Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2016) |
Second Lady of the United States | |
---|---|
since January 20, 2009 | |
Style | Dr. Biden |
Residence | Number One Observatory Circle |
Inaugural holder | Abigail Adams |
Formation | April 21, 1789 |
Website | Jill Biden |
The Second Lady of the United States (SLOTUS) is an informal title for the wife of the Vice President of the United States, coined in contrast to the First Lady (who is almost always the wife of the president). The term "Second Lady" may have been first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart to refer to herself, later fell out of favor, but was revived in the 1980s.[1] [2] During the 1990s the title was again abandoned, in favor of "wife of the Vice-President", but was later resurrected during the administration of Barack Obama.[2]
The second lady'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.
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. Tipper Gore, 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, the current second lady, 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 is vice president. She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.
At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Dr. Jill Biden said, "Let me start by thanking you for allowing me to serve as Second Lady of the United States for the past eight years. It has been an honor." This was the first time the informal title was used by an incumbent at a national convention.[citation needed]
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. The most recent second lady vacancy was for 132 days in 1974, between the service of Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller.
List of wives of the vice presidents
No. | Image | Second Lady | Date of birth | Vice President Marriage date |
Tenure | Date of death (age) | Tenure as First Lady |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abigail Adams (née Smith) | November 11, 1744 | John Adams October 25, 1764 |
April 21, 1789 – March 4, 1797 | October 28, 1818 (aged 73) | 1797–1801 | |
Thomas Jefferson was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801 | ||||||
Aaron Burr was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1805 | ||||||
George Clinton was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812 | ||||||
Vacant; no Vice President. | April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813 | ||||||
2 | Ann Gerry (née Thompson) | August 12, 1763 | Elbridge Gerry |
March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814 | March 17, 1849 (aged 85) | ||
Vacant; no Vice President. | November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817 | ||||||
3 | Hannah Tompkins (née Minthorne) | August 28, 1781 | Daniel D Tompkins |
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825 | February 18, 1829 (aged 47) | ||
4 | Floride Calhoun (née Colhoun) | February 15, 1792 | John C. Calhoun January 8, 1811 |
March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832 | July 25, 1866 (aged 74) | ||
Vacant; no Vice President. | December 28, 1832 – March 4, 1833 | ||||||
Martin Van Buren was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837 | ||||||
Richard Mentor Johnson was unmarried. | Vacant;March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841 | ||||||
5 | Letitia Christian Tyler (née Christian) | November 12, 1790 | John Tyler |
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 | September 12, 1842 (aged 51) | 1841–1842 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845 | ||||||
6 | Sophia Dallas (née Nicklin) | June 24, 1798 | George M. Dallas 1816 |
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 | January 11, 1869 (aged 70) | ||
7 | Abigail Fillmore (née Powers) | March 13, 1798 | Millard Fillmore February 5, 1826 |
March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 | March 30, 1853 (aged 55) | 1850–1853 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 | ||||||
William R. King was unmarried. | Vacant;March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853 | ||||||
Vacant; no Vice President. | April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857 | ||||||
8 | Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge (née Cyrene Burch Rhodes) | August 16, 1826 | John C. Breckinridge December 12, 1843 |
March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861 | October 8, 1907 (aged 81) | ||
9 | Ellen Hamlin (née Emery) | September 14, 1835 | Hannibal Hamlin 1855 |
March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865 | February 1, 1925 (aged 89) | ||
10 | Eliza Johnson (née McCardle) | October 4, 1810 | Andrew Johnson May 17, 1827 |
March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865 | January 15, 1876 (aged 65) | 1865–1869 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869 | ||||||
11 | Ellen Maria Colfax (née Wade) | July 26, 1836 | Schuyler Colfax November 18, 1868 |
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873 | March 4, 1911 (aged 74) | ||
Henry Wilson was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1873 – November 22, 1875 | ||||||
Vacant; no Vice President. | November 22, 1875 – March 4, 1877 | ||||||
William A. Wheeler was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881 | ||||||
Chester A. Arthur was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881 | ||||||
Vacant; no Vice President. | September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 | ||||||
12 | Eliza Hendricks (née Morgan) | November 23, 1823 | Thomas A. Hendricks |
March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885 | January 3, 1903 (aged 79) | ||
Vacant; no Vice President. | November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889 | ||||||
13 | Anna Morton (née Street) | May 18, 1846 | Levi P. Morton 1873 |
March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893 | August 14, 1918 (aged 72) | ||
14 | Letitia Stevenson (née Green) | January 8, 1843 | Adlai Stevenson I 1866 |
March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897 | December 25, 1913 (aged 70) | ||
15 | Jennie Hobart (née Tuttle) | April 30, 1849 | Garret Hobart July 21, 1869 |
March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899 | January 8, 1941 (aged 91) | ||
Vacant; no Vice President. | November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901 | ||||||
16 | Edith Roosevelt (née Carow) | August 6, 1861 | Theodore Roosevelt December 2, 1886 |
March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901 | September 30, 1948 (aged 87) | 1901–1909 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905 | ||||||
17 | Cornelia Fairbanks (née Cole) | January 1852 | Charles W. Fairbanks 1874 |
Mary 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 | October 25, 1913 (aged 61) | ||
18 | Carrie Sherman (née Babcock) | November 16, 1856 | James S. Sherman January 26, 1881 |
March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912 | October 6, 1931 (aged 74) | ||
Vacant; no Vice President. | October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913 | ||||||
19 | Lois Irene Marshall (née Kimsey) | May 9, 1873 | Thomas R. Marshall October 2, 1895 |
March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921 | January 6, 1958 (aged 84) | ||
20 | Grace Coolidge (née Goodhue) | January 3, 1879 | Calvin Coolidge October 4, 1905 |
March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 | July 8, 1957 (aged 78) | 1923–1929 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925 | ||||||
21 | Caro Dawes (née Blymyer) | January 6, 1866 | Charles G. Dawes 1889 |
March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929 | October 3, 1957 (aged 91) | ||
Charles Curtis was a widower. | Vacant;March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 | ||||||
22 | Mariette Garner (née Rheiner) | July 17, 1869 | John Nance Garner November 25, 1895 |
March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941 | August 17, 1948 (aged 79) | ||
23 | Ilo Wallace (née Browne) | March 10, 1888 | Henry A. Wallace |
January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945 | February 22, 1981 (aged 92) | ||
24 | Bess Truman (née Wallace) | February 13, 1885 | Harry S. Truman June 28, 1919 |
January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945 | October 18, 1982 (aged 97) | 1945–1953 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949 | ||||||
Alben W. Barkley was a widower. | Vacant;January 20, 1949 – November 18, 1949 | ||||||
25 | Jane Hadley Barkley (née Rucker) | September 23, 1911 | Alben W. Barkley November 18, 1949 |
November 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 | September 6, 1964 (aged 52) | ||
26 | Pat Nixon (née Ryan) | March 16, 1912 | Richard Nixon June 21, 1940 |
January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 | June 22, 1993 (aged 81) | 1969–1974 | |
27 | Lady Bird Johnson (née Taylor) | December 22, 1912 | Lyndon B. Johnson November 17, 1934 |
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 | July 11, 2007 (aged 94) | 1963–1969 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965 | ||||||
28 | Muriel Humphrey (née Buck, later Brown) | February 20, 1912 | Hubert Humphrey September 3, 1936 |
January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969 | September 20, 1998 (aged 86) | ||
29 | Judy Agnew (née Judefind) | April 23, 1921 | Spiro Agnew May 27, 1942 |
January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973 | June 20, 2012 (aged 91) | ||
Vacant; no Vice President. | October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973 | ||||||
30 | Betty Ford (née Bloomer) | April 8, 1918 | Gerald Ford October 15, 1948 |
December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974 | July 8, 2011 (aged 93) | 1974–1977 | |
Vacant; no Vice President. | August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974 | ||||||
31 | Happy Rockefeller (née Fitler) | June 9, 1926 | Nelson Rockefeller May 4, 1963 |
December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977 | May 19, 2015 (aged 88) | ||
32 | Joan Mondale (née Adams) | August 8, 1930 | Walter Mondale December 27, 1955 |
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 | February 3, 2014 (aged 83) | ||
33 | Barbara Bush (née Pierce) | June 8, 1925 | George H. W. Bush January 6, 1945 |
January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 | Living | 1989–1993 | |
34 | Marilyn Quayle (née Tucker) | July 29, 1949 | Dan Quayle November 18, 1972 |
January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 | Living | ||
35 | File:Mary Elizabeth Gore.JPG | Tipper Gore (née Aitcheson) | August 19, 1948 | Al Gore May 19, 1970 |
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 | Living | |
36 | File:Mrscheney.jpeg | Lynne Cheney (née Vincent) | August 14, 1941 | Dick Cheney August 29, 1964 |
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 | Living | |
37 | Jill Biden (née Jacobs) | June 3, 1951 | Joe Biden June 17, 1977 |
January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 | Living | ||
38 | Karen Pence (née Batten) | November 18, 1958 | Mike Pence June 8, 1985 |
January 20, 2017 (−2,867 days from now) |
Living |
List of living current or former vice presidents’ wives
As of November 2024, there are five living current or former vice presidents’ wives. The most recent second lady to die was Nelson Rockefeller's widow, Happy Rockefeller on May 19, 2015. The most recently serving second lady to die was Walter Mondale's wife, Joan Mondale, on February 3, 2014.
- Barbara Bush, wife of George H. W. Bush
- Marilyn Quayle, wife of Dan Quayle
- Tipper Gore, wife of Al Gore
- Lynne Cheney, wife of Dick Cheney
- Jill Biden, incumbent, wife of Joe Biden
See also
References
- ^ Purcell, Edward (2010). Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary. InfoBase. p. 237. ISBN 1438130716.
- ^ a b Safire, William (2008). Safire's Political Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 0195343344.
- ^ "Mrs. Lynne Cheney". whitehouse.gov. The White House. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
External links
- "Dr. Jill Biden". Retrieved January 20, 2009. – The Official White House site for the Second Lady
- "Wives of Vice Presidents". Vice Presidents.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005. – List of the wives of Vice Presidents
- "Ask Yahoo! – What is the formal title for the wife of the vice president?".