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* [[Mary Todd Lincoln]] - wife of [[Abraham Lincoln]]
* [[Mary Todd Lincoln]] - wife of [[Abraham Lincoln]]

* [[Eliza Johnson]] - wife of [[Andrew Johnson]]
* [[Eliza Johnson]] - wife of [[Andrew Johnson]]
* [[Martha Patterson]] - daugher of [[Andrew Johnson]]
* [[Martha Patterson]] - daugher of [[Andrew Johnson]]

Revision as of 18:27, 15 April 2003

The First Lady of the United States is an unofficial title for the hostess of the White House. The position is traditionally filled by the wife of the President of the United States of America, but has also been filled by female relatives or friends of the sitting President. The title was used as early as 1849 when Dolley Madison was eulogized as "America's First Lady", but did not gain widespread recognition until 1877 when newspaper journalist Mary Clemmer Ames used it while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes.

The current First Lady is Laura Welch Bush. Some of the more notable former First Ladies include Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Hillary Clinton.

The First Lady is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and brings no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the President. If the United States were to have a female President, it is not clear who would take the position of First Lady. A female president could act as her own First Lady, select a female relative or friend to occupy the role, or have her husband act as an analogous "First Gentleman" or "First Master".

As the United States does not confer unelected titles, the First Lady is referred to by her married name.

The term is also occasionally used for the wife of other government officials, or to a woman who has acted as a leading symbol for some activity (as in "First Lady of California" or "First Lady of Jazz" respectively).

Complete list of First Ladies of the United States

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