First Lady Institution as Part of American Democracy

... 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 ...