first ladies ranked by popularity
She was popular for her candid nature and had strong moral values. Barbara Bush (1989-1993) Share. This statistic illustrate the ranking of the most popular First Ladies of France in 2018. I might put Michelle Obama one step higher, time will tell. And, even those who supported her husband with his wealth, power, and ability to advance preferred partisan ends had limited reason to find her appealing. Share. Marys mental state was also questioned. Eleanor Roosevelt is probably best known here in her support of many needy groups, seen by many as more of a social justice warrior than her husband. A symbol of what not to do. Roosevelt was not particularly known for her interest in the White House or its preservation. @|kw_d[=kw7xd] dL6Ra}E ]^ }_}U%_D{0vj'+[sc[c9Z4Wr+9A"
)QA|@v7yMjY+`GLXz/( &lq!"+t! On balance, rankings of worst first lady here do not really seem too unfair. is a public health campaign that was started by Michelle Obama. pstw5=Wkx=QU Q*d&mB [8uW{a$Iq fDaqMp 5`T.i"B RI[qqok'+A(U0TpgM'4wY)Uh!+C==o-=Ws|a~tbc]%J)-\:Pr!|,!_h(>R ,d)>(S :)D_!liy3P-R\STRngB{NmAb'94P8C1%Zkef3^p>dU Id put her above several others on this list. Results have been cited or published in journals, and both academic and popular outlets including Presidential Quarterly, Betty Boyd Carolis First Ladies, American First Ladies edited by Lewis L. Gould, the New York Times and CBS, as well as used by high schools and colleges to stimulate interest in First Ladies. Her value to the countrys score is lowest due to the scandal and her failed healthcare reform. Its a bit too early to vote on her legacy but shes probably not the absolute worst First Lady. 
Barbara was the most shrewd sometimes too pointed with her remarks. 
In the 2008 study, SCRI found that experts continued to rank Eleanor Roosevelt number one and Hillary Clinton climbed from number five to number four. But, she also had personal agency, making choices that further helped to rank her as the worst first lady. She received excellent marks for Stewardship of the White House due to her interest in preserving 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Died suddenly has become the norm. Nonetheless, it is useful to examine why certain first ladies are ranked so low. First Lady Hillary Clinton, for instance, worked with her husband to try to pass a major health care law. For instance, Pat Nixon was (at least at the time of Watergate) not tarred for the actions of her husband. She scores highest in public image, value to the President and Stewardship of the White House. This is generally because she wasnt interested in being First Lady and picked a simple issue to champion. Bushs integrity, public image and value to the President also rank highly. A presidential system combines the head of state (think Queen Elizabeth II, who represents the United Kingdom) and the head of government (represented in the British system by the Prime Minister). What do you think? The actress Laura Benanti did a pretty wicked impression of First Lady Melania Trump on Late Night With Stephen Colbert, including a Christmas special of sorts during early COVID: For many, Donald Trump was not the only one on worst lists when it came to presidential administrations. It is important to note that the husbands of these top three John Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Ronald Reagan were also popular and well-liked former presidents. I do not think we ever had a completely bad first lady. As her husband worked to pass his "No Child Left Behind" legislation, Laura Bush also focused her first lady efforts on education. She infamously wore a jacket that seemed to basically rub it in the faces of the public that she did not care what they thought. Few can think of Ronald Reagan without thinking of Nancy Reagan. Scholars A recent poll of Americans put Pat Nixon at the bottom with 28%, while Melania Trump was second from last at 34% and Hillary Clinton was third from the bottom at 35%. Some of these famous First Ladies are known for their involvement in their husband's presidency (Hillary Rodham Clinton), others are popular for their humanitarian efforts (Eleanor Roosevelt), and some for their commitment to American citizens (Michelle Obama). 5 0 obj Betty Ford was known for her openness. As first lady, Jane Pierce was basically a recluse, leaving first lady chores to others. Still, being a first lady? The first lady, however, was not just a hostess. She was also extremely warm hearted and kind. ranked dead last with a 28 percent The basic role First Lady Martha Washington was expected to maintain was as hostess of the White House. 960 and rose and declined many times before peaking at No. Donald Trump, however, had shown himself to be a nasty character since the 1970s. Sharp observations and took an early interest in the environment. And the only first lady to leave The United States and the Soviet Union were the two world superpowers after World War II. During her time in the White House, she was praised for her fashion, her decorating, and her influence, as pointed out by Insider, and her legacy continues today. jacket she wore to an immigrant detention center (via Vanity Fair) and her speech at the Republican National Convention, which included lines from Michelle Obama's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Nonetheless, just being the wife of a bad president is not enough to rank you on the worst list. President Jeffersons wife died in the 1780s, years before he was elected president. A more traditional first lady, from days of yore, would be less expected to play such a role. Reese was called classless for using John Cenas you cant see me move that Clark used a week before. Laura Bush's 85 percent rating in 2005 remains the highest in the poll's history. 
Richard Nixon has been called one of the worst presidents of all time, due to his association with the Watergate scandal (via U.S. News & World Report). Carter would also sit in on her husbands cabinet meetings and wasnt afraid to spar with him on policy, making her a huge value to the President. Eleanor Roosevelt was known for traveling, speaking on radio shows, and being a spokeswoman for the United Nations. Nonetheless, though her consistent high rankings as worst might in part be a matter of people being so familiar with her (recency bias), as a whole she had a lot of issues as first lady. The worst, with the exception of President Franklin Pierce, have the additional burden of noteworthy presidents. She is remembered for repeated controversy without enough positivity to balance things out. Thats pressure! And, there is evidence the marriage was unhappy, though it is not like Abraham Lincoln himself did not have a lot of issues. Shes not in my Top 10 but shes far from the worst First Lady. Mary clearly did not violate the be her own woman rule, but caused her husband a lot of problems public relations-wise. Nancy, a former actor like her husband, did gain a reputation for fashion and glamor. But, the worst first ladies will remain a type of anti-role model. Her area of interest is the Republican Party, presidential elections and how campaigns are conducted. She continued to serve an important role in his administration, including helping to pick Cabinet members, spending a lot of effort in her hostess duties, and doing much to protect her husband from controversy and public criticism. with the importance of their persona as the face of the nation. First Ladies Jane Pierce, Eliza Johnson, Letitia Tyler, Florence Harding and Margaret Taylor bring up the tail end of the list. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.". All Rights Reserved. Ive drawn upon my knowledge, data and sources in order to come to a fair conclusion for each. Florences abilities and drive played an important role in Hardings rise in business and politics. In the 1950s, there was a widely-held belief in the United States that a domestic communist threat existed, prompting a Red Scare and leading to measures that threatened civil liberties. Type above and press Enter to search. The worst first ladies (such as Jane Pierce, Mary Lincoln, Florence Harding, Nancy Reagan, and Melania Trump) provide us with a type of anti-role model as well as remind us that even the rich and powerful can be troubled individuals. Support Elections Daily by purchasing from Amazon.com through this affiliate link. But, she is also Donald Trumps third, much younger wife. Abigail Adams is a prime early example of a strong partner as well as someone famously having a close personal relationship with the president. Trumps remaining scores were average to low. So, it showed the chart differently for Truman and Trump, who are supposed to be 13 and 14, not 14 and 15. Abigail Filmore had a great passion for the arts. Mamie was charming as WH hostess and didnt invite Joe McCarthy to a senate dinner showing her grit . We never had the Hitler version of the First Lady, even if some might think so. Shes my favourite person whos been First Lady. Oct 25, 2021. I will rank them historically, not worst to most worst. Her public image, value to the President and integrity got her the highest marks. Whilst not a spectacular First Lady, Reagan did make her own mark in the role. An interesting example is Florence Harding, who on some level sounds rather impressive: Florence Harding (1921-1923) was the first to vote, deliver speeches, and publicly declare her sense of obligation to intervene in government affairs affecting specific constituencies, such as veterans, working women, and humane societies. Her weakest scores were in public image and accomplishments simply because we didnt see much of her. I rated her highest for her courage, integrity, accomplishment, leadership and being her own woman. Bush also advocated for salary increases and training bumps for Head Start programs, when she testified before the Senate Committee on Education in 2002. 2 Iowa will meet No. Melania has been called out for things like the "I really don't care, do u?" Jill Biden will also not be added as she is the incumbent. She cursed like a barmaid. A poll question also asked people if they would personally like to see Laura Bush run for Senate, to which 40 percent answered that they would like to see her run, while a majority 53 percent said they would not like to see her campaign for that office. Kelly Ripas gift to hot husband She was also known for her good looks, attracting her second husband (Warren Harding) even though she was five years older. First Lady Melania Trump already had a lot of baggage with Donald Trump as her husband and the strong negative feelings of the public concerning his presidency. Edith, according to First Ladies, was married nearly 12 years before her husband, Norman Galt, passed away. Rosalynn Smith Carter was very invested in dedicating her time as First Lady to raising mental health awareness. Write by: Bess Truman, remembered as one of the most intensely private first ladies, gave some big speeches in battleground states. To see more about the First Ladies study and the C-SPAN First Ladies: Image and Influence series visit the C-SPAN site. I ranked the best of Americas First Ladies based on political influence, personal accomplishments, and character. The modern-day first lady was more likely to be expected to and expect herself to play such a significant policy role. !HGlht*thcH7mN!sP|.bGQ|nxag Nancy also gained controversy for her astrological beliefs, which she sometimes used to make public decisions. Trumps presidency was very controversial, for good reason in the mind of this writer, and I am writing this in the midst of public hearings investigating its insurrection-laden conclusion. One of the most recent First Ladies, Michelle Obama just misses the podium. Melanie was dont be a bully yea trump is the biggest bully of all. 1 ranked South Carolina in the Women's Final Four. Here's How Melania Trump Ranks As A Former First Lady. Her integrity, courage and value to the President receive the highest marks. Her Just Say No anti-drug campaign was deemed simplistic. If we are concerned about such things as integrity, personal image, and value to the country, being the helpmate of Donald Trump is likely to get you low marks. For each rank and sex, the table shows the name and the number of occurrences of that name. In fact, in C-Span's Presidential Historians Survey of 2021, JFK, Reagan, and Obama received final scores of 699, 681, and 664, respectively, sitting in 8th, 9th, and 10th place. The rankings seem pretty fair. Ronald Reagan is not only a very influential president, but has been ranked in top ten best lists (though I am sure many will disagree). One of the most beloved First Ladies and my idol, Jackie Kennnedy received consistently good marks across the board. Yes, all of these are ladies. Traditionally, it was assumed the president would be a man, and the first lady filled feminine roles, if still very important. And for the fifth time in a row, She scores best in leadership, value to her husband and public image. The worst are so labeled for a variety of reasons, including personal frailties. Pics from the Start and End of Their Tenures, Things to Know About Life as a First Lady, What the Secret Service Called Every First Lady. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'teachnthrive_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-teachnthrive_com-medrectangle-4-0'); American presidents are the head of the government. Some early first ladies were somewhat controversial, including Rachel Jackson, who died before her husband was sworn in. She was also a very popular housewife whose recipes were widely copied. Laura Bush focused on advancing literature and education reform in the nation. The Slovenian born former model married President Trump in 2005, and later had their now 10-year-old son, Barron. But, is this a fair ranking, or is it a result of strong ideological divisions, and opposition to controversial presidents that happen to be their husbands? 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