By Iris Goldsztajn
7:02pm PST, Feb 24, 2026
—
First ladies — official or unofficial — are hugely important to a presidency. Even long before women had the right to vote, they had a ton of political influence by virtue of who they were married to. They're also often looked up to as role models and champions of worthy causes.
Keep reading to see 32 women who served as first ladies…
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Melania Trump
The third wife of
President Donald J. Trump (R),
Melania Trump (née Knavs, later spelled as Knauss) became first lady in 2017, then again in 2025. Born in what is now Slovenia, Melania is the second first lady to be born outside of the United States — and the first to be a naturalized citizen, per
White House History.
Dr. Jill Biden
Jill Biden, Ed.D. was the first first lady to hold a doctorate (hers is in education) during her husband
Joe Biden's (D) tenure between 2021 and 2025. Her
advocacy work has largely focused on education, women's health and cancer prevention, among other issues.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama has been a role model to people around the world both during her husband
Barack Obama's (D) tenure and afterwards. In her post-White House era, Michelle has notably achieved great success with her memoir
Becoming and nonfiction advice book
The Light We Carry.
Laura Bush
Laura Bush was first lady for two terms, between 2001 and 2009, while her husband
George W. Bush (R) was in office. She is known for
championing issues such as early childhood development and women's health.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton holds two unique distinctions: she is the only former first lady elected to public office, serving as a U.S. senator, and the only first lady to run for president. Had she won in 2016, her husband, the former President Bill Clinton (D), would have been the country's first-ever first gentleman.
Barbara Bush
Before
George W. and
Laura Bush, there was
George H.W. Bush (R) and
Barbara Bush — making the Bush family something of an American political dynasty. Barbara died in April 2018, with her husband going just months later in November 2018. Many people suggested that the former president might have
died from a broken heart.
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan served both as first lady of California and first lady of the United States while her husband,
Ronald Reagan (R), was in office. The
issues closest to her heart included the well-being of veterans, the elderly and children experiencing various difficulties, as well as fighting drug and alcohol abuse.
Rosalynn Carter
Rosalynn Carter, wife to President Jimmy Carter (D), was first lady from 1977 to 1981. She was a tireless advocate for mental health until she died in 2023.
Betty Ford
Betty Ford, the wife of
President Gerald Ford (R), served as first lady of the United States between 1974 and 1977. President Ford took over the presidency after his predecessor,
Richard Nixon, resigned following
Watergate. Betty was a strong political force,
described as an activist for women's rights, including safe access to abortion — a view which opposed that of her husband.
Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon was the first lady during her husband
Richard Nixon's (R) presidency between 1969 and 1974. She was
passionate about encouraging volunteering with organizations such as the Girl Scouts, the American Cancer Society, and the American Red Cross, and she was instrumental in making the White House more accessible to those with disabilities.
Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson (whose government first name was Claudia) became first lady under difficult circumstances, following
John F. Kennedy's assassination. Her husband,
Lyndon B. Johnson (D), was president between 1963 and 1969. During his term, Lady Bird
dedicated herself to the environment and to the furthering of the arts.
Jackie Kennedy
Jackie Kennedy is perhaps one of the most recognizable first ladies in history — revered to this day for her elegance and her steadfastness in the face of her husband
John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination.
As first lady from 1961 until JFK's untimely death, Jackie was a champion for the arts, as well as a dedicated mother to
Caroline (b. 1957) and
John Jr. (b. 1960). The pair's son
Patrick tragically died as an infant in 1963.
Mamie Eisenhower
The wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower (R), Mamie Eisenhower, was first lady between 1953 and 1961. Mamie loved the color pink and was dedicated to her family. "I was Ike's wife, John's mother, the children's grandmother…[and] that was all I ever wanted to be," she once said of her time in the White House.
Bess Truman
Elizabeth "Bess" Truman was the first lady to Harry Truman's (D) President of the United States, between 1945 and 1953. Bess divided her time between managing the presidential household, prioritizing family life and
supporting organizations such as the Girl Scouts and the Red Cross.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt is another deeply admired First Lady, thanks to some of her wisest, timeless quotes
such as, "A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong it is until it's in hot water." Married to
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D), she served as first lady between 1933 and 1945. Such was Eleanor's influence during her time in the White House that President Truman went on to
appoint her as a delegate to the UN after FDR died.
Lou Hoover
Lou Hoover attended Stanford University, where she was the only woman in her class — and where she met her husband-to-be
Herbert Hoover (R). The couple stayed in the White House between 1929 and 1933, and Lou was particularly interested in preserving the history of the building.
Grace Coolidge
Grace Coolidge, wife of
President Calvin Coolidge (R), who was president from 1923 to 1929, led a fascinating life. She was a passionate advocate for the deaf, and she was known at the White House for her wonderful hospitality and interest in pop culture and sports, per
The White House Historical Association. Tragically, her son
Calvin Coolidge Jr. passed away at the age of 16 following complications from a tennis injury. After her time in D.C., Grace eventually published her autobiography.
Florence Harding
Unusual for the time,
Florence Harding was divorced when she met and eventually married
President Warren G. Harding (R), who served from 1921 to 1923 and died while in office. Florence
fought for women's suffrage before arriving at the White House, where she championed women's and animals' rights as well as veterans' welfare.
Helen Taft
Helen Taft, wife of
William Howard Taft (R), resided at the White House from 1909 to 1913. She
experienced the after-effects of a stroke soon after moving in, with her daughter and sisters filling in for her First Lady duties — though she oversaw these from the second floor. Once she thankfully recovered, Helen was known for her dedication to workers' rights.
Ida McKinley
Ida McKinley was the First Lady to
President William McKinley (R) from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. Even before this traumatic event, the McKinleys led a tragic life, with both of their daughters,
Katherine and
Ida, passing away at a young age. Ida Sr. was also disabled, but enthusiastically
hosted events and receptions in her time at the White House.
Caroline Harrison
Caroline Harrison was first lady during her husband
Benjamin Harrison's (R) tenure, from 1889 to 1893. While at the White House, Caroline
worked hard to restore the building and improve its interior; electricity was installed during the pair's stay.
Frances Cleveland
Frances Cleveland, who was younger than her husband,
President Grover Cleveland (D), by 27 years, was
first lady from 1886 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897, marrying Grover while he was already president. As such, she was actually his second first lady, with
Grover's sister Rose Cleveland having previously served the role between 1885 and 1886.
Lucretia Garfield
Lucretia Garfield was briefly first lady in 1881, but her husband,
James A. Garfield (R),
was shot just months into his presidency. He died about 10 weeks later, in September of that year.
Lucy Hayes
Lucy Hayes was first lady between 1877 and 1881 while her husband,
Rutherford B. Hayes (R), served in office. A fun fact about Lucy: She
banned alcohol in the White House.
Julia Grant
Julia Grant was first lady of the United States between 1869 and 1877, as the wife of
President Ulysses S. Grant (R). Per
The White House Historical Association, Julia loved being first lady, especially entertaining and beautifying the White House. Following those years, Julia became the first first lady to write a memoir, which was only published in 1975.
Harriet Lane
Harriet Lane was the niece of
James Buchanan, who became her legal guardian when she sadly lost both her parents as a child. Because Buchanan was a "lifelong bachelor," Lane was
called upon to act as his first lady between 1857 and 1861.
Abigail Powers Fillmore
Abigail Powers Fillmore was
President Millard Fillmore's
first lady between 1850 and 1853, when she took it upon herself to install a library in the White House. However, due to health issues, Abigail sometimes asked her daughter
Mary Abbie Fillmore to fill in for her — with Mary Abbie also
considered a historical first lady.
Julia Tyler
Julia Tyler was only first lady between 1844 and 1845 as the second wife of
President John Tyler, who was also 30 years younger than him. Julia was an accomplished hostess, and she was
supposedly instrumental in the annexation of Texas.
Sarah Yorke Jackson
Sarah Yorke Jackson was a bit of an unofficial first lady, assisting her father-in-law, Andrew Jackson, in that role during his presidency, at times alongside the president's niece Emily Donelson.
Rachel Jackson
The story of how
Rachel Jackson came to marry
Andrew Jackson is
interesting. In fact, she was actually never officially first lady, tragically dying between her husband's election and his inauguration.
Dolley Madison
Dolley Madison served as first lady between 1809 and 1817, as the wife of
President James Madison. Dolley was a great
hostess and decorator.
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was the first lady during her husband
John Adams' presidency, from 1797 to 1801. Abigail was an
early proponent of women's equality and rights and an accomplished intellectual.
