1. First Ladies

2. objective
• to understand and appreciate the
contributions and roles of the First
Ladies throughout history.

3. to get things started…
• “The role of First Lady is whatever the
First Lady wants it to be.”
– do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Why?
– First Lady, Laura Bush.

4. how have first ladies been
viewed over time?

6. what are some of the
traditional roles that First
Ladies have filled?

7. • setting fashion standards

8. • uplifting national spirit during a crisis.

9. • serving as the White House Representative in
areas of special interest to women.

10. • campaigning for her husband (both with and
without him)

11. • promoting charities and causes.

12. • accompanying the President at important
functions.

13. • making goodwill travel missions.

14. • serving as White House hostess.

15. • maintaining the role of wife and mother.

16. • taking a role in White House renovation,
restoration, and preservation.

17. What are some non-
traditional roles that First
Ladies have filled?

18. • advising the President.

19. • lobbying for causes
behind the scenes.

20. Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters
of the American Revolution in protest of its
refusal to allow African American vocalist Marion
Anderson to sing at Constitution Hall.
• taking a high profile moral stand.

21. • assuming important roles after being First
Lady.

22. • taking a stand for the rights of women.

23. • Prior to her marriage to John F. Kennedy,
Jacqueline Bouvier worked as a reporter and
photographer for the Washington Times-
Herald, earning $42.50 per week. She wrote a
column titled quot;Inquiring Camera Girl by
Jacqueline Bouvier.quot; Later in her life, Mrs.
Kennedy served as a well-respected book
editor.
• having a career.

24. ponder this…
1. what role is most important for First
Ladies to fill?
2. do you think any of these roles are
inappropriate for the First Lady to fill?
3. how might these roles be different the
first time we have a female president
and her husband is the First Spouse?