A Ranking of First Ladies: Second Edition

I wrote a piece last year ranking the First Ladies. As it happens, I’ve been indulging my interest in First Ladies a lot this year and have thus done a lot of reading on the subject. The result of this is that I have changed views on my rankings, and have decided to write a second edition.

Factors include

• Hosting skills
• As White House mistress
• Intelligence
• Supporting her husband
• Asset and ambassador
• Helping others
• Accomplishments in office 

Criteria

• The wife of a President whilst he was in office
• The hostess of a President who was widowed before his time in office or a bachelor 
• Does not include ‘fillers’ like Margaret Wilson or Letitia Tyler Semple  
• Does not include women who were married to presidents after the administration like Mary Lord Dimmick Harrison or women who were divorced from the President beforehand, like Ivana Trump 
• Jill Biden is not included as her term has not yet finished and hence I do wish to wait until passing judgment 

In ascending order

1. Eleanor Roosevelt
2. Abigail Adams
3. Jacqueline Kennedy 
4. Dolley Madison
5. Betty Ford
6. Harriet Lane
7. Martha Washington
8. Laura Bush
9. Barbara Bush
10. Lady Bird Johnson

47. Anna Harrison (-)

Anna Harrison never got to be First Lady really, as she was too ill to initially take up her duties, and her husband had died within the interim month.

46. Margaret Taylor (-1)

Margaret had actively prayed for her husband to lose the presidency, and was thus very inactive as First Lady.

45. Martha Jefferson Randolph (-5)

The devoted daughter of Jefferson, Mary had both Monticello, her alcoholic husband who disliked his father-in-law and twelve children to handle. Because of this, she was essentially part-time.

44. Ida McKinley (-2)

Mental health and physical issues meant that Ida stayed in the background, but she joined her husband on trips.

43. Lucretia Garfield (-)

Lucretia was a deeply intelligent woman with an interest in women’s rights, but both a near-fatal case of malaria and her husband’s untimely assassination meant that she never really had the chance. 

42. Jane Pierce (+4) 

The horrific death of her son Benny on the route to the Inauguration left Jane in a depressed state for much of the administration. That being said, she did later emerge from the shadows. It’s said that she was a very intelligent woman who took part in discussions. 

41. Mary Lincoln (-2)

Another intelligent woman wracked by tragedy and mental illness, Mary attempted to act as First Lady but was blocked by unpopularity. She was known as a huge over-spender. 

40. Emily Donelson/Sarah Yorke Jackson (+1)

They were joint hostesses so are added to the list together. Emily’s popularity was tainted by the Petticoat Affair and Sarah wasn’t much into entertaining. 

39. Eliza Johnson (-3)

Eliza’s ill health precluded her from a full run as First Lady, but she directed the household from her bed and acted as her husband’s helper during the darkness of the impeachment trial.

38. Angelica Van Buren (-)

Angelica enjoyed early popularity, but a trip to Europe filled her head with lofty ideals. Upon her return, her pompous ceremonies saw people refuse to come.

37. Letitia Tyler (-2)

Letitia’s poor health prevented her from acting as First Lady, but she was a shy woman who had always focused on domestic matters. She delegated well and was remembered for her kind heart.

36. Rose Cleveland (+8)

Rose was an early feminist and advocate for women, enriching the White House by bringing in interesting people. Whilst she did not enjoy hosting, she seemed to at least manage.

35. Ellen Wilson (+2)

Her charity work won her praise, but an early and sudden death prevented her from doing more.

34. Elizabeth Monroe (-3)

Elizabeth often delegated to her daughter, but the choice of exclusive European hosting alienated others. She still received some visitors and was well-liked.

33. Mary McElroy (-4)

Mary spent the social season in D.C as a favour to her widowed brother. Despite her natural shyness and short trips, she proved a popular hostess.

32.  Julia Tyler (+2)

Young and beautiful, Julia was fully aware of her role and lived to fill it. She was also extremely savvy when it came to media, but could come across as a little grandiose with her hosting.

31. Bess Truman (-4)

Bess was not at home at the White House and was much less open than her predecessor. She was nevertheless a supportive wife and loving mother, and did take care in her duties.

30. Melania Trump (+2)

It’s alleged that Melania is quite shy, so being First Lady may not have been her thing, but she made an effort nonetheless. She proved to be very fashionable at home and abroad.

29. Abigail Fillmore (-1)

Abigail brought literacy to the White House with her library, which became a sitting room in which to greet famous residents. She could be a little snooty about guests, but treated everyone equally.

28. Louisa Adams (+5)

Louisa suffered from loneliness, an unhappy marriage and unpopularity, but was a rather remarkable lady. She was very philosophical on women’s rights and continually defended her husband.

27. Helen Taft (+3)

Intelligent and arguably the more political one in the marriage, Helen’s excitement for her role was dimmed by a stroke early on. Following her recovery, Helen enjoyed her role thoroughly and added a modern touch to the White House.

26. Julia Grant (-1)

A lot of First Ladies hated the role, but Julia Grant loved it. She was both a rule breaker and a rule changer, often receiving criticism for this and her self-importance. Nevertheless, she added a lot to the role and took it seriously.

25. Lou Hoover (-2)

Lou was a more traditional First Lady who was criticized for being out of touch during the Depression. That being said, she did a lot to expand the work of the Girl Scouts and donated to the poor with her own money secretly.

24. Edith Roosevelt (-)

Edith may not have been as bombastic as her husband, but she proved a perfect partner to him in the domestic and social sphere. Her work bringing peace after the Russo-Japanese war is also important.

23. Caroline Harrison (+3)

Caroline modernised the White House after years of neglect and worked to preserve the house. She was also a champion of the arts.

22. Hillary Clinton (-1)

Hillary was very much a new First Lady whose political views and role in healthcare was controversial. She did make the role her own and served as ambassador to the White House both home and abroad.

21. Mamie Eisenhower (-4)

A tough woman in a pink package, Mamie brought military precision to the White House. She was the ultimate domestic goddess and role model to women.

20. Nancy Reagan (-5)

Probably the most devoted wife on this list, Nancy took her role as the president’s helper very seriously. Whilst not immune to criticism, Nancy never let anyone else’s views stop her.

19. Lucy Hayes (-3)

Lucy’s kind heart, generous nature and charity work made her a beloved figure in Washington. Despite not serving alcohol at the White House, her receptions were popular.

18. Frances Cleveland (+4)

At only 21, Frances had a lot on her shoulders, but became enormously popular. She improved relations with the press, acted as an asset and was a very loving, protective woman.

17. Sarah Polk (+5)

A political force in her own right, Sarah would become her husband’s right hand woman upon marriage and didn’t stop as First Lady. She balanced her love of politics with a genuine talent for hosting, though not without some hiccups.

16. Florence Harding (+3)

Often ranked quite low on lists, Florence Harding was actually a pretty formidable woman. She was strong-minded, politically forthright, a role model for the 20s woman and a brilliant hostess.

15. Pat Nixon (-3)

Another First Lady with a bad reputation, Pat was much more than people thought. Despite being stereotyped as ‘Plastic Pat,’ she was a warm, kind figure whose popularity saw her sent abroad over other figures. Her work on accessibility for the disabled was welcome.

14. Grace Coolidge (-)

Whilst her husband was shy and subdued, Grace was vicarious and fun. She was a tremendous help due to her warmth and charisma, and a true advocate for deaf people.

13. Edith Wilson (-2)

Edith Wilson’s role during her husband’s incapacitation has seen her gain the nickname of ‘the first woman president.’ She was tough, but devoted.

12. Michelle Obama (-2)

As the first African-American First Lady, Michelle was always going to be a trailblazer. She proved a popular figure, especially abroad, and someone who protected her children all whilst embracing the role.

11. Rosalynn Carter (+7)

The most recent First Lady to pass away, Rosalynn was a beloved steel magnolia. Her Southern charm was mixed with wisdom and grace. She also had an important role when sitting in on Cabinet meetings.

10. Lady Bird Johnson (+3)

Following the hugely popular and widowed Jackie Kennedy was a tough task, but Lady Bird really did it well. She graded her husband’s speeches and acted as his most trusted advisor. She was always full of grace.

9. Barbara Bush (-1)

Feisty and maternal in equal measure, Barbara was like everyone’s favourite granny. Her support of literacy was sincere, as were her always outspoken views. 

8. Laura Bush (-1)

George W. Bush once said that Laura had never embarrassed him, and he was right. She was a quiet, yet strong woman whose advocacy of Afghan women, literacy and other issues was never less than at the forefront of her campaign.

7. Martha Washington (+2)

As the inaugural First Lady, Martha didn’t have much to go on, but she really worked with it. Despite her nervousness and dislike of hosting, she was immensely popular and widely respected by all. Like her husband, she was unpretentious and humble.

6. Harriet Lane (-)

The only official First Lady not married to the President, Harriet was a young woman who was absolutely devoted to her uncle. She was the subject of copied fashion and hairstyles, songs and other media. Despite the worsening political situation, she never wavered. 

5. Betty Ford (-)

Betty’s critics called her ‘No Lady,’ but she was hugely popular. Her openness about breast cancer saw thousands of women check themselves in a society that still made cancer taboo, especially for women. She was more popular than her husband at every stage, yet they remained a truly tight pair.

4. Dolley Madison (-)

Having helped friend Jefferson out during his term, Dolley officially got the job upon her husband’s election. Dolley was famous for her social graces, warmth and skill, with massive parties and small, intimate dinners equally successful. Political rivals put their problems to the side during her dinners- a rarity in this era.

3. Jacqueline Kennedy (-)

Young and glamorous, Jacqueline remains one of the most famous and beloved First Ladies across the world. She was widely admired for her dignity and copied for her style, but she was also a skilled diplomat who enchanted sour world leaders. Her work on the arts ensured the White House became a home filled with history. If Jackie was at an event, she’d get a bigger crowd than her husband. She is consistently ranked highly to this day.

2. Abigail Adams (-)

An early feminist icon, Abigail’s role as First Lady was so important that she was nicknamed ‘Mrs. President.’ She supported her husband but was never afraid to tell him what she thought- of him and his policies. Not only was she an intellectual, but a family woman and talented hostess.

1. Eleanor Roosevelt (-)

Harry Truman eulogised Eleanor as ‘First Lady of the World,’ something that is absolutely true. She is constantly ranked as the best First Lady with good reason. She was a powerhouse who supported civil and women’s rights in an era that disdained both, an active media user and icon. Perhaps she should have been president.