FIRST LADIES

By C-SPAN

First Ladies: Influence and Image is an original C-SPAN feature series telling the stories of America’s 45 First Ladies through conversations with top experts and video tours of historic sites. To view the entire series, visit: http://firstladies.c-span.org/

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (Mrs. George Washington) (1878) by Eliphalet Frazer AndrewsThe White House

Martha Washington

1731 - 1802

First Lady Martha Washington, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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As First Lady, Martha Washington brought with her the life experiences that formed her ways of thinking.

LIFE Photo Collection

Abigail Adams

1744 - 1818

First Lady Abigail Adams, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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A discussion about the life and role of Abigail Adams during the Revolutionary War.

Dolley Payne Madison (Mrs. James Madison) (1804) by Gilbert StuartThe White House

Dolley Madison

1768 - 1849

First Lady Dolley Madison, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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A discussion about Dolley Madison’s role during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency.

LIFE Photo Collection

Mary Todd Lincoln

1818 - 1882

First Lady Mary Lincoln, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss the politics involved in the 1860 election and Mary Lincoln’s early days in the White House.

President Wilson at Game 2 of the 1915 World Series Photograph (1915-10-09)National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Edith Wilson

1872 - 1961

First Lady Edith Wilson, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss Edith Wilson taking over for her husband, Woodrow Wilson, after he suffered a series of incapacitating strokes.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1937-11) by Peter StackpoleLIFE Photo Collection

Eleanor Roosevelt

1884 - 1962

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss the beginning of the Roosevelt Administration and the role of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during that time.

LIFE Photo Collection

Jacqueline Kennedy

1929 - 1994

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss Jacqueline Kennedy’s contributions as First Lady including entertaining and the arts.

Claudia (Lady Bird) Taylor Johnson (Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson) (1968) by Elizabeth ShoumatoffThe White House

Lady Bird Johnson

1912 - 2007

First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discus First Lady Johnson’s role in the 1960 presidential campaign in which John F. Kennedy was elected president and Lyndon Johnson vice president.

LIFE Photo Collection

Betty Ford

1918 - 2011

First Lady Betty Ford, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Historian Richard Norton Smith on Betty Ford’s role as First Lady, including her beliefs on key political issues.

Nancy Davis Reagan (1987) by Aaron ShiklerThe White House

Nancy Reagan

1921 - 2016

First Lady Nancy Reagan, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss First Lady Nancy Reagan's contributions to the White House.

Barbara Pierce Bush (Mrs. George H. W. Bush) (2005) by Charles A. FaganThe White House

Barbara Bush

1925 -

First Lady Barbara Bush, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss First Lady Barbara Bush and her work with literacy within the United States.

Hillary Rodham Clinton Official Portrait / U.S. Senate Historical Office by Photographer UnknownOriginal Source: History, Art & Archives - United States House of Representatives

Hillary Clinton

1947 -

First Lady Hillary Clinton, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss the First Lady Hillary Clinton's transition from the White House and decision to run for office in the Senate.

Laura Welch Bush (2012) by John Howard SandenThe White House

Laura Bush

1946 -

First Lady Laura Bush, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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First Lady Laura Bush and guests discuss the possibility of a salary for First Ladies and whether or not they should be able to have a career outside the White House.

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Michelle Obama

1964 -

First Lady Michelle Obama, C-SPAN, 2016-10-19/2020-11-30, From the collection of: C-SPAN

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Guests discuss the image of First Lady Michelle Obama in the media.

Credits: Story

First Ladies: Influence and Image is an original C-SPAN feature series telling the stories of America’s 45 First Ladies through conversations with top experts and video tours of historic sites.

To view the entire series, visit: http://firstladies.c-span.org/

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

C-SPAN

LIFE Photo Collection

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

National Women’s History Museum

The White House

Stories from these collections

Online Exhibit