First Ladies

Abraham Lincoln was an unlikely family man, but marriage and fatherhood helped him lead the nation through crisis.

Eleanor Roosevelt became well-known as FDR's first lady, but her contributions toward human rights after her husband's death might be her most lasting legacy.

From her eye-catching fashion to her penchant for politics, Dolley Madison set the stage for future first ladies.

Find out why historians say Betty Ford, one of our most popular--and outspoken--first ladies, probably did more for American women than any other first lady in history.

A Stanford-trained geologist who was fluent in Chinese, first lady Lou Hoover’s life was full of surprises.

Find out how Florence Harding, America’s first feminist first lady, helped put her husband in the White House.

Was she really one of America’s first feminists? Meet Abigail Adams and find out what she meant when she asked her husband John to “remember the ladies.”

A woman of vast energy and empathy, Eleanor Roosevelt used her influence as first lady to fight for American workers, women and minorities.

HISTORY honors First Lady Barbara Bush, only the second woman in history to have been the wife and mother of a president, who died April 17th, 2018 at the age of 92.

Hear the tale of how first lady Dolley Madison risked her life to save George Washington's portrait from a fiery fate as British troops approached the White House.

Barbara Bush, noted advocate for family literacy, is also the second woman to have been First Lady to one U.S. president and mother of another. Learn more about her life and work in this mini biography.

Lara Spencer examines how the role of First Lady has changed over time.

Laura Bush championed literacy and education during her time as First Lady of the United States. Find out more about her life and her marriage to George W. Bush in this video.

Find out about the life and influence of Mamie Eisenhower, a First Lady known for her incredible hospitality, in this video.