Martha Washington. (Credit: VCG Wilson/Corbis/Getty Images)

Betty Ford dancing on the Cabinet Room table

Portrait of former US First Ladies, seated from left, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, and Betty Ford and, standing from left, Nancy Reagan and First Lady Barbara Bush, as they pose together at the opening of the Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California, November 4, 1991.

How Eleanor Roosevelt Pushed for Universal Human Rights

Eleanor Delano Roosevelt, seated, with a wide, warm smile

Portrait of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

<p>Martha Washington set many standards for American First Ladies, but from Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton and Melania Trump, each has left her mark on the office.</p>


First Ladies

First Ladies of the United States include famous names such as Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Barbara Bush, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden.

First Ladies: Facts and Profiles | HISTORY

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HISTORY

<p>America’s Founding Fathers decided that one elected civilian—the U.S. president—would lead the executive branch of the federal government, a governmental structure that has remained in place for more than 200 years.</p>


U.S. Presidents

<p>Sarah Pruitt is a writer and editor based in seacoast New Hampshire. She has been a frequent contributor to History.com since 2005, and is the author of <em>Breaking History: Vanished! </em>(Lyons Press, 2017), which chronicles some of history's most famous disappearances.</p>


Sarah Pruitt

<p>Erin Blakemore is an award-winning journalist who lives and works in Boulder, Colorado. Learn more at <a title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://erinblakemore.com__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!CIEioOBTV4yFbQEmSGiq4cXk2F0ZNZuyS9kOYFTisC017l-98oL6xawo3XPhTUEFtLr8Doo8X-r3lzfonSLnZm75SSl8$" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://erinblakemore.com__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!CIEioOBTV4yFbQEmSGiq4cXk2F0ZNZuyS9kOYFTisC017l-98oL6xawo3XPhTUEFtLr8Doo8X-r3lzfonSLnZm75SSl8$">erinblakemore.com</a></p>


Erin Blakemore

<p><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__msbeckylittle.tumblr.com_&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=bHpC9irXhivtSwyVyKc43lLt4-cAwmmH7TeQLPqTb5E&amp;r=DnM91hJ18gcNL3QDGSFbaxqDKqUNYha-dXU1EFEqguU&amp;m=G-7sCRahZ4NeqUBMRIzpVYF_SWJZdHf6oZ3GZnosXWc&amp;s=zmyoc9Pijw9wmJOCBZEXDORhhj0TxUZKXRRMCwVGaTI&amp;e=">Becky Little</a> is a journalist based in Washington, D.C. Follow her on <a title="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fmsbeckylittle.bsky.social&amp;data=05%7C02%7CAmanda.Onion%40aegm.com%7C2663a56e98de478ecc4108dd65759161%7Cf7288ab1d50847bab3347331cff3374c%7C1%7C0%7C638778277802339990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6PAUrlZQy2qoyw95FxhBFEbAAeD6eFd4YU65oI9SW98%3D&amp;reserved=0" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fmsbeckylittle.bsky.social&amp;data=05%7C02%7CAmanda.Onion%40aegm.com%7C2663a56e98de478ecc4108dd65759161%7Cf7288ab1d50847bab3347331cff3374c%7C1%7C0%7C638778277802339990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6PAUrlZQy2qoyw95FxhBFEbAAeD6eFd4YU65oI9SW98%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-outlook-id="cfb94f9b-f0df-4c8f-91fa-a17329b660ca">Bluesky</a>.</p>


Becky Little

<p>Dave <span class="outlook-search-highlight" data-markjs="true">Roos</span> is a journalist and podcaster based in the U.S. and Mexico. He's the co-host of <a title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-time-machine/id1648738323__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!HXBYfsRrBo7N5os-y_lSq05ShV3dCj9JEctYUd9Gok5iCyZHx7Gw2tqSCGiGSqkIqI2JpY9mKkYaNAhA-3WOj0eb3mc$" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-time-machine/id1648738323__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!HXBYfsRrBo7N5os-y_lSq05ShV3dCj9JEctYUd9Gok5iCyZHx7Gw2tqSCGiGSqkIqI2JpY9mKkYaNAhA-3WOj0eb3mc$">Biblical Time Machine</a>, a history podcast, and a writer for the popular podcast <a title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-should-know/id278981407__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!HXBYfsRrBo7N5os-y_lSq05ShV3dCj9JEctYUd9Gok5iCyZHx7Gw2tqSCGiGSqkIqI2JpY9mKkYaNAhA-3WORJo2DiQ$" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-should-know/id278981407__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!HXBYfsRrBo7N5os-y_lSq05ShV3dCj9JEctYUd9Gok5iCyZHx7Gw2tqSCGiGSqkIqI2JpY9mKkYaNAhA-3WORJo2DiQ$">Stuff You Should Know</a>. Learn more at <a title="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.daveroos.com/__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!HXBYfsRrBo7N5os-y_lSq05ShV3dCj9JEctYUd9Gok5iCyZHx7Gw2tqSCGiGSqkIqI2JpY9mKkYaNAhA-3WO_YrhCB4$" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.daveroos.com/__;!!CyZMqN24eIU!HXBYfsRrBo7N5os-y_lSq05ShV3dCj9JEctYUd9Gok5iCyZHx7Gw2tqSCGiGSqkIqI2JpY9mKkYaNAhA-3WO_YrhCB4$">dave<span class="outlook-search-highlight" data-markjs="true">roos</span>.com</a>.</p>


Dave Roos

<p>Iván Román is a freelance journalist, editor and communications consultant based in Washington, D.C. who has focused primarily on the country’s increasingly diverse racial and ethnic communities, its complex challenges regarding immigration, and Caribbean and Latin American affairs.</p>


Iván Román

<p>The 1970s was an era when the women's rights, gay rights and environmental movements gained momentum. The Vietnam War came to a close, the Watergate scandal led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, the United States ended direct involvement in the Vietnam War and President Jimmy Carter grappled with an energy crisis, inflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis.</p>


1970s

<p><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__LisaMcCubbin.com&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=bHpC9irXhivtSwyVyKc43lLt4-cAwmmH7TeQLPqTb5E&amp;r=3mOEa7BL5xda2RV6aIvf7QcX9yQ1ErhlAnSOFRweDaY&amp;m=s3TEbOqkIkh7KoOu-xFniXuhVieftSBUEOGHxfwdI7k&amp;s=Q8gZUEQ2GGrVIBDLDiBgssBTiGB0EJsp4J4oqt6tPEo&amp;e=">Lisa McCubbin</a> is the author of <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.simonandschuster.com_books_Betty-2DFord_Lisa-2DMcCubbin_9781501164682&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=bHpC9irXhivtSwyVyKc43lLt4-cAwmmH7TeQLPqTb5E&amp;r=3mOEa7BL5xda2RV6aIvf7QcX9yQ1ErhlAnSOFRweDaY&amp;m=s3TEbOqkIkh7KoOu-xFniXuhVieftSBUEOGHxfwdI7k&amp;s=VG9kS1BJ5ElO_CkXYoAVd_JX7jWW8Yzd1YNO2vnrOrw&amp;e="><em>BETTY FORD: First Lady, Women’s Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer</em></a><em> </em>and three<em> New York Times </em>bestsellers with <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__clinthillsecretservice.com&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=bHpC9irXhivtSwyVyKc43lLt4-cAwmmH7TeQLPqTb5E&amp;r=3mOEa7BL5xda2RV6aIvf7QcX9yQ1ErhlAnSOFRweDaY&amp;m=s3TEbOqkIkh7KoOu-xFniXuhVieftSBUEOGHxfwdI7k&amp;s=y_YikHm_eQqNga-q5kcIb5TB3wQqSf6Z7QmsCrXi-ro&amp;e=">Secret Service Agent Clint Hill.</a><em> </em>Follow her on Twitter @Lisa_McCubbin.</p>


Lisa McCubbin

Barbara A. Perry

<p>Shannon McKenna Schmidt is the author of <em>The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back</em>. Find her at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/noveldestinations/">@NovelDestinations</a> or at <a href="https://www.shannonmckennaschmidt.com/">ShannonMcKennaSchmidt.com</a>.</p>


Shannon McKenna Schmidt

<p>From raising families to leading armies, women such as Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Amanirenas, Queen Elizabeth I, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and countless others have played a vital role in history.</p>


Women’s History

<p>The Civil War was America's bloodiest and most divisive conflict, pitting the Union Army against the Confederate States of America. The war resulted in the deaths of more than 620,000 people, with millions more injured and the South left in ruins.</p>


Civil War

<p>World War II was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy in 1945. Explore the battles, leaders and atrocities from the war and its impact on geopolitics and humankind.</p>


World War II

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">African Americans have played a central role in shaping U.S. history. From slavery and its abolition to the Great Migration, the civil rights movement and military, scientific, cultural and political achievements, explore key moments, milestones and figures in Black History.</div>
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Black History

<p>The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. Explore topics on the era, from the stock market crash of 1929, to the Dust Bowl, to FDR’s response to the economic calamity—the New Deal.</p>


First Ladies ‑ Stories

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Daring Trip to WWII’s South Pacific War Zone

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Unprecedented Activism—From Inside the White House

How Eleanor Roosevelt Pushed for a Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This New Deal Summer Camp Program Aimed to Help Unemployed Women

George Washington Raised Martha’s Children and Grandchildren as His Own

The Massive, Overlooked Role of Female Slave Owners

Why FDR Didn’t Support Eleanor Roosevelt’s Anti‑Lynching Campaign

First Lady Barbara Bush, Modern Political Matriarch, Dies at 92

Betty Ford’s Trailblazing Legacy

Richard Nixon’s Wife Alleged That He Hit Her, Says Memoir

Why Martha Washington Was the Ultimate Military Spouse

Why Being the First Lady Can Be the Second Hardest Job in the Nation