Jump to content

Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 68.69.246.175 (talk) to last version by Woko Sapien
Correct DOD for Cornelia Fairbanks: Fri Oct 24, 1913, not Oct 25, per obit and published sources
Line 269: Line 269:
|March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909
|March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909
|data-sort-value=1852-01-14|{{birth date|1852|1|14}}
|data-sort-value=1852-01-14|{{birth date|1852|1|14}}
|<span style="display:none">(<span class="dday deathdate">1913-10-25</span>)</span>{{death date and age|1913|10|25|1852|1|1}}
|<span style="display:none">(<span class="dday deathdate">1913-10-24</span>)</span>{{death date and age|1913|10|24|1852|1|1}}
|
|
|-
|-

Revision as of 21:43, 7 April 2022

Second Gentleman of the United States
since January 20, 2021
StyleMr. Emhoff
AbbreviationSGOTUS
ResidenceNumber One Observatory Circle
Inaugural holderAbigail Adams
(as second lady)
Douglas Emhoff
(as second gentleman)
FormationApril 21, 1789
(235 years ago) (1789-04-21)
WebsiteOfficial website

The second lady/gentleman of the United States (SLOTUS/SGOTUS) is the informal title held by the spouse of the vice president of the United States, concurrent with the vice president's term of office. Coined in contrast to "first lady", albeit used less commonly, the title "second lady" was apparently first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart (wife of Garret Hobart, vice president 1897–1899) to refer to herself. Second gentleman of the United States is the title held by Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris.[1]

Twelve second ladies have gone on to become first ladies during their husbands' terms as president. The first to do this was Abigail Adams, who was married to John Adams, who was the first vice president from 1789 to 1797 and then the second president from 1797 to 1801. The most recent to do this is Jill Biden, who is married to Joe Biden, the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and then the 46th president since 2021.

The current second gentleman is Douglas Emhoff, as his wife Kamala Harris became the 49th vice president of the United States on January 20, 2021. Emhoff is the first second gentleman of the United States.

There are five living former second ladies: Marilyn Quayle (wife of Dan Quayle), Tipper Gore (separated wife of Al Gore), Lynne Cheney (wife of Dick Cheney), First Lady Jill Biden (wife of Joe Biden), and Karen Pence (wife of Mike Pence).

History

The second spouse's visibility in the public sphere has been a somewhat recent development. Although the role of the first lady as White House hostess dates from the beginning of the republic (and was typically filled by another member of the president's family if the president was unmarried or a widower), with a few exceptions, it was generally not until the late 20th century and early 21st century that vice-presidential wives took on public roles that attracted significant media attention.

In one notable exception, Floride Calhoun, wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun, was a central figure in the Petticoat Affair, a social-political scandal which involved the social ostracism of Secretary of War John H. Eaton and his wife Margaret O'Neill Eaton, further damaging already-strained relations between Vice President Calhoun and President Andrew Jackson.

Second Lady Pat Nixon, with Vice President Richard Nixon, led a delegation to Ghana in 1957. One historian wrote that Pat Nixon "helped to define this nebulous role for an entire generation of women who would succeed her".

Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard Nixon, was the first second spouse to add a great deal of substance to the role of the vice president's wife. When Nixon assumed the position in 1953, the role's only official function was to preside over the once-annual Senate Ladies Luncheon.[2] Instead, Nixon launched her own initiatives, sensing great opportunities that her role provided. She established a schedule separate from that of her husband, which often consisted of solo activities. As second lady, Nixon traveled more than 125,000 miles around the world to six continents, including a two-month, 42,000-mile journey through Asia in 1953.[2] As she undertook missions of goodwill across the world, she insisted on visiting schools, orphanages, hospitals and village markets rather than attend tea or coffee functions. In this sense, Nixon essentially created the modern role of the second lady; historian Kate Andersen Brower wrote, "she helped to define this nebulous role for an entire generation of women who would succeed her."[2]

In 1978, Muriel Humphrey, wife of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, became the only former second lady to hold public office; after her husband, who had returned to the U.S. Senate after his term as vice president, died in office, she was appointed by Minnesota governor Rudy Perpich to continue her husband's term. Tipper Gore, separated wife of Vice President Al Gore, was active in several campaigns to remove material she found objectionable from popular American entertainment like movies, television shows and music, starting when her husband was a senator. She challenged performers over their use of profane lyrics and often debated with her critics, such as Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra. Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, championed education reform, citing specific failures of the American public education system during her tenure as second lady. She is a particularly outspoken supporter of American history education, having written five bestselling books on this topic for children and their families.[3] Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, works as an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College, and is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband was vice president.[4] She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.

The term remains an unfamiliar and uncertain one, even when it is used.[5]

There have been 17 periods of vacancy in the role, the longest of which continued for 16 years between the service of vice presidential spouses Abigail Adams and Ann Gerry when there were three widower vice presidents and a one-year vacancy in the vice presidency. The most recent second lady vacancy was for 132 days in 1974, between the service of Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller, when the vice presidency was also vacant.

12 second ladies went on to become first lady following their husbands becoming president, the first being Abigail Adams and most recent being Jill Biden.

List of second ladies and gentleman of the United States

Image Second Lady or Gentleman Vice President
Marriage date 		Tenure Date of birth Date of death (age) Tenure as First Lady
Adams, Abigail Abigail Adams (née Abigail Smith) Adams, John John Adams
October 25, 1764 		April 21, 1789 – March 4, 1797 (1744-11-11)November 11, 1744 (1818-10-28)(1818-10-28)October 28, 1818 (73 years, 351 days) 1797–1801
01.1 Vacant; Jefferson, Thomas Thomas Jefferson was a widower. March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801
01.2 Vacant; Aaron Burr was a widower. March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1805
01.3 Vacant; George Clinton was a widower. March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812
01.4 Vacant; no vice president after Clinton's death. April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813
Gerry, Ann Ann Gerry (née Ann Thompson) Gerry, Elbridge Elbridge Gerry
January 12, 1786 		March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814 (1763-08-12)August 12, 1763 (1849-03-17)March 17, 1849(1849-03-17) (aged 85)
02.1 Vacant; no vice president after Gerry's death. November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817
Tompkins, Hannah Hannah Tompkins (née Hannah Minthorne) Tompkins, Daniel D Daniel D Tompkins
February 20, 1798 		March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825 (1781-08-28)August 28, 1781 (1829-02-18)February 18, 1829(1829-02-18) (aged 47)
Calhoun, Floride Floride Bonneau Calhoun (née Floride Bonneau Colhoun) Calhoun, John C. John C. Calhoun
January 8, 1811 		March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832 (1792-02-15)February 15, 1792 (1866-07-25)July 25, 1866(1866-07-25) (aged 74)
04.1 Vacant; no vice president after Calhoun's resignation. December 28, 1832 – March 4, 1833
04.2 Vacant; Buren, Martin Van Martin Van Buren was a widower. March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837
04.3 Vacant; Johnson, Richard Mentor Richard M. Johnson considered himself a widower. March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841
Tyler, Letitia Christian Letitia Tyler (née Letitia Christian) Tyler, John John Tyler
March 29, 1813 		March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 (1790-11-12)November 12, 1790 (1842-09-12)September 12, 1842(1842-09-12) (aged 51) 1841–1842
05.1 Vacant; no vice president after Tyler assumed presidency. April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845
Dallas, Sophia Sophia Dallas (née Sophia Chew Nicklin) Dallas, George M. George M. Dallas
May 23, 1816 		March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 (1798-06-24)June 24, 1798 (1869-01-11)January 11, 1869(1869-01-11) (aged 70)
Fillmore, Abigail Abigail Fillmore (née Abigail Powers) Fillmore, Millard Millard Fillmore
February 5, 1826 		March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 (1798-03-13)March 13, 1798 (1853-03-30)March 30, 1853(1853-03-30) (aged 55) 1850–1853
07.1 Vacant; no vice president after Fillmore assumed presidency. July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
07.2 Vacant; King, William R. William R. King was unmarried. March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853
07.3 Vacant; no vice president after King's death. April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857
Breckinridge, Mary Cyrene Burch Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge (née Mary Cyrene Burch) Breckinridge, John C. John C. Breckinridge
December 12, 1843 		March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861 (1826-08-16)August 16, 1826 (1907-10-08)October 8, 1907(1907-10-08) (aged 81)
Hamlin, Ellen Ellen Hamlin (née Ellen Vesta Emery) Hamlin, Hannibal Hannibal Hamlin
September 25, 1856 		March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865 (1835-09-14)September 14, 1835 (1925-02-01)February 1, 1925(1925-02-01) (aged 89)
Johnson, Eliza Eliza McCardle Johnson (née Eliza McCardle) Johnson, Andrew Andrew Johnson
May 17, 1827 		March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865 (1810-10-04)October 4, 1810 (1876-01-15)January 15, 1876(1876-01-15) (aged 65) 1865–1869
10.1 Vacant; no vice president after Johnson assumed presidency. April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
Colfax, Ellen Maria Ellen Maria Colfax (née Ellen Maria Wade) Colfax, Schuyler Schuyler Colfax
November 18, 1868 		March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873 (1836-07-26)July 26, 1836 (1911-03-04)March 4, 1911(1911-03-04) (aged 74)
11.1 Vacant; Wilson, Henry Henry Wilson was a widower. March 4, 1873 – November 22, 1875
11.2 Vacant; no vice president after Wilson's death. November 22, 1875 – March 4, 1877
11.3 Vacant; Wheeler, William A. William A. Wheeler was a widower. March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
11.4 Vacant; Arthur, Chester A. Chester A. Arthur was a widower. March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
11.5 Vacant; no vice president after Arthur assumed presidency. September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885
Hendricks, Eliza Eliza Hendricks (née Eliza Carol Morgan) Hendricks, Thomas A. Thomas A. Hendricks
September 26, 1845 		March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885 (1823-11-23)November 23, 1823 (1903-01-03)January 3, 1903(1903-01-03) (aged 79)
12.1 Vacant; no vice president after Hendricks's death. November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889
Morton, Anna Anna Morton (née Anna Livingston Reade Street) Morton, Levi P. Levi P. Morton
February 12, 1873 		March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893 (1846-05-18)May 18, 1846 (1918-08-14)August 14, 1918(1918-08-14) (aged 72)
Stevenson, Letitia Letitia Stevenson (née Letitia Green) Stevenson, Adlai I Adlai Stevenson I
December 22, 1866 		March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897 (1843-01-08)January 8, 1843 (1913-12-25)December 25, 1913(1913-12-25) (aged 70)
Hobart, Jennie Esther Jane "Jennie" Tuttle Hobart (née Esther Jane Tuttle) Hobart, Garret Garret Hobart
July 21, 1869 		March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899 (1849-04-30)April 30, 1849 (1941-01-08)January 8, 1941(1941-01-08) (aged 91)
15.1 Vacant; no vice president after Hobart's death. November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901
Roosevelt, Edith Edith Roosevelt (née Edith Kermit Carow) Roosevelt, Theodore Theodore Roosevelt
December 2, 1886 		March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901 (1861-08-06)August 6, 1861 (1948-09-30)September 30, 1948(1948-09-30) (aged 87) 1901–1909
16.1 Vacant; no vice president after Roosevelt assumed presidency. September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905
Fairbanks, Cornelia Cornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks (née Cornelia Cole) Fairbanks, Charles W. Charles W. Fairbanks
October 6, 1874 		March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 (1852-01-14)January 14, 1852 (1913-10-24)October 24, 1913(1913-10-24) (aged 61)
Sherman, Carrie Carrie Babcock Sherman (née Carrie Babcock) Sherman, James S. James S. Sherman
January 26, 1881 		March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912 (1856-11-16)November 16, 1856 (1931-10-06)October 6, 1931(1931-10-06) (aged 74)
18.1 Vacant; no vice president after Sherman's death. October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913
Marshall, Lois Irene Lois Irene Marshall (née Lois Irene Kimsey) Marshall, Thomas R. Thomas R. Marshall
October 2, 1895 		March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921 (1873-05-09)May 9, 1873 (1958-01-06)January 6, 1958(1958-01-06) (aged 84)
Coolidge, Grace Grace Coolidge (née Grace Anna Goodhue) Coolidge, Calvin Calvin Coolidge
October 4, 1905 		March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 (1879-01-03)January 3, 1879 (1957-07-08)July 8, 1957(1957-07-08) (aged 78) 1923–1929
20.1 Vacant; no vice president after Coolidge assumed presidency. August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925
Dawes, Caro Caro Dawes (née Caro Dana Blymyer) Dawes, Charles G. Charles G. Dawes
January 24, 1889 		March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929 (1866-01-06)January 6, 1866 (1957-10-03)October 3, 1957(1957-10-03) (aged 91)
21.1 Vacant; Curtis, Charles Charles Curtis was a widower. March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
Garner, Mariette Mariette Elizabeth "Ettie" Garner (née Mariette Elizabeth Rheiner) Garner, John Nance John Nance Garner
November 25, 1895 		March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941 (1869-07-17)July 17, 1869 (1948-08-17)August 17, 1948(1948-08-17) (aged 79)
Wallace, Ilo Ilo Wallace (née Ilo Browne) Wallace, Henry A. Henry A. Wallace
May 20, 1914 		January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945 (1888-03-10)March 10, 1888 (1981-02-22)February 22, 1981(1981-02-22) (aged 92)
Truman, Bess Bess Truman (née Elizabeth Virginia Wallace) Truman, Harry S. Harry S. Truman
June 28, 1919 		January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945 (1885-02-13)February 13, 1885 (1982-10-18)October 18, 1982(1982-10-18) (aged 97) 1945–1953
24.1 Vacant; no vice president after Truman assumed presidency. April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949
24.2 Vacant; Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley was a widower. January 20, 1949 – November 18, 1949
Barkley, Jane Hadley Jane Hadley Barkley (née Elizabeth Jane Rucker) Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley
November 18, 1949 		November 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (1911-09-23)September 23, 1911 (1964-09-06)September 6, 1964(1964-09-06) (aged 52)
Nixon, Pat Pat Nixon (née Thelma Catherine Ryan) Nixon, Richard Richard Nixon
June 21, 1940 		January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 (1912-03-16)March 16, 1912 (1993-06-22)June 22, 1993(1993-06-22) (aged 81) 1969–1974
Johnson, Lady Bird Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (née Claudia Alta Taylor) Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson
November 17, 1934 		January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 (1912-12-22)December 22, 1912 (2007-07-11)July 11, 2007(2007-07-11) (aged 94) 1963–1969
27.1 Vacant; no vice president after Johnson assumed presidency. November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965
Humphrey, Muriel Muriel Humphrey Brown (née Muriel Fay Buck) Humphrey, Hubert Hubert Humphrey
September 3, 1936 		January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969 (1912-02-20)February 20, 1912 (1998-09-20)September 20, 1998(1998-09-20) (aged 86)
Agnew, Judy Elinor "Judy" Agnew (née Elinor Isabel Judefind) Agnew, Spiro Spiro Agnew
May 27, 1942 		January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973 (1921-04-23)April 23, 1921 (2012-06-20)June 20, 2012(2012-06-20) (aged 91)
30.1 Vacant; no vice president until Ford's confirmation under the 25th Amendment. October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973
Ford, Betty Elizabeth "Betty" Ford (née Elizabeth Anne Bloomer) Ford, Gerald Gerald Ford
October 15, 1948 		December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974 (1918-04-08)April 8, 1918 (2011-07-08)July 8, 2011(2011-07-08) (aged 93) 1974–1977
30.1 Vacant; no vice president until Rockefeller's confirmation under the 25th Amendment. August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974
Rockefeller, Happy Margaretta "Happy" Rockefeller (née Margaretta Large Fitler) Rockefeller, Nelson Nelson Rockefeller
May 4, 1963 		December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977 (1926-06-09)June 9, 1926 (2015-05-19)May 19, 2015(2015-05-19) (aged 88)
Mondale, Joan Joan Mondale (née Joan Adams) Mondale, Walter Walter Mondale
December 27, 1955 		January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 (1930-08-08)August 8, 1930 (2014-02-03)February 3, 2014(2014-02-03) (aged 83)
Bush, Barbara Barbara Bush (née Barbara Pierce) Bush, George H. W. George H. W. Bush
January 6, 1945 		January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 (1925-06-08)June 8, 1925 (2018-04-17)April 17, 2018(2018-04-17) (aged 92) 1989–1993
Quayle, Marilyn Marilyn Quayle (née Marilyn Tucker) Quayle, Dan Dan Quayle
November 18, 1972 		January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 (1949-07-29)July 29, 1949 2024-09-16 Living
75 years, 49 days
Gore, Tipper Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson) Gore, Al Al Gore
May 19, 1970 		January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 (1948-08-19)August 19, 1948 2024-09-16 Living
76 years, 28 days
Cheney, Lynne Lynne Cheney (née Lynne Ann Vincent) Cheney, Dick Dick Cheney
August 29, 1964 		January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (1941-08-14)August 14, 1941 2024-09-16 Living
83 years, 33 days
Biden, Jill Jill Biden (née Jill Tracy Jacobs) Biden, Joe Joe Biden
June 17, 1977 		January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 (1951-06-03)June 3, 1951 2024-09-16 Living
73 years, 105 days 		2021–present
Pence, KarenKaren Pence (née Karen Sue Batten) Pence, MikeMike Pence
June 8, 1985 		January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 (1957-01-01)January 1, 1957 2024-09-16Living
67 years, 259 days
Emhoff, DouglasDouglas Craig Emhoff Harris, KamalaKamala Harris
August 22, 2014 		January 20, 2021 – present (1964-10-13)October 13, 1964 2024-09-16Living
59 years, 339 days

Other spouses of U.S. vice presidents

Various other spouses of vice presidents of the United States are not considered as second ladies of the United States because their marriages were not during the vice presidential terms of their husbands.

Nine U.S. vice presidents were widowed prior to their vice presidencies:

Five U.S. vice presidents were widowed and remarried prior to their vice presidencies:

One U.S. vice president was divorced and remarried prior to his vice presidency:

One U.S. vice president was widowed before his vice presidency and remarried during his vice presidency:

Three U.S. vice presidents remarried after their vice presidencies:

Living former second ladies

As of January 2021, there are five living former second ladies, as identified below.

The most recent second lady to die, and most recently serving (1981–1989) who died, was Barbara Bush (1925–2018), wife of George H. W. Bush, on April 17, 2018.

See also

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Ted (January 15, 2021). "Twitter Will Offer @SecondGentleman Account For Doug Emhoff; Outlines Plans For Transfer To Joe Biden's Administration". Deadline.
  2. ^ a b c Brower, Kate Andersen (June 24, 2018). "Remembering Pat Nixon: A fearless first and second lady". The Hill. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  3. ^ "Mrs. Lynne Cheney". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved October 13, 2008 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ Abcarian, Robin Abcarian (February 2, 2009). "Hi, I'm Jill. Jill Biden. But please, call me Dr. Biden". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Hannity & Colmes (September 16, 2008). "Second Lady Lynne Cheney on Her New Book, Media's Treatment of Sarah Palin". Fox News. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spouses of Vice Presidents of the United States.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_ladies_and_gentlemen_of_the_United_States&oldid=1081512736"