First Lady of the United States - wikipedia First Lady of the United States For a complete list of the first ladies, see List of First Ladies of the United States. `` FLOTUS '' redirects here. For the Lambchop album, see FLOTUS ( album ). First Lady of the United States of America Incumbent Melania Trump since January 20, 2017 Style Mrs. Trump Abbreviation FLOTUS Residence White House Inaugural holder Martha Washington Formation April 30, 1789 ( 228 years ago ) ( 1789 - 04 - 30 ) Website WhiteHouse.gov The First Lady of the United States ( FLOTUS ) is the informal but accepted title held by the wife of the President of the United States, concurrent with the president 's term of office. Although the first lady 's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the nation. Melania Trump is the current First Lady. While the title was not in general use until much later, Martha Washington, the wife of George Washington, the first U.S. President ( 1789 -- 1797 ), is considered to be the inaugural First Lady of the United States. During her lifetime, she was often referred to as `` Lady Washington ''. Since the 1790s, the role of first lady has changed considerably. It has come to include involvement in political campaigns, management of the White House, championship of social causes, and representation of the president at official and ceremonial occasions. Because first ladies now typically publish their memoirs, which are viewed as potential sources of additional information about their husbands ' administrations, and because the public is interested in these increasingly independent women in their own right, first ladies frequently remain a focus of attention long after their husbands ' terms of office have ended. Additionally, over the years individual first ladies have held influence in a range of sectors, from fashion to public opinion on policy. Historically, should a president be unmarried, or a widower, the president usually asks a relative or friend to act as White House hostess. There are five living former first ladies : Rosalynn Carter, wife of Jimmy Carter ; Barbara Bush, wife of George H.W. Bush ; Hillary Clinton, wife of Bill Clinton ; Laura Bush, wife of George W. Bush ; and Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama. Contents 1 Origins of the title 1.1 Non-spouses in the role 2 Role 3 Office of the First Lady 4 Exhibitions and collections 5 First Lady and fashion 6 Living former First Ladies 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Origins of the title Dolley Madison was said to be the first President 's wife to be referred to as `` First Lady '' at her funeral in 1849. The use of the title First Lady to describe the spouse or hostess of an executive began in the United States. In the early days of the republic, there was not a generally accepted title for the wife of the president. Many early first ladies expressed their own preference for how they were addressed, including the use of such titles as `` Lady '', `` Mrs. President '', and `` Mrs. Presidentress '' ; Martha Washington was often referred to as `` Lady Washington. '' One of the earliest uses of the term `` First Lady '' was applied to her in an 1838 newspaper article that appeared in the St. Johnsbury Caledonian, the author, `` Mrs. Sigourney '', discussing how Martha Washington had not changed, even after her husband George became president, wrote that `` The first lady of the nation still preserved the habits of early life. Indulging in no indolence, she left the pillow at dawn, and after breakfast, retired to her chamber for an hour for the study of the scriptures and devotion ''. Dolley Madison was reportedly referred to as `` First Lady '' in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor ; however, no written record of this eulogy exists, nor did any of the newspapers of her day refer to her by that title. Sometime after 1849, the title began being used in Washington, D.C., social circles. One of the earliest known written examples comes from November 3, 1863, diary entry of William Howard Russell, in which he referred to gossip about `` the First Lady in the Land, '' referring to Mary Todd Lincoln. The title first gained nationwide recognition in 1877, when newspaper journalist Mary C. Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as `` the First Lady of the Land '' while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes. The frequent reporting on Lucy Hayes ' activities helped spread use of the title outside Washington. A popular 1911 comedic play about Dolley Madison by playwright Charles Nirdlinger, titled The First Lady in the Land, popularized the title further. By the 1930s, it was in wide use. Use of the title later spread from the United States to other nations. When Edith Wilson took control of her husband 's schedule in 1919 after he had a debilitating stroke, one Republican senator labeled her `` the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man. '' The wife of the Vice President of the United States is sometimes referred to as the Second Lady of the United States, but this title is much less common. Non-spouses in the role Several women ( at least thirteen ) who were not presidents ' wives have served as First Lady, as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when the wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the First Lady herself. In these cases, the position has been filled by a female relative or friend of the president, such as Martha Jefferson Randolph during Jefferson 's presidency, Emily Donelson and Sarah Yorke Jackson during Jackson 's, Mary Elizabeth ( Taylor ) Bliss during Taylor 's, Mary Harrison McKee during Benjamin Harrison 's presidency, upon her mother 's death, Harriet Lane during Buchanan 's, and Rose Cleveland prior to Cleveland 's marriage. Ivanka Trump temporarily took over the duties of First Lady during the beginning of the presidency of Donald Trump as his wife stayed in New York to finish their sons school year. Melania Trump took over her role of First Lady in June of 2017. Role First Lady Barbara Bush, joined by Missouri Governor John Ashcroft, with a `` Parents as Teachers '' group at the Greater St. Louis Ferguson - Florissant School District in October 1991. Mrs. Bush, who championed literacy as first lady, is reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear to the children. First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush ( standing, left to right ), Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, and Betty Ford ( seated, left to right ) at the dedication of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, November 1991 The position of the First Lady is not an elected one and carries only ceremonial duties. Nonetheless, first ladies have held a highly visible position in American society. The role of the First Lady has evolved over the centuries. She is, first and foremost, the hostess of the White House. She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the president. Lisa Burns identifies four successive main themes of the first ladyship : as public woman ( 1900 -- 1929 ) ; as political celebrity ( 1932 -- 1961 ) ; as political activist ( 1964 -- 1977 ) ; and as political interloper ( 1980 -- 2001 ). Martha Washington created the role and hosted many affairs of state at the national capital ( New York and Philadelphia ). This socializing became known as `` the Republican Court '' and provided elite women with an opportunity to play backstage political role. Both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were treated as if they were `` ladies '' of the British royal court. Dolley Madison popularized the First Ladyship by engaging in efforts to assist orphans and women, by dressing in elegant fashions and attracting newspaper coverage, and by risking her life to save iconic treasures during the War of 1812. Madison set the standard for the ladyship and her actions were the model for nearly every First Lady until Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s. She traveled widely and spoke to many groups, often voicing personal opinions to the left of the president 's. She authored a weekly newspaper column and hosted a radio show. Jacqueline Kennedy led an effort to redecorate and restore the White House. Many first ladies became significant fashion trendsetters. Some have exercised a degree of political influence by virtue of being an important adviser to the president. Over the course of the 20th century, it became increasingly common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the First Lady to hire a staff to support these activities. Lady Bird Johnson pioneered environmental protection and beautification. Pat Nixon encouraged volunteerism and traveled extensively abroad ; Betty Ford supported women 's rights ; Rosalynn Carter aided those with mental disabilities ; Nancy Reagan founded the Just Say No drug awareness campaign ; Barbara Bush promoted literacy ; Hillary Clinton sought to reform the healthcare system in the U.S. ; Laura Bush supported women 's rights groups, and encouraged childhood literacy. Michelle Obama became identified with supporting military families and tackling childhood obesity ; and Melania Trump has stated that she wants to use her position to help children, including prevention of cyberbullying and supporting children whose lives are affected by drugs. Near the end of her husband 's presidency, Clinton became the first First Lady to run for political office. During the campaign, her daughter, Chelsea, took over much of the First Lady 's role. Victorious, Clinton served as U.S. Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, when she resigned in order to become President Obama 's Secretary of State. Clinton was the Democratic Party nominee for President in the 2016 election, but lost to Donald Trump. Office of the First Lady First Ladies ( from left to right ) Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford, and Barbara Bush at the `` National Garden Gala, A Tribute to America 's First Ladies '', May 11, 1994. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, absent due to illness, died a week after this photograph was taken. For more details on this topic, see Office of the First Lady of the United States. The Office of the First Lady of the United States is accountable to the First Lady for her to carry out her duties as hostess of the White House, and is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House. The First Lady has her own staff that includes a chief of staff, press secretary, White House Social Secretary, Chief Floral Designer, etc. The Office of the First Lady is an entity of the White House Office, a branch of the Executive Office of the President. When First Lady Hillary Clinton decided to pursue a run for Senator of New York, she set aside her duties as first lady and moved to Chappaqua, New York to establish state residency. She resumed her duties as First Lady after winning her senatorial campaign, and retained her duties as both first lady and U.S. Senator for the seventeen - day overlap before Bill Clinton 's term came to an end. Despite the significant responsibilities usually handled by the First Lady, the First Lady does not receive a salary. This has been criticized by both Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Exhibitions and collections Established in 1912, the First Ladies Collection has been one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian Institution. The original exhibition opened in 1914 and was one of the first at the Smithsonian to prominently feature women. Originally focused largely on fashion, the exhibition now delves deeper into the contributions of first ladies to the presidency and American society. In 2008, `` First Ladies at the Smithsonian '' opened at the National Museum of American History as part of its reopening year celebration. That exhibition served as a bridge to the museum 's expanded exhibition on first ladies ' history that opened on November 19, 2011. `` The First Ladies '' explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The exhibition features 26 dresses and more than 160 other objects, ranging from those of Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, and includes White House china, personal possessions and other objects from the Smithsonian 's unique collection of first ladies ' materials. First Lady and fashion Some first ladies have garnered attention for their dress and style. Jacqueline Kennedy, for instance, became a global fashion icon : her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and imitated by many young women, and she was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1965. Michelle Obama has also received significant attention for her fashion choices : style writer Robin Givhan praised her in The Daily Beast, arguing that the First Lady 's style has helped to enhance the public image of the office. Living former First Ladies M. Obama, L. Bush, H. Clinton, B. Bush, and R. Carter in 2013. As of January 2018, there are five living former First Ladies, as seen below. Rosalynn Carter served 1977 -- 81 born 1927 ( age 90 ) wife of Jimmy Carter Barbara Bush served 1989 -- 93 born 1925 ( age 92 ) wife of George H.W. Bush Hillary Clinton served 1993 -- 2001 born 1947 ( age 70 ) wife of Bill Clinton Laura Bush served 2001 -- 09 born 1946 ( age 71 ) wife of George W. Bush Michelle Obama served 2009 -- 17 born 1964 ( age 53 ) wife of Barack Obama See also First Ladies : Influence & Image First Ladies National Historic Site ( Canton, Ohio ) List of current United States first spouses References ^ Jump up to : Caroli, Betty Boyd. `` First Lady : United States title ''. Britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved September 30, 2016. Jump up ^ Figueroa, Acton ( January 1, 2003 ). Washington,. World Almanac Library. p. 10. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8368 - 5162 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Martha Washington ''. St. Johnsbury Caledonian. August 7, 1838. p. 1. Jump up ^ `` First Lady Biography : Dolley Madison ''. National First Ladies ' Library. Jump up ^ Creeden, Sharon ( 1999 ). In Full Bloom : Tales of Women in Their Prime. August House. p. 30. ^ Jump up to : Anthony, Carl Sferrazza ( September 26, 2008 ). `` The Role of the First Lady ''. America.gov. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2009. Jump up ^ Burns, Lisa M. ( 2008 ). First Ladies and the Fourth Estate : Press Framing of Presidential Wives. DeKalb, IL : Northern Illinois University Press. ISBN 978 - 0875803913. Jump up ^ Shields, David S. & Teute, Fredrika J. ( 2015 ). `` The Republican Court and the Historiography of a Women 's Domain in the Public Sphere ''. Journal of the Early Republic. 35 ( 2 ) : 169 -- 183. Jump up ^ O'Farrell, Brigid ( 2010 ). She was one of us : Eleanor Roosevelt and the American worker. Ithaca, NY : Cornell University Press. Jump up ^ Troy, Gil ( 2001 ). `` Jacqueline Kennedy 's White House renovations ''. White House Studies. 1 ( 3 ) : 395 -- 404. Jump up ^ Gould, Lewis L. ( 1988 ). Lady Bird Johnson and the environment. University Press of Kansas. Jump up ^ `` Michelle Obama ''. The White House. Retrieved May 4, 2010. Jump up ^ Superville, Darlene ( October 9, 2017 ). `` Melania Trump Filling Out Her Agenda as First Lady ''. U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Executive Office of the President ''. The White House. Jump up ^ `` Hillary Clinton Makes a Historic Move ''. Jump up ^ `` Mrs. Clinton to Be Official New Yorker ''. The New York Times. November 24, 1999. Jump up ^ `` The Race Won, the Senator - Elect Resumes Her First Lady Duties at the White House ''. The New York Times. November 10, 2000. Jump up ^ `` A Day of Firsts As Mrs. Clinton Takes the Oath ''. The New York Times. January 4, 2001. Jump up ^ Finkelstein, Sarina ( April 12, 2016 ). `` Want to Fix Wage Inequality ? Start With the First Lady ''. Money. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The First Ladies ''. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved April 4, 2012. Jump up ^ VF Staff ( 1965 ). `` World 's Best Dressed Women ''. The International Hall of Fame : Women. Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2012. Jump up ^ Zilkha, Bettina ( 2004 ). Ultimate Style : The Best of the Best Dressed List. New York, NY : Assouline. pp. 64 -- 69, 90. ISBN 2 - 84323 - 513 - 8. Jump up ^ Givhan, Robin ( 2012 ). `` First Lady Fashion Fatigue ''. The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 30, 2014. Further reading Anthony, Carl Sferrazza ( 1992 ). First Ladies : The Saga of the Presidents Wives and Their Power 1789 -- 1961. New York : Quill / William Morrow. ISBN 978 - 0688112721. excerpt and text search Bailey, Tim ( Spring 2013 ). `` America 's First Ladies on Twentieth - Century Issues : A Common Core Unit ''. History Now. 35. Curriculum unit based on primary sources. Berkin, Carol, ed. ( Spring 2013 ). `` America 's First Ladies ''. History Now. 35. Popular essays by scholars. Böck, Magdalena ( 2009 ). The Role of First Ladies : A Comparison Between the US and Europe ( eBook ed. ). Munich : GRIN Verlag. ISBN 9783640421534. Deppisch, Ludwig M. ( 2015 ). The Health of the First Ladies : Medical Histories from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. McFarland. Hummer, Jill Abraham. First Ladies and American Women : In Politics and at Home ( UP of Kansas, 2017 ) ; 269 pages ; Lugo - Lugo, Carmen R. & Bloodsworth - Lugo, Mary K. ( 2011 ). `` Bare Biceps and American ( In ) Security : Post-9 / 11 Constructions of Safe ( ty ), Threat, and the First Black First Lady ''. Women 's Studies Quarterly. 39 ( 1 ) : 200 -- 217. doi : 10.1353 / wsq. 2011.0030. On media images of Michelle Obama. Pastan, Amy ( 2008 ). First Ladies. London : DK. ISBN 9780789473981. Heavily illustrated. Roberts, John B. ( 2004 ). Rating The First Ladies : The Women Who Influenced the Presidency ( 2nd ed. ). New York : Citadel Press. ISBN 978 - 0806526089. excerpt and text search Schwartz, Marie Jenkins. Ties That Bound : Founding First Ladies and Slaves ( U of Chicago Press, 2017 ), 420 pp. Troy, Gil ( 1997 ). Affairs of State The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple Since World War II. By a leading political historian. Truman, Margaret ( 1996 ). First Ladies : An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives. New York : Facett Columbine. ISBN 978 - 0449223239. excerpt and text search Watson, Robert P. ( 2003 ). `` Toward the Study of the First Lady : The State of Scholarship ''. Presidential Studies Quarterly. 33 ( 2 ) : 423 -- 441. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1741 - 5705.2003. tb00038. x. External links Alphabetical List of First Ladies of the United States -- Library of Congress website Office of the First Lady -- WhiteHouse.gov First Lady 's Gallery -- WhiteHouse.gov The National First Ladies ' Library The First Ladies at the Smithsonian -- an online exhibition from the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution First Ladies of the United States Martha Washington Abigail Adams Martha Jefferson Randolph Dolley Madison Elizabeth Monroe Louisa Adams Emily Donelson Sarah Jackson Angelica Van Buren Anna Harrison Jane Harrison Letitia Tyler Priscilla Tyler Julia Tyler Sarah Polk Margaret Taylor Abigail Fillmore Jane Pierce Harriet Lane Mary Todd Lincoln Eliza Johnson Julia Grant Lucy Hayes Lucretia Garfield Mary McElroy Rose Cleveland Frances Cleveland Caroline Harrison Mary Harrison Frances Cleveland Ida McKinley Edith Roosevelt Helen Taft Ellen Wilson Margaret Wilson Edith Wilson Florence Harding Grace Coolidge Lou Hoover Eleanor Roosevelt Bess Truman Mamie Eisenhower Jacqueline Kennedy Lady Bird Johnson Pat Nixon Betty Ford Rosalynn Carter Nancy Reagan Barbara Bush Hillary Clinton Laura Bush Michelle Obama Melania Trump First Lady of the United States National Historic Site First Ladies : Influence & Image Spouses of heads of state by country Afghanistan Albania Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Botswana Brazil Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Chile China Costa Rica Croatia Czech Republic Djibouti Ecuador Egypt Estonia Finland France Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Guatemala Guyana Honduras Hong Kong Iceland India Indonesia Iran Italy Ivory Coast Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Kyrgyzstan Madagascar Malawi Maldives Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Mongolia Moldova Mozambique Namibia New Zealand Nigeria Panama Pakistan Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Senegal Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Sri Lanka Sweden Tanzania Taiwan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom United States list Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe List of spouses of heads of state List of spouses of heads of government Family of Donald Trump Spouses and children Ivana Trump ( first wife ) Donald Trump Jr. ( son ) Ivanka Trump ( daughter ) Eric Trump ( son ) Marla Maples ( second wife ) Tiffany Trump ( daughter ) Melania Trump ( third wife, First Lady ) Barron Trump ( son ) Parents and relatives Fred Trump ( father ) Mary Anne MacLeod Trump ( mother ) Maryanne Trump Barry ( sister ) Frederick Trump ( grandfather ) Elizabeth Christ Trump ( grandmother ) John G. Trump ( uncle ) Jared Kushner ( son - in - law ) Lara Trump ( daughter - in - law ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First_Lady_of_the_United_States&oldid=819482607 '' Categories : First Ladies of the United States Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from February 2017 Articles needing more detailed references Use mdy dates from June 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia বাংলা Български Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Cymraeg Dansk Ελληνικά Español Esperanto فارسی Français Italiano עברית Latviešu Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Português Русский Simple English Slovenščina Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska தமிழ் ไทย Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 9 January 2018, at 16 : 34. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: who changed the role of the first lady
Answer: Dolley Madison