Presidential Spouse Quotes

No White House staff person wants to conflict with the First Lady who goes home and has the ear of the President all night.

You'll notice that Nancy Reagan never drinks water when Ronnie speaks.

People can gradually be brought to understand that an individual, even if she is a President's wife, may have independent views and must be allowed the expression of an opinion. But actual participation in the work of the Government, we are not yet able to accept.

The first ladyship is the only federal office in which the holder can neither be fired nor impeached.

Michelle Obama has gone from political skeptic to political partner to a woman with a White House agenda of her own, and an approval rating higher than the president's.

Certainly Nancy Reagan had an extraordinary effect on her husband. I'm truly not sure that, say, Laura Bush had that much effect on the Bush administration. She certainly, you know, seems to be a nice person who I think the public likes. But I can't really put my finger on any huge impact she's had.

I think the important thing being a wife of a president is to know who you are and find a cause that corresponds to you. The truth is, it's hard to keep a job in that position. I kept playing music because no one could stop me from playing music at night.

Former President Bill Clinton is on the program tonight. He says that while his wife runs for president, he would like to stay out of the limelight. Well, he's certainly come to the right place. He'll be fine here.

I feel like when I really did my research, I both came to hate Nancy Reagan more.

I read every biography [of Jackie Kennedy] I could get my hands on.

Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the president's spouse. I wish him well!

Eleanor Roosevelt doesn't ever do anything that is going to hurt her husband. She tries things out on him. She gets permission to do things. The amazing thing, I think, historically, is that he says, "Go do it. If you can make this happen, I'll follow you."

First ladies, you know, we look at Michelle Obama, and we look at most first ladies, and they seem like they have it all. You know, they live in the White House, they go to state dinners, they ride on Air Force One, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. But first ladies do often feel that they are given short shrift or forgotten or left at the margins.

I'm still the wife of Emmanuel Macron, not of the president.

Someday, someone will follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House as the President's spouse. And I wish him well.

John Kerry's wife Teresa Heinz is on the cover of Newsweek magazine this week and they said that if he is elected president, she will be the oldest first lady in American history. But that doesn't bother John Kerry, he said, 'To me, she looks like a million bucks'

I guess the most famous person I was so extremely exhilarated by being with - and actually sat next to her at a luncheon at the White House - was Mrs. Obama.

What will a Hillary Clinton presidency look like? The answer by now seems obvious: It will look like her presidential campaign, which in turn looks increasingly like the first Clinton presidency. Which is to say, high-minded ideals, lowered execution, half truths, outright lies (and imaginary flights), take-no prisoners politics, some very good policy ideas, a presidential spouse given to wallowing in anger and self-pity, and a succession of aides and surrogates pushed under the bus when things don't go right. Which is to say, often.

Michelle has had to grapple with Hilary Clinton's legacy as First Lady... Michelle Obama never wants to be seen as the kind of First Lady who is overly involved in the West Wing.

I did what no President’s wife had ever done. Some of the Inaugural Committee expressed their disapproval, but I had my way and in spite of protests, took my place at my husband’s side.

It's easier to make fun of a first lady than for a first lady to have fun. The scrutiny is ferocious.

[Nancy Reagan] took that career, that obviously mattered to her, and just tucked it away in a box, because she thought, "That's over with now. I'm going to make wifehood my career."

I don't know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job - I mean, since she's been grown up.

In France, a first lady has no status, and therefore she isn't supposed to do anything else.

I want to talk about one barrier that has not been broken. I want you to support Hillary [Clinton] for me, too, because I want to break a ceiling. I am tired of the stranglehold that women have had on the job of presidential spouse.