First Ladies Quotes

This quotation illustrates two things. First, Mrs. Roosevelt always donated the fees and royalties from her books, newspaper column and radio shows. Second, it seems incredible to us today, that this first lady organized the social schedule of the White House, wrote a daily newspaper column for years, authored a number of books, and had her own radio show—all while she was First Lady. She had the additional role of traveling about the nation, observing and giving speeches and press conferences as a proxy for FDR whose polio handicap made traveling very difficult. She also wrote or orally reported to her husband the material aspects of each of her trips, although she was so open that he and everyone else could read about it in the newspapers. She did all this with a staff of only 2 people. There has probably been no one in the history American politics, perhaps other than Thomas Jefferson, who was so busy and productive.

Regular Weekly Radio Program. FDR was meeting in with the Cabinet and the Military leaders and the White House had not issued any statement yet.
ER was the first official to report on the Japanese Attack to the American people. She left the White House. Went across the street and did her thing.

This quotation is very interesting historically. Despite the fact that Washington DC was a thoroughly racially segregated city, and the Southern racists controlled much of Congress, Blacks as well as whites were welcome in the Congressional galleries, and they attended many debates. Slavery and equality were not just debated in the 1850s but the issue was in constant friction from the earliest Congress.

At the start of the War, Mrs. Roosevelt took a position (without pay) in the Office of Civil Defense to help with the war effort. However, there was much criticism from left and right. The concern was that she would be too influential in a line position within the Executive Branch of the Government which her husband headed. When she spoke, it would be hard to tell whether it was her personal views or whether she was reflecting the President’s wishes. She resigned after several weeks and told her readers that she had hoped that she would just be accepted for herself as an individual but she realized that this was not yet possible and she was wrong.

In the 1824 campaign Mrs. Adams made a series of campaign visits with the wives of Washington political notables.

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were patricians who were so wealthy that the paid little attention to stylish furnishings in the White House or their own mansion. Truman was a plain man who was not interested in furniture and the decoration of the White House nor was his wife. The Eisenhowers who followed were military families who were also not very interested in furnishing and style. Over almost 30 years the White House decorations and furniture were quite threadbare and certainly not stylish to the surprise of many. Ms. Kennedy did a makeover of the White House.

There was a social custom amongst the wealthy women of early American society where if they were moving to a new town, they would present their cards to the established female residents, who would then visit the newcomer at her home. Dolley Madison, anxious to bring some social civilization to Washington, still a rough swamp area, went out of her way to visit all comers and the Cabinet (Department) wives then did the same. However, as the government and Washington grew, this became more and more difficult, and subsequent first ladies wanted more of their privacy and time devoted to family. As America grew in importance, more counties sent ambassadors to Washington, and their wives all expected to be visited and invited. See {620648} for more on the “obligations” of a first lady and cabinet wives.

Alex Rose was the leader of the Hatters’ Union. At the time most women and men wore hats out of doors and many women wore hats indoors as well.

This was a private gathering of key members of the Conservative party.

Mrs. Carter attended cabinet meetings sitting in the rear and taking copious notes. This at the time was very controversial in that no First Lady before had ever attended a cabinet meeting—not even Eleanor Roosevelt.

A ceremony in Richmond, Virginia had to wait a few minutes while the First Lady and her secretary were finishing the copy for Mrs. Roosevelt’s daily column in the Presidential car. She had a deadline, and on several occasions major affairs of state were delayed a few minutes until she could finish writing and file her copy.

Congress had diminished Adams authority to deal with the French and sided with Benjamin Franklin and the French Foreign Minister. Mrs. Adams lobbied members of Congress. Years later First Lady Lady Bird Johnson would echo a similar sentiment. See {605230}.