Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States

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Second Lady of the
United States
Incumbent
Karen Pence
since January 20, 2017
StyleMrs. Pence (informal)
Madam Second Lady (informal)
ResidenceNumber One Observatory Circle
Inaugural holderAbigail Adams
FormationApril 21, 1789
(235 years ago) (1789-04-21)
WebsiteWhiteHouse.gov

The wife of the Vice President of the United States is sometimes referred to as Second Lady of the United States (SLOTUS), but this title is much less common.

The term "Second Lady", coined in contrast to the First Lady (who is almost always the wife of the President), may have been first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart (whose husband was Vice President from 1897 to 1899) to refer to herself.

The title 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] Its use was continued by the administration of Donald Trump,[3], although Donald Trump himself said, during his presidency, that he had never heard the term.[4]

History

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.[5] Jill Biden, wife of Vice 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.[6] 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] The term remains an unfamiliar and uncertain one even when it is used.[7]

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 Second Ladies of the United States

No. Image Second Lady Date of birth Vice President
Marriage date 		Tenure Date of death (age) Tenure as First Lady
01.0 1 Adams, Abigail Abigail Smith (1744-11-11)November 11, 1744 Adams, John John Adams
October 25, 1764 		April 21, 1789 – March 4, 1797 (1818-10-28)October 28, 1818(1818-10-28) (aged 73) 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. April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813  
02.0 2 Gerry, Ann Ann Thompson (1763-08-12)August 12, 1763 Gerry, Elbridge Elbridge Gerry
January 12, 1786 		March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814 (1849-03-17)March 17, 1849(1849-03-17) (aged 85)
02.1 Vacant; no Vice President. November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817  
03.0 3 Tompkins, Hannah Hannah Minthorne (1781-08-28)August 28, 1781 Tompkins, Daniel D Daniel D Tompkins
February 20, 1798 		March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825 (1829-02-18)February 18, 1829(1829-02-18) (aged 47)
04.0 4 Calhoun, Floride Floride Bonneau Colhoun (1792-02-15)February 15, 1792 Calhoun, John C. John C. Calhoun
January 8, 1811 		March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832 (1866-07-25)July 25, 1866(1866-07-25) (aged 74)
04.1 Vacant; no Vice President. 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 was unmarried. March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841  
05.0 5 Tyler, Letitia Christian Letitia Christian (1790-11-12)November 12, 1790 Tyler, John John Tyler
March 29, 1813 		March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 (1842-09-12)September 12, 1842(1842-09-12) (aged 51) 1841–1842
05.1 Vacant; no Vice President. April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845  
06.0 6 Dallas, Sophia Sophia Chew Nicklin (1798-06-24)June 24, 1798 Dallas, George M. George M. Dallas
1816 		March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 (1869-01-11)January 11, 1869(1869-01-11) (aged 70)
07.0 7 Fillmore, Abigail Abigail Powers (1798-03-13)March 13, 1798 Fillmore, Millard Millard Fillmore
February 5, 1826 		March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 (1853-03-30)March 30, 1853(1853-03-30) (aged 55) 1850–1853
07.1 Vacant; no Vice President. 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. April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857  
08.0 8 Breckinridge, Mary Cyrene Burch Mary Cyrene Burch (1826-08-16)August 16, 1826 Breckinridge, John C. John C. Breckinridge
December 12, 1843 		March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861 (1907-10-08)October 8, 1907(1907-10-08) (aged 81)
09.0 9 Hamlin, Ellen Ellen Vesta Emery (1835-09-14)September 14, 1835 Hamlin, Hannibal Hannibal Hamlin
1856 		March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865 (1925-02-01)February 1, 1925(1925-02-01) (aged 89)
10 Johnson, Eliza Eliza McCardle (1810-10-04)October 4, 1810 Johnson, Andrew Andrew Johnson
May 17, 1827 		March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865 (1876-01-15)January 15, 1876(1876-01-15) (aged 65) 1865–1869
10.1 Vacant; no Vice President. April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869  
11 Colfax, Ellen Maria Ellen Maria Wade (1836-07-26)(1836-07-26)July 26, 1836 Colfax, Schuyler Schuyler Colfax
November 18, 1868 		March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873 (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. 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. September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885  
12 Hendricks, Eliza Eliza Carol Morgan (1823-11-23)November 23, 1823 Hendricks, Thomas A. Thomas A. Hendricks
September 26, 1845 		March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885 (1903-01-03)January 3, 1903(1903-01-03) (aged 79)
12.1 Vacant; no Vice President. November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889  
13 Morton, Anna Anna Livingston Reade Street (1846-05-18)May 18, 1846 Morton, Levi P. Levi P. Morton
1873 		March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893 (1918-08-14)August 14, 1918(1918-08-14) (aged 72)
14 Stevenson, Letitia Letitia Green (1843-01-08)January 8, 1843 Stevenson, Adlai I Adlai Stevenson I
December 22, 1866 		March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897 (1913-12-25)December 25, 1913(1913-12-25) (aged 70)
15 Hobart, Jennie Esther Jane "Jennie" Tuttle (1849-04-30)April 30, 1849 Hobart, Garret Garret Hobart
July 21, 1869 		March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899 (1941-01-08)January 8, 1941(1941-01-08) (aged 91)
15.1 Vacant; no Vice President. November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901  
16 Roosevelt, Edith Edith Kermit Carow (1861-08-06)August 6, 1861 Roosevelt, Theodore Theodore Roosevelt
December 2, 1886 		March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901 (1948-09-30)September 30, 1948(1948-09-30) (aged 87) 1901–1909
16.1 Vacant; no Vice President. September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905  
17 Fairbanks, Cornelia Cornelia "Nellie" Cole January 1852 Fairbanks, Charles W. Charles W. Fairbanks
1874 		Mary 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 (1913-10-25)October 25, 1913(1913-10-25) (aged 61)
18 Sherman, Carrie Carrie Babcock (1856-11-16)November 16, 1856 Sherman, James S. James S. Sherman
January 26, 1881 		March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912 (1931-10-06)October 6, 1931(1931-10-06) (aged 74)
18.1 Vacant; no Vice President. October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913  
19 Marshall, Lois Irene Lois Irene Kimsey (1873-05-09)May 9, 1873 Marshall, Thomas R. Thomas R. Marshall
October 2, 1895 		March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921 (1958-01-06)January 6, 1958(1958-01-06) (aged 84)
20 Coolidge, Grace Grace Anna Goodhue (1879-01-03)January 3, 1879 Coolidge, Calvin Calvin Coolidge
October 4, 1905 		March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 (1957-07-08)July 8, 1957(1957-07-08) (aged 78) 1923–1929
20.1 Vacant; no Vice President. August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925  
21 Dawes, Caro Caro Dana Blymyer (1866-01-06)January 6, 1866 Dawes, Charles G. Charles G. Dawes
1889 		March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929 (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  
22 Garner, Mariette Mariette Elizabeth Rheiner (1869-07-17)July 17, 1869 Garner, John Nance John Nance Garner
November 25, 1895 		March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941 (1948-08-17)August 17, 1948(1948-08-17) (aged 79)
23 Wallace, Ilo Ilo Browne (1888-03-10)March 10, 1888 Wallace, Henry A. Henry A. Wallace
May 20, 1914 		January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945 (1981-02-22)February 22, 1981(1981-02-22) (aged 92)
24 Truman, Bess Elizabeth Virginia "Bess" Wallace (1885-02-13)February 13, 1885 Truman, Harry S. Harry S. Truman
June 28, 1919 		January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945 (1982-10-18)October 18, 1982(1982-10-18) (aged 97) 1945–1953
24.1 Vacant; no Vice President. April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949  
24.2 Vacant; Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley was a widower. January 20, 1949 – November 18, 1949  
25 Barkley, Jane Hadley Elizabeth Jane Rucker (1911-09-23)September 23, 1911 Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley
November 18, 1949 		November 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (1964-09-06)September 6, 1964(1964-09-06) (aged 52)
26 Nixon, Pat Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan (1912-03-16)March 16, 1912 Nixon, Richard Richard Nixon
June 21, 1940 		January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 (1993-06-22)June 22, 1993(1993-06-22) (aged 81) 1969–1974
27 Johnson, Lady Bird Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor (1912-12-22)December 22, 1912 Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson
November 17, 1934 		January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 (2007-07-11)July 11, 2007(2007-07-11) (aged 94) 1963–1969
27.1 Vacant; no Vice President. November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965  
28 Humphrey, Muriel Muriel Fay Buck (1912-02-20)February 20, 1912 Humphrey, Hubert Hubert Humphrey
September 3, 1936 		January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969 (1998-09-20)September 20, 1998(1998-09-20) (aged 86)
29 Agnew, Judy Elinor Isabel "Judy" Judefind (1921-04-23)April 23, 1921 Agnew, Spiro Spiro Agnew
May 27, 1942 		January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973 (2012-06-20)June 20, 2012(2012-06-20) (aged 91)
30.1 Vacant; no Vice President. October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973  
30 Ford, Betty Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Bloomer (1918-04-08)April 8, 1918 Ford, Gerald Gerald Ford
October 15, 1948 		December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974 (2011-07-08)July 8, 2011(2011-07-08) (aged 93) 1974–1977
30.1 Vacant; no Vice President. August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974  
31 Rockefeller, Happy Margaretta Large "Happy" Fitler (1926-06-09)June 9, 1926 Rockefeller, Nelson Nelson Rockefeller
May 4, 1963 		December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977 (2015-05-19)May 19, 2015(2015-05-19) (aged 88)
32 Mondale, Joan Joan Adams (1930-08-08)August 8, 1930 Mondale, Walter Walter Mondale
December 27, 1955 		January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 (2014-02-03)February 3, 2014(2014-02-03) (aged 83)
33 Bush, Barbara Barbara Pierce (1925-06-08)June 8, 1925 Bush, George H. W. George H. W. Bush
January 6, 1945 		January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 2024-05-6 Living
98 years, 333 days 		1989–1993
34 Quayle, Marilyn Marilyn Tucker (1949-07-29)July 29, 1949 Quayle, Dan Dan Quayle
November 18, 1972 		January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 2024-05-6 Living
74 years, 282 days
35 File:Mary Elizabeth Gore.JPG Gore, Tipper Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Aitcheson (1948-08-19)August 19, 1948 Gore, Al Al Gore
May 19, 1970 		January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 2024-05-6 Living
75 years, 261 days
36 Cheney, Lynne Lynne Ann Vincent (1941-08-14)August 14, 1941 Cheney, Dick Dick Cheney
August 29, 1964 		January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 2024-05-6 Living
82 years, 266 days
37 Biden, Jill Jill Tracy Jacobs (1951-06-03)June 3, 1951 Biden, Joe Joe Biden
June 17, 1977 		January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 2024-05-6 Living
72 years, 338 days
38 Pence, KarenKaren Sue Batten (1957-01-01)January 1, 1957 Pence, MikeMike Pence
June 8, 1985 		January 20, 2017 – present 2024-05-6Living
67 years, 126 days

List of living former Second Ladies

As of May 2024, there are five living former Second Ladies. 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ Purcell, Edward (2010). Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary. InfoBase. p. 237. ISBN 1438130716.
  2. ^ a b Safire, William (2008). Safire's Political Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 0195343344.
  3. ^ "Mrs. Karen Pence". whitehouse.gov. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. ^ . July 2017 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/trump-reveals-that-hes-never-heard-the-term-second-lady.html. Retrieved 19 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Mrs. Lynne Cheney". whitehouse.gov. The White House. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  6. ^ Abcarian, Robin Abcarian (2 February 2009). "Hi, I'm Jill. Jill Biden. But please, call me Dr. Biden". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  7. ^ Hannity & Colmes (16 September 2008). "Second Lady Lynne Cheney on Her New Book, Media's Treatment of Sarah Palin". Fox News. Retrieved 9 February 2017.

External links

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