First Ladies That Wear The Pants
Pop quiz time! Don’t panic--it’s only one question long...
Why do we celebrate President’s Day?
And no, the answer does not involve “for the long weekend, DUH” or "so I can get a great deal on that new Toyota I’ve been eyeing." No, those are just added bonuses to this federal holiday.
Technically, President’s Day is George Washington’s Bday (and in some places, Lincoln's Bday gets thrown in there too) but today is more commonly known as a day to acknowledge all of the great presidents who have lead this country.
That's great. I'm all for it. Yay Presidents! You're not all equal, but you all got elected and that's sure something. But aren’t we forgetting a few special females? After all, “behind every great man, there is an even GREATER woman.” Pardon my paraphrasing. I thought it'd be fun to honor just a few ladies who lived in the White House too.
Eleanor Roosevelt put first ladies on the map and forever broke the mold for the role. An outspoken businesswoman, she expressed strong opinions through her writing and groundbreaking press conferences. And she wasn’t kidding around when she promised FDR she’d be there for him “in sickness and in health.” When Franklin got sick, Eleanor stepped up to the plate like a champ. No big deal.
Michelle Obama needs no introduction. But if I were to introduce her, this photo of her and Jimmy Fallon really says everything you need to know. She’s got a refreshing sense of humor, a Harvard Law Degree, and arms that won’t quit. Plus her Let’s Move campaign is successfully tackling childhood obesity in this country. Michelle exudes cool.
Betty Ford was quite the busy woman. Republicans loved her unconditionally, despite her socially liberal stances on issues like abortion. Now THAT’S love. And of course she’s famous for the Betty Ford Center, which she started after overcoming her own addictions. A Republican feminist with a passion for the arts and social activism? Yep, that was Betty.
Abigail Adams was not only married to a President, she mothered one too. Letters between Abigail and her husband, 2nd president John Adams, reveal lengthy intellectual discussions between the two on all matters. She was clearly influential behind the scenes. And she was holding down the fort during the Revolutionary War. And she had to make her own curtains!
Maybe someday there' ll be a First Ladies Day, but 'til then, happy to remind you how boss a few of these ladies were/are. Now enjoy the Monday off!
Join the Discussion!
8 comments
-
What a refreshing take on this holiday! Not only do First Ladies make their own unique contributiobs to our country, they do so as volunteers. It's time to create a compensation plan for First Spouses. . . -
Page, I think it's a good thing to consider the first lady's potential contributions when deciding whom to vote for for President. It's also important to have some lnowledge about the couple's relationship as it WILL affect the president's ability to do his job.
-
Is it wrong of me to say that I will be voting for Obama in the upcoming election because I love Michelle so much? Maybe. But she is everything that a girl should aspire to be, and the longer she is in the spotlight, the better. -
OMG Banks! Those are exactly the women I'd have chosen! And I was so glad when, reading John Adams by David McCullough, I learned that the Adams' and others from those days had saved all those letters.
-
-
Thank you SO much for bringing up this topic. As a feminist, I believe it's terribly disconcerting to see the lack of respect for the First Ladies in our history, especially because of that very quote you listed. Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my role models; consider this quote from her as well: "The battle for the individual rights of women is one of long standing and none of us should countenance anything which undermines it." Or my all-time favorite: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -
I agree. We should also celebrate the day of the "first lady" because behind every great man there is always a great woman
-
President's Day is a federal holiday in the United States, celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally called Washington's Birthday, it was a day set aside in 1885 by President Chester Arthur as a day to honor the father of American country.
