The exact role of the first lady in American history has always fluctuated depending on the year, social context, and the woman herself. However, during the Clinton administration is when experts say they saw public opinion play an increasingly major role in the actions of the first lady. Many prior first ladies had taken on certain initiatives to tackle during their time in the White House, but Hillary Clinton’s involvement in specific policy was different. Her actions led many Americans to view the first lady as more than just a social planner and occasional advocate, but rather a major player in politics.
However, even before the role of the first lady was examined through a public lens and researchers began to take note of metrics like approval ratings, these women were leaving their mark on American history. We collected the most famous first ladies throughout history and ranked them by most adored to least!
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