I had a feature, called Julie’s Jewels, on Norns Triad Publications’ blog. I used it to share tidbits about my life, which I tied into book suggestions (because you know I love books). I thought it might be fun to do something similar here. Hence, the birth of this series, #NorthupNews.
The cool thing is that my partners, Sahara Foley and Karen J. Mossman, have similar features on their blogs. It is a way for us to connect with our readers. Hopefully, it is as interesting to you as it is for us.
“Unlike the President, the role of the First Lady is not addressed in the Constitution. Both the role of the Presidential spouse and the title have shifted and formalized over the history of the United States. The spouse of the President is not elected to serve and yet, because the White House is both the residence and the office of the President, public service is inherent to the role.”
Originally, “the spouses of the Presidents filled the role of White House hostess, particularly in the 19th century. Widowers, bachelors, and others would call upon surrogates to fill the role when a spouse was unavailable — a role that itself is a social surrogate for many of the ceremonial functions of the Presidency.” They didn’t have a prescribed role, per say, but that would change, just as their title would. For example, Mrs. Washington was referred to as “Lady Washington” as a show of respect. This tradition carried on until Dolley Madison. “As the wife of the ranking Cabinet official, Dolley served as the unofficial First Lady for the widowed Jefferson.“
“Since Thomas Jefferson was a widower by the time he was elected, and James Madison was his Secretary of State, Dolley Madison took on the role of White House Hostess when Jefferson’s daughter was not available. When her husband became President, Dolley was able to seamlessly transition into the role of First Lady, as she had already been performing the duties. She was renowned for her excellent dinners and the ability to bring opposing political players together. Because of this, Mrs. Madison is often pointed to as a model spouse, capable of handling the domestic and ceremonial roles of the Presidency while also influencing policy and politics — all while not overstepping the social and political boundaries of the time. At her funeral in 1848, President Zachary Taylor eulogized her as the “first lady of our land,” bringing us a step closer to the current term for the Presidential spouse.”
The landscape of the white house changed into a more recognizable one in 1901-1902. This was when Edith Roosevelt brought her family to join her husband, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, to live in the White House. This is when the West Wing was added on. Furthermore, Edith is “noted for institutionalizing the duties of the first lady and refurbishing the White House.“
“…generations of women have shaped how the modern Office of the First Lady formed, and the roles of the president’s spouse.”
“First Ladies sponsored national and international causes such as environmentalism, volunteerism, women’s rights, literacy, and treatment for drug dependency…
…The American public has also been fascinated with the First Ladies as trendsetters in style, fashion, entertaining, and home design.”The White House Historical Association – Roles of the First Lady
The role of the First Lady is crucial. She (and one day, he – when it is the First Husband) represents the familial support of the presidential pillar who leads the free world. You even see this for the widower and bachelor, as the “surrogate” steps up to lend the necessary support of a partner to help shoulder the responsibility of the office being undertaken. Marriage is a partnership, but so is our presidency. It is a partnership between the branches, between the parties, and between the president and his spouse. Just as a military spouse service, so does the Commander-in-Chief’s.
“Unelected and unpaid, they occupy a position of power defined as much by their own personalities and interests as by public perceptions and social expectations.
Americans expect the first lady to be a symbol of home, family, and womanhood— although the meaning of those ideals changes with every generation. She is also a political partner, from the campaign trail to White House receptions. While some first ladies support the presidency behind the scenes; others use their title to effect change in their own right. “
J.M. NORTHUP 