First Lady Institution as Part of American Democracy

The institution of the First Lady in the United States is an American tradition and a factor of political life and democracy in modern times. It also has become a widespread political phenomenon around the world. The wife of a President performs duties both before and after the presidential election, promoting his image both in the country and abroad. Practice has shown that the First Lady plays a significant, though not necessarily formal role in U.S. foreign policy.

The institution of the First Lady in the United States is an American tradition and a factor of political life and democracy in modern times. It also has become a widespread political phenomenon around the world. The wife of a President performs duties both before and after the presidential election, promoting his image both in the country and abroad. Practice has shown that the First Lady plays a significant, though not necessarily formal role in U.S. foreign policy.

The appearance of the institution of the First Lady, its evolution and its establishment in American political arena have not been accidental and have been brought about by both societal necessity and the historically strong influence of women in the country. The opportunities of the First Lady to behave as an actor in the political process is inextricably linked to the status of the female population in a country, since it is an expression of the dominant trends in domestic gender relations. In a sense, the First Lady is a combined image of all American women and their position in society. The prominent Russian writer Maria Tsebrikova, known for educational activities and fight for gender equality, wrote in the mid-nineteenth century, “You will find no other country where the influence of women is as strong, durable and beneficial as in America, and to grasp the forces of the great republic is impossible without taking it into consideration [1].

According to U.S. public opinion polls conducted in 2012, the majority of respondents (59%) consider it important that First Ladies in the United States promote a specific course (national project) during the presidency of their spouses. Democrats (76%) are more likely to support this point of view than Republicans (56%) and independent respondents (57%), that is, those who do not associate themselves with any party.

U.S. analysts believe this perspective to reflect the importance of the First Lady as an answer to societal demands: voters in the U.S. want to know “what kind of a spouse they are voting for within the package of the candidate”. As current First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has emphasized, one of the most important aspects of the campaign was to show how a good family should look like, and added that, in her opinion, if you cannot maintain order in your own home, you just cannot manage the White House. Obviously, this statement is not devoid of common sense.

Wives can play a negative role in campaigns, or, on the contrary, enhance the chances of the candidate. Surveys over many years indicate that the choice of 5-7 percent of the voters is based on the likes and dislikes of a potential First Lady, which makes an essential contribution to victory in a tough fight for every vote.

The establishment in 1995 of the National First Ladies' Library (NFLL), bringing together informational resources about the life of the most influential American women, is additional evidence of the importance of the institution of the First Lady in American society. As the first and only facility of its kind, the National First Ladies' Library serves as a unique national resource for patrons from school children to serious scholars. The library develops and makes available online study guides and research on the contributions of First Ladies to American history as well as disseminates knowledge about the history during the times when each First Lady lived. The library holds biannual symposia attended by prominent scholars, biographers and experts who discuss the historical role of presidents’ wives. Ever expanding, the collection includes more than 6,400 books and 500 videos in addition to a unique Audio Visual Collection, including television, film, and radio recordings of First Ladies through the years. Thousands of visitors experience the offerings of the Library each year.

The Term “First Lady”

Each of the 44 Presidents of the United States had his First Lady. She was not necessarily the spouse, although the title “First Lady” usually describes the wife of the sitting president. The term came into use only in the late 19th century. What does it mean?

As U.S. analysts note, the term “First Lady” has come over time to hold a broader definition than just the wife of the Chief Executive. This is due to the fact that some Presidents of the United States were bachelors or widowers, and that some Presidents had wives who for various reasons (for example, health problems) could not play the role of the White House hostess and needed help from other people, as a rule female relatives. As a result, the list of First Ladies throughout the history of the country includes daughters, daughters-in-law, and sisters.

The term “First Lady” signifies a public institution that constantly reproduces interpersonal relations. In this context, the word “institution” has a broader meaning than the term “organization”, because it does not imply the existence of a well-defined structure and codified rules of conduct for institution members.

Status and Mission of the First Lady

The First Lady is not an official, but she performs almost official (according to protocol) duties without receiving remuneration. There is no mention in the U.S. Constitution of the First Lady’s role in the socio-political structure of the country. The state has no legislation describing the responsibilities of the First Lady, with the exception of certain legal items relating to her life.

The Office of the First Lady, which is located in the East Wing of the White House, is maintained by taxpayers' money. The annual budget for the operating expenses of the executive branch of the government has a clause providing for federal funds for the salaries of a First Lady’s staff, so that the latter can “help the President carry out his functions”. The Secretary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s wife Edith Roosevelt was the first to be paid from federal funds.

Does the First Lady have any legal status? What is the legal status of the First Lady? On June 22, 1993 a United States Court of Appeals backed up Hillary Clinton's assertion that the First Lady was a full-time government official and “Congress itself has recognized that the president's spouse acts as the functional equivalent of an assistant to the president.” Thus, the current legal status of the First Lady of the United States is as “a de facto officer or employee” of the United States government.

Photo: wikipedia.org
Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune,
a member of Roosevelt's Black Cabinet.

U.S. researchers divide First Ladies of the USA into two groups. “Traditionalists” or White House hostesses, i.e. women who are content with the duties of a wife and mother, preferring to influence the president in an informal setting, make up the first group, while “activists” who try to change the world and go beyond the scope of traditional domestic surroundings make up the second. Dolly Madison and Eleanor Roosevelt are regarded as “the greatest and most prominent” First Ladies not just because they played the role of the First Lady longer than others (16 and 12 years, respectively), but because they saw their mission going beyond their role within the family of the President. They believed that the First Lady had public duties in the “larger world” outside the White House, and should participate in political life, expressing their views and influencing the course of events, just as other women in the U.S. do. Eleanor Roosevelt launched many initiatives, from appointing the first female Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins to the Cabinet to holding regular press conferences at which only female reporters were invited.

First Lady and International Issues

The wives of the presidents of the United States accompany their husbands during international visits and conferences, assisting in the organization of receptions. First Ladies perform the functions of U.S. representatives at various international events of ceremonial or symbolic nature, such as royal weddings, inaugurations of heads of state, meetings of international organizations.

Over time, their role has increased and moved beyond performing protocol duties. Many factors affect the nature and scope of international activities of the First Lady. Among them are her personal traits (level of education, upbringing, and values), prestige within the country, personal interests and the interests of women in general, and relationship with her husband and the White House staff. Many First Ladies have taken an active interest in matters of foreign affairs. Their list is long: Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, Elizabeth Monroe, Louisa Adams, Bess Truman, Ida McKinley, Lucy Hayes, Florence Harding, Nellie Taft, Edith Wilson, Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.

Photo: wikipedia.org
Hillary Klinton meets with female politicians in
Afghanistan.

It should be emphasized that the First Ladies have played a rather significant role in the informal sphere of international relations since the very founding of the United States. Martha Washington, wife of the first Рresident, took part in informal discussions over agreements with Indian tribes. Abigail Adams, wife of the second President, is known for her “political talents, which she displayed when her husband was at English court, and helped her husband a lot. According to the generally accepted view (from biographers of Adams), Adams owed his success in establishing an equal relationship with England to his wife.” [2] Although Edith Roosevelt (wife of President Theodore Roosevelt), the mother of six children, was considered a traditional hostess of the White House, she performed some delicate missions for the President when interacting with foreign diplomats. The President discussed the most important political issues with her. As for the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt Eleanor, after the death of her husband she led the U.S. delegation to the UN and was the author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She contributed much to the establishment of the United Nations Organization at the end of the World War II, became the first chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights, and was the U.S. Ambassador to the UN.

As for international activities, First Ladies make appeals to improve the position of women and respect their rights. It is not accidental that the first administration of President Barack Obama developed a comprehensive program to protect women’s rights around the world. It is supervised by the relevant subdivision of the State Department, which is trying to ensure that the aspirations and interests of women as a social group are taken into account when making foreign policy decisions. Special programs have been launched and bilateral and multilateral agreements worked out to protect women and expand their rights. The United States has called for the protection of victims of gender-based violence and tried to prevent such violence through legal reforms and prosecution of persons, guilty of such crimes. The U.S. supports the fight against inequality of men and women which is the original cause of these negative phenomena.

The current First Lady Michelle Obama has made international visits not only with her husband, but on her own too. She visited Mexico in 2010, and two African countries – South Africa and Botswana – in 2011. The program of Michelle Obama’s visit to Africa included meetings with government and community leaders, women and children. During these meetings, she promoted education, health and expressed support for youth policy. Hosted by the George W. Bush Institute, First Lady Michelle Obama participated in July 2013 in the African First Ladies Summit on “Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa” with former First Lady Laura Bush as well as other First Ladies from the continent. The event was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Michelle Obama has taken part in the International Women of Courage Awards Ceremonies since 2007, when the award was established, and presented the award to 67 women from 45 countries. She said at one of the ceremonies, “These women are here today to once again remind all of us that no matter who we are or where we are, if we believe in ourselves, and if we have the desire to get to the heart of the matter, fight, not surrender, we, each of us, can change the world”.

Photo: wikipedia.org
Michelle Obama and Queen Elizabeth II.

American women have already become members of the top political elite of the United States. In 1997, Madeleine Albright became the first woman to head the major foreign policy agency – the Department of State, and in 2001 Condoleezza Rice was appointed President Bush's National Security Advisor during his first term, making her the first woman to serve in that position. In 2009 Hillary Clinton became United States Secretary of State. Before that Hillary Clinton was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, but narrowly lost to Barack Obama who went on to win the national election. In 2007-2011 Nancy Pelosi became the first woman in the United States history to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives – the third highest position in the country. Four women have become justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

As President Obama emphasized, “four years ago Hillary Clinton, a tireless advocate for women herself, designated an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues whose sole job it is to make sure that women and girls are a central part of every aspect of our foreign policy, that their concerns are considered at the highest level of our diplomatic decision-making”. [3]

The mission of the White House Council on Women and Girls, established by Executive Order 13506 on March 11, 2009, is to provide a coordinated Federal response to issues that have an impact on the lives of women and girls both at home and abroad. Commitment to gender equality is reflected in the National Security Strategy of the United States, the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, and the 2010 US Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. The Presidential Memorandum Coordination of Policies and Programs to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls Globally of January 30, 2013 continues to promote gender equality and advance the status of women and girls around the world [4]. Such actions demonstrate support for the victims of violence, inspire courage, give rise to and maintain confidence in the government, defend justice, and contribute to strengthening international prestige of the country. Against this background, the activities of the First Lady in the international arena are difficult to overestimate.

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In a democratic system, the institution of the First Lady is a political resource whose function is to provide social guarantees as the basis for political stability and harmonize relations between civil society, the government, and the executive branch in particular. The strength of the institution is due to its influence through soft and subtle psychological methods.

The role of the First Lady as the central actor of the institution is to create a positive image of the President and to provide support for his political and socio-economic course. The First Lady is a link between the President and the community, a channel of bringing home the message of the political course of the President and the ruling elite to the grassroots in plain language. The First Lady institution serves as a mouthpiece for the pursued policy.

This institution is an objective element of the Western American political culture. In a broad sense, the institution comprises not only Presidents’ wives, but potential First Ladies too, who are wives of the candidates, running for the highest office in the country, and participate in the election race. In addition, the spouses of governors of U.S. states and legislators are also part of the institution. This is due to the fact that they all perform the same functions without being electoral candidates. On the one hand, they are all active participants in the campaign, and on the other, they support the spouse after achieving victory. Their influence on both the electoral process and the policy of the spouse after the latter’s arrival to power is obvious and multi-faceted. The status of the First Lady testifies to the open acceptance in the U.S. of the feminist position at the level of both society and ruling elites, i.e. recognition of the gender viewpoint on various aspects of intellectual, social and political activities.

The life of the First Lady is constantly in the limelight of media. It must comply with the established public ideal of the American woman and serve as an example to follow. This is particularly important for winning the presidency.

Since family values play a major role in American society, they make up the criteria to assess candidates for the highest office in the state. The First Lady demonstrates how a candidate or an already elected President embodies the principles that are so dear to most American voters. Being a good family man is an important element of the candidate’s image and his wife is responsible for maintaining it. Her role is particularly important in winning the votes the people who do not really sympathize with the personality of her husband.

Nearly a century ago American women gained the right to vote. Of course, since then there have been many positive changes and impressive results in terms of women’s participation in political life and getting access to leadership. However, despite all the victories, advocates of gender equality believe that there are still gender barriers, as modern political life in the United States does not fully correspond to the spirit of the 21st century.

The institution of the First Lady plays an extremely important role in solving current problems. Since the middle of the twentieth century, the First Ladies of the United States have become independent actors in the international arena, expanding the boundaries of their activities. This trend is likely to gain momentum. By demonstrating a willingness to run for presidency, Hillary Clinton made a real breakthrough, altering the status of the First Lady. It appears that a woman president in the United States is a very realistic prospect for the near future, as evidenced by the alignment of forces in the U.S. political arena.

The mission of the First Lady today is to protect the national interests of the United States, strengthen the positive image of the country, promote public diplomacy, and enhance humanitarian aspects of foreign relations. In addition, the First Lady sets a standard of gender equality for the world community. She promotes and encourages women's rights as well as based on equality fairness for women all over the world.

1. Maria Tsebrikova. Amerikanki 18 veka. S.Peterburg, 1871, p. 4

2. Ibid. pp. 46-55

3. Remarks By The President at Women's History Month Reception January 30, 2013 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/03/18/remarks-president-womens-history-month-reception

4. Presidential Memorandum – Coordination of Policies and Programs to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls Globally. January 30, 2013 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/30/presidential-memorandum-coordination-policies-and-programs-promote-gende