Lady president doesn’t preclude First Lady

The White House
Calm down – I’m not publicly picking sides in the next presidential race. But whether it’s Hillary Clinton or someone else, the U.S. will eventually have its first woman president.

And its first Best Gentleman. And maybe also a First Lady appointed by the president.

Seven First Ladies were not married to the president. They include three daughters, two daughters-in-law and two nieces.

Andrew Jackson used two relatives over two terms after his wife died suddenly before the former could take office. His niece Emily Jackson served as First Lady during the first term and daughter-in-law Sara Taylor served the second.

Thomas Jefferson, a widower, named daughter “Patsy” as his First Lady. He also asked Dolley Madison, wife of future president James Madison, to host events.

John Tyler had daughter Priscilla Tyler serve because his wife Letitia was too ill to attend functions before dying while Tyler was midway through his term. Tyler later married Julia Gardiner while in office.

Martin Van Buren, a widower, used daughter-in-law Angelica Van Buren. James Buchanan named niece Harriett Lane. Zachary Taylor named his niece Betty Bliss.

Benjamin Harrison’s daughter Mary Scott Harrison McKee briefly served as White House hostess following her mother’s death, but wasn’t named a First Lady. James Garfield asked his sister Mary McElroy to host some events before his assassination.

Only Sarah Taylor, 31, was older than 28. Emily Jackson and Angelica Van Buren were both 21 as was Grover Cleveland’s wife Frances.


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