First lady
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First Lady is an unofficial term that is applied to the female spouse of an elected male head of state or head of government. Development of the title is credited to the United States, where it was first used in 1849, when United States President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison, "First Lady" at her funeral.[1]
In many monarchies the Royal Consort, the spouse of the reigning monarch, likewise has no recognized constitutional function, but carries out state duties and charitable works. In Commonwealth Realms outside the United Kingdom, the Vice-regal Consort, the husband or wife of the Governor-General, fills a similar role.
Though "first lady" is rarely an official office of the state, several First Ladies have exerted considerable power and influence over the course of government despite the lack of a legal mandate, such as Edith Wilson, wife of Woodrow Wilson, and Henriette Conté, the first wife of Lansana Conté. Others such as Hillary Clinton or Sonia Gandhi have gone on to win political power in their own right.
Duties and ceremony
While the traditions and expectations of a First Lady vary by country and have changed significantly over time, they typically include responsibilities such as hosting receptions at the executive residence, advocating on behalf of public causes and charities, and running state functions and other like duties.
Variations
The entire family of the head of state may be known familiarly as the "First Family".
The spouse of the second in command (such as a Vice President) may be known as the "Second Lady". Less frequently, the family would be known as the "Second Family". While this term has been used in the United States, it is considered outmoded and is not commonly used. Instead, the wife of the Vice President is officially called by her subordinate marital name (in the present circumstance, Mrs. Richard Cheney, on occasions when protocol is enforced, and by her professional name, Lynne Cheney in more informal settings).
Park Geunhye, currently the head of the Grand National Party of Korea, has been referred to as the First Lady to South Korean President Park Chung Hee. Although she is President Park's daughter, the title was bestowed to her after her mother's death. In Peru, Alberto Fujimori stripped his wife Susana Higuchi of the title of First Lady after she accused him of torture and corruption, appointing their daughter Keiko Sofia to replace her. Mireya Moscoso Arias of Panama conferred the title of First Lady on her sister, Ruby Moscoso. Isabel Perón, the third wife of Juan Perón, also served as vice president during her husband's third term as president. After her husband's death in office, Isabel served as president from July 1, 1974 to March 24, 1976, becoming the first non-royal female head of state in the Western Hemisphere.
Non-political uses
It has become commonplace for the title of "First Lady" to be bestowed on women, as a term of endearment, who have proven themselves to be of exceptional talent, even if that talent is non-political. For example, the term has been applied in the entertainment field to denote the First Lady of American Soul (Aretha Franklin), the First Lady of the Grand Old Opry (Loretta Lynn) and the First Lady of the American Stage (Helen Hayes).
The title is also given to the wives of pastors in many African-American churches. First Lady is also the title of a Broadway play by Katharine Dayton and George S. Kaufman which opened in 1935, and was later made into a motion picture with Kay Francis.
Notable First Ladies
- Laura Bush of the United States
- Nancy Reagan of the United States
- Mamie Eisenhower of the United States
- Betty Ford of the United States
- Hillary Rodham Clinton of the United States
- Jacqueline Kennedy of the United States
- Dolley Madison of the United States
- Eleanor Roosevelt of the United States
External links
See also
- ^ ""Dolley Madison"". National First ladies Library. Retrieved 2007-04-29.