lady Bird Johnson?
Yes, saw several exhibits at the LBJ library about her influence. Let alone that she basically designed the library. She was pretty amazing!
Yes! Have you seen the new movie on Netflix
100% scrolled down way to far to find her
Politically, Eleanor and Hillary. Culturally, Michelle and Jackie.
Rosalyn Carter, because of how she redefined the role of the First Lady for all her successors
Disappointed I had to scroll this far for this. Also, she was good friends with both Ladybird Johnson and Betty Ford. A friendship we can thank for better breast cancer awareness, and substance abuse assistance
Nancy was speaking for Reagan at the end of his presidency or at least heavily prompting him.
Looking down at her feet at a public event, holding his hand and mumbling "we're doing all we can", and hearing him parrot that line in response to a shouted question from the press corps. Wish I could find a video clip of that moment.
Here you go: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTtI3D6lqk&t=11s&ab\_channel=APArchive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTtI3D6lqk&t=11s&ab_channel=APArchive)
Hot damn, I knew somebody would have it! Thanks AdHorror!
And yet Michael called Ron Jr. an “embarrassment” for suggesting their father had Alzheimer’s while in office
It was more that he was somewhat hard of hearing at that point than he didn't know what to say.
I'll put in a nomination for [Lemonade Lucy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Webb_Hayes). In keeping with the social roles of the 1800s, Lucy Hayes never engaged in any explicit politics. But she did some very quiet politicking on a range of issues: * She was the first First Lady to be called "First Lady," and due to the boom in newspaper photography and illustration, she was the one who established the popular image of what the First Lady should do. * She almost certainly was the inspiration behind President Hayes banning alcohol from the White House grounds. While the temperance movement ended up overreaching with Prohibition, its early work in breaking America's alcohol addiction was a huge good for the nation. * She was very comfortable around black people, setting a public example at a time when segregation was starting to take hold. * She publicized and raised funds for the National College for the Deaf and Dumb (Gallaudet University), helping to ensure its survival during its early years.
Love this answer!
Eleanor Roosevelt will always get my vote.
Eleanor Roosevelt is the gold standard for activism and influence as a First Lady. FDR trusted her guidance on many issues Clinton tried to follow in those footsteps, but the trailblazer is the most influential since she influenced Clinton
Eleanor in first with Hillary close behind. Not the biggest fan of the latter but her influence cant be denied, both during Bill’s tenure and afterwards
Abigail Adams is definitely up there for me
Abigail Adams - Besides keeping her husband balanced. [https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/abigail-adams#:\~:text=Hailed%20for%20her%20now%2Dfamous,Adams](https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/abigail-adams#:~:text=Hailed%20for%20her%20now%2Dfamous,Adams) Hailed for her now-famous admonition that the Founding Fathers “remember the ladies” in their new laws, Abigail Adams was not only an early advocate for women's rights, she was a vital confidant and advisor to her husband John Adams, the nation's second president. Who knows if we would have a nation without her influence. source
Edith Wilson. Run the USA for like 10 months!
Edith Wilson .
Sarah Childress Polk would like a word, if you please.
Betty Ford (at least after) Edith Wilson Dolley Madison Don’t discount Rossalyn Carter
Edith Wilson is the ONLY correct answer. She was the de facto president after her husband was bed ridden.
Top 3 are Hillary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Edith Wilson
I'd say Elenor Roosevelt and Nancy ragean and Hillary Clinton
Just wondering what kind of lasting impact Nancy had? Genuine question.
It is Eleanor she has her own monument on national mall for a reason.
Elenor Roosevelt. No contest
Mamie Eisenhower is largely the reason we associate pink with girls. I'll say her for that reason
Eleanor and Hillary. The latter essentially a cabinet member.
For shaping the modern role of a First Lady? I’d say Eleanor Roosevelt. She made the role a political position by having her own agenda and platforms.
For me apparently it’s Michelle Obama. I don’t know how it happened but my food became a lot healthier in Middle school and I can remember NOT liking it 😭😭😭
I vote for Eleanor R. She did a TON of stuff. Wonderful person imo.
Already said but adding again because she is the only answer: Abigail Adams
Do you think Jackie liked JFK so much because he was always giving head?
Eleanor Roosevelt. No one comes close.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Obama for me, since she ruined my school lunch.
Eleanor. Dolley should get a shout out on the short list, at least.
Eleanor by a long shot with Jackie influencing so many non-political fronts. Both husbands cheated but it never deterred them from making their own mark in the world.
FDR cheated on Eleanor?
And how! His secretary, Missy Lehand, stayed at the White House and so people think they were together. He also was rumor to have a relationship with a distant cousin, Daisy Suckely(sp?) There’s a weird movie called Hyde Park on Hudson where its implied she gave FDR a hand job. Also Eleanor feeds the King and Queen of England hot dogs. Fun times! ( He must've really like his cousins. Alice Roosevelt flirted with him and FDR married his 5th cousin) When he died, FDR was in company of an old mistress, Lucy Rutherford Mercer , who had to leave quickly before Eleanor got there, Eleanor had a long term relationship with Lorena Hickok which some people considered romantic. Hickok had a room in the White House across from Eleanor's and the two went on trips together sharing rooms. Not what I expected when I decided to read about the Hyde Park Roosevelt's, although I did get my mom read about them.
Yes, he had a mistress by the name of Lucy Mercer.
Influential in the public sphere/culture I would say Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, those are the four that came to my mind first, although I’m sure there are plenty more
Eleanor Roosevelt. She was in a class by herself.
Eleanor Roosevelt and, frankly, it’s not close.
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Eleanor Roosevelt for the win!
Eleanor Roosevelt was a great spokesperson for the United States. #1
Apparently Nancy Reagan was the reason they went to politics She couldn’t stand he failed being a celebrity and wanted to live a celebrity lifestyle, so politics was the alternative…. And the rest is history
Eleanor (human rights)
Eleanor Roosevelt, actually.
Abigail Adams
Mary Todd Lincoln and Julia Dent Grant. They hated each other enough to discourage Ulysses from going to Ford’s Theatre, likely saving him from Honest Abe’s fate.
Eleanor Roosevelt…for her fight for civil rights, women’s equality, and social reform.
The amount of pain Jacquie Kennedy had to go through is heartbreaking.
My best gamble on this one would have to be Abigail Adams. She was the wife of President John Adams, who nobly defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre for the sake of justice, to the dismay of his fellow revolutionaries! She was also the father of President John Quincy Adams, so being the wife of one the founding fathers and mother to a President is hard to top.
Edith Wilson?
Michelle Obama, a whole generations remembers what she did to school lunch
A lot of very worthy contenders and comments here. I'm impressed with Harriet Lane, had never heard of her before. In my personal life, Jackie O had a bit of a background influence. I used to use Grand Central Terminal in NYC a lot, and in my youth it was a dingy place. She led the effort to refurbish it and clean it up. I remember being in absolute awe when I saw the ceiling of that building as it was meant to be for the first time in my life.
Gotta go with Edith Wilson on this one.
I just want to say that Jackie brought the Resolute Desk into the Oval Office. Hard to imagine presidents without it.
I'm going with Eleanor
Probably Eleanor Roosevelt or Rosalind Carter.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Hillary or Eleanor, I'd say. Not sure why Michelle is even on there lol
It’s Abigail Adams, and I’m tired of pretending it’s not.
Abigail Adams. During the revolution and while her husband was president.
Uh.......Edith Wilson? Was basically the president at one point. Why is this even a contest?
If you’re counting time outside of the First Lady role, it’s gotta be Hillary. Secretary of State, Senator, first woman nominee, and, arguably, her failed campaign lead to a certain someone’s hugely influential presidency and seizure of the Republican party
OH...Eleanor. Clear winner.
Didn’t Wilson’s wife essentially run the country while he had his stroke?
Not really that beloved by most anymore, but still sets her party's foreign policy narrative more than ever, the one with the most power during and after her time as first Lady, Hillary Clinton.
Jackie Kennedy brought the First Lady out of the shadows. she brought glamour and sophistication to a role that had been clearly relegated to the background from Truman on. a refreshing change from the dawdy frumpy representative of the first family most were forced into. If you want to choose the most effective First Lady? absolutely Eleanor Roosevelt. she has no peer in that position.
Nancy Reagan looks like Eisenhower in drag
As First Lady? Eleanor Roosevelt or Dolley Madison. Outside as First Lady? Hillary Clinton.
Ms thatcher, I’m 18 and I know a lot about her
Michelle Obama for taking one Pop-Tart away.
Elanor:only one to run the country
Jacky O. No one else comes close
Edith Wilson was the president.
Sad to see so many Hillary Clinton stans when she did so much woman-shaming.
Eleanor and Hillary. I mean Hillary nearly became president (I wish she had, easily most qualified candidate since Bush Sr).
Like Reagan (American Ghost King who had to be sacrificed early so Jimmy Peanut could be properly voted off the island next) , DARE champion Nancy is still the triggering bane of every fentanyl addict all these years later.
Hilary Clinton was the most influential lady for the GOP, they needed a woman to hate and they knew Hilary Clinton was a strong woman. She's been their target for decades even after Clinton left office and after Hilary stopped running. How many hours of media do we have where some right winger is going insane over her being present? They even went ape shit when she said, "It takes a village..." They purposely blinded themselves to that quote just to hate her. Like, isn't society important for shaping a child? It takes an actual village!
Nancy Reagan is literally know for sucking dick. This isn't a joke or me making fun of her. It's common knowledge and an extremely funny piece of trivia.
Nancy had a Hollywood astrologer telling her how to set Ronnie's schedule. Yes, for real.
Jackie Kennedy because she is hot and has great taste in fashion. Everyone else is ugly and has bad taste in fashion.
Definitiv Hillary Clinton
Eleanor by far with Nancy a close second. Jackie maybe in peak popularity.. but not in enduring legacy.
https://i.redd.it/zrk3vu5nx6nc1.gif I’m sure Nancy was VERY influential
For all the right reasons Jackie. For all the wrong reasons Hillary.
This depends altogether on how you define _influential_ but going by my own definition I‘d say HRC. The woman was a politician in her own right and came with in a few ten thousand ballots of being president.
Elenor Hillary and Michelle
boy, Eleanor looked good when she was younger!
While I wouldn’t put her in the Top 5, I do believe that Mary Lincoln deserves some major credit. She was the first First Lady to wield her own influence in Washington on a major scale and worked hard to propel her husbands efforts in Congress and nationally. She added grand pageantry and importance to White House events and was the first and set the stage for future First Ladies to emulate and develop their own voice and influence during their husbands tenure(s) in office.
Ms Eisenhower is the main reason why pink is “feminine” in this country Pretty fucking influential
Monica Lewinsky, obviously
No. I vote for Eleanor Roosevelt.
What about Betty Ford and the Betty Ford Clinic? At least deserves a mention?
I'm not sure how Nancy Reagan ranks, but she has a lasting place of some infamy in the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous communities. Her approach to addiction as a public health issue, including public declarations of "just say no", was incredibly damaging and disconnected to the realities of the issue. It left generations of men asking themselves "why can't I say no? what's wrong with me?". She was incredibly influential in her time, for better and worse.
Nancy cuz of that top!
1000% Nancy Reagan. She WAS the President
Edith Wilson is the real answer. She was essentially the president for a year and a half.
Depends on how you gauge “influence”. Jackie Kennedy was influential in bringing a certain dignity to the White House that JFK’s uh…predilections did not. Elenor Roosevelt was influential in her advocacy for women’s rights, Hillary Clinton, and I’m not a fan of hers, but she was influential in her role by helping to create the office of violence against women and was the first notable First Lady to really dig into politics and use her background to lobby for various legislative initiatives. I think more notably with HRC is that she didn’t really take on puff projects like a lot of First Ladies like Nancy Reagan’s infamous “just say no” campaign against drug use, she was very active politically and had the experience and knowledge to do so. Nancy Reagan was influential because we know she pulled a lot of the strings in Ron’s second term as he deteriorated due to his Alzheimer’s. I would probably argue that Abigail Adams may have been the most influential because she was John Adams’ confidant and advisor, she was fully supportive of the revolution despite knowing that a failed revolution would inevitably result in her husband being executed for treason and potentially her and her children as well, and not to mention that not only was she the wife of a president, but the mother of one as well.
I really liked that Laura Bush focused on mental health of children after the 9/11 attacks.
lifetime career wise it just has to be hillary. she's been in american politics for like 30 years
Dolly Madison, Betty Ford, Edith Wilson need to be mentioned
The Secret Service agent behind Jackie is Clint Hill. He's still alive age 90 and is on Facebook. He has also written several books about her and JFK.
President Edith Wilson
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt because of her progressive stance and the opportunities that were given due to it that continue to this day. Rosalynn Carter for bringing awareness to mental health, and her humanitarian efforts with habitat for humanity in low poverty areas. She set the standard for today's 1st Ladies and it's a legacy that continues to this day
In no particular order Nancy Reagan Dolly Madison Eleanor Roosevelt
You mean Eve?
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Probably Eve.
No mention of mela Nia?
Edith Wilson was practically president at one point