Most Influential First Lady of the White House - Historum

**tjadams** · December 12th, 2012, 07:14 AM

I was influenced by a thread with a similar name.
Who do you feel was the most influential, respected or controversial First Lady of the White House?
(Please stick to the board rules about current politics and
don't name drop one in 'by accident.')
Mrs. Abigail Adams? Mrs. Dolley Madison? Mrs. Mary Lincoln?
Mrs. Edith Wilson? Mrs. Anna Roosevelt? Mrs. Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson
more, etc.?

**Patito de Hule** · December 12th, 2012, 07:28 AM

Three came to mind instantly when I read the title. Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and Eleanor Roosevelt. I wouldn't argue about which was the "most" influential.

Halomanuk2 · December 12th, 2012, 07:29 AM

I think Hilary Clinton was quite an influential 1st Lady..and she is still going strong today to be fair..

**tjadams** · December 12th, 2012, 07:31 AM

No current Politics in here please. The cut off rule is 1991.

astafjevs · December 12th, 2012, 07:31 AM

Tipper Gore was the most influential second lady in my life. I'd never have discovered half the bands I liked when I was growing up if they hadn't have had Parental Advisory stickers on.

It's a shame Al didn't win in 2000, as she'd have qualified for this thread.

ucanefan · December 12th, 2012, 08:00 AM

Abigail Adams or Jackie Kennedy?

**Solidaire** · December 12th, 2012, 08:36 AM

Eleanor Roosevelt, the eyes and ears of the president, probably his social conscience too. A true friend of the common American, with many initiatives and actions of her own aimed at easing the pains of the Great Depression.

IMO, a most extraordinary lady.

Eleanor_Roosevelt

Baltis · December 12th, 2012, 09:18 AM

Edith Wilson or Nancy Reagan. OR should we call them, Madam President?

**diddyriddick** · December 12th, 2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patito de Hule

Three came to mind instantly when I read the title. Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and Eleanor Roosevelt. I wouldn't argue about which was the "most" influential.

I would agree, but I would have to add Edith Wilson-she WAS the President after Wilson's stroke.

VM1138 · December 13th, 2012, 05:20 AM

Have to be Clinton. A lot of Bill Clinton's policies began as Hillary Clinton ideas, not all of them successful. I think Abigail Adams had the greatest direct influence on the President, though. She had a way of cutting Adams down (in a loving way) to bring his moody attitude back down to Earth, and his biggest mistakes were when he deviated from her ideas.

But it wasn't so much that she told him what to do, she just framed their discussions in a way where he usually saw the wisdom of her ideas.