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Politics | 01/13/2009 2:00 pm

Lesley Stahl, Candice Bergen, Liz Smith and the wOw Women Hail Their Favorite First Ladies

Photo Essay



CLICK HERE FOR MICHELLE OBAMA’S 100 DAYS OF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE


We asked our ladies who they thought were the most distinguished First Ladies. Here’s what Lesley Stahl, Candice Bergen, Liz Smith and a few more of the wOw women had to say …

65 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

mitzi morris
Abigail Adams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jaqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton.
By mitzi morris on 01/13/2009 7:18 pm
krista samms
give me a break…. michelle obama hasn’t even done anything yet to merit any praise. standing beside your man (who happens to be president) doesn’t make her influencial. duh!!!!!!
By krista samms on 01/17/2009 7:42 pm
Danielle Ross
Ms. Samms, have you not been watching what has been happening in the past two years? This woman, who as the first African-American woman to enter the White House, worked tirelessly prior to and during President-elect Obama’s campaign. She mentored the man who is to lead the country, she, along with her wonderful mother, reared two promising women while our President-elect interviewed for the nations most prestigious job in America. Yes, you are correct, our future first lady did stand by her man. That would be a huge part of the job that a first lady has. And I take it that your added “duh” is referring to the fact that she hasn’t pressed any policy or become a politician, but just remember that while she hasn’t pushed policy, she pushed the man who has already pushed policy prior to (just to correct you he is President-elect) becoming (and not happens to be) President. So it appears, Ms. Samms, that you have answered your own (and hopefully only your own) question of “what has she done to merit ANY praise?” Mrs. Obama is standing behind and has stood by and even at times in front of the man who will in less than 24 hours run your and my country.
By Danielle Ross on 01/19/2009 6:24 pm
Barbara N
Give the woman a chance, for heaven’s sake! She is a much more accomplished woman than Laura Bush and many other first ladies, with the exception of Hillary Clinton. She is an attorney and ran a medical center in Chicago. I may be wrong on the exact company, but it was a medical concern. She has only been the first lady for about 24 hours, what did you expect???
By Barbara N on 01/21/2009 9:51 pm
DeBúrca obj
Eleanor Roosevelt for heart, substance and good intentions Jackie Kennedy for showing Europe that Americans CAN have style and taste Hillary Clinton for trying to get a U.S. healthcare system and for writing “It Takes a Village” (and believing it!) …and I expect to add Michelle Obama to the list once it’s official because she has already impressed me!
By DeBúrca obj on 01/13/2009 7:27 pm
Diana T
I think I agree with you DeB. Add to that Abigail Adams.
By Diana T on 01/13/2009 7:34 pm
DeBúrca obj
I’d have to read a book about Abigail Adams, I don’t know a thing about her.
By DeBúrca obj on 01/13/2009 8:26 pm
Diana T
DeB, you need to get the book, Founding Mothers:The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts. Or, another one by Cokie is Ladies Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation. Abigail Adams was an amazing woman, and the letters between her husband, John and herself were saved. David McCullough wrote a definitive book on John Adams. At any rate, I wish we were taught more about the women that started this nation when I was in school.
By Diana T on 01/14/2009 12:28 am
Jeannot Kensinger
Diana, I have more time on my hands now so will get Cokie’s book. Time I read that, Thanks for telling us about it.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 01/14/2009 7:15 am
Diana T
I think it’s both interesting and important to know about these wives and the effect they had on their husbands’ presidencies. And, that’s just not the founding wives; it’s all of them. Wasn’t it Woodrow Wilson’s wife who ran the country for a while after he had a stroke and no one but a chosen few knew about it? Fascinating story…
By Diana T on 01/14/2009 9:46 am
DeBúrca obj
That sounds very interesting, I will check that book out. (I’ve seen it, but I’m not a huge Cokie Roberts fan so I passed it by. I’ll have to take a closer look!) Speaking of First Ladies, here is a great article on Hillary’s hearings yesterday and what she said about women: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-14-jan14,0,173… Just a quote: “Of particular concern to me,” she said, “is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed and unpaid. If half of the world’s population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy.”
By DeBúrca obj on 01/14/2009 11:20 am
Diana T
I am very optimistic in seeing a turnaround with attitude in the future. For one thing, I don’t think Obama will forget about his African roots, and is very conscious of the plight of women there.
By Diana T on 01/14/2009 11:33 am
DeBúrca obj
Obama definitely has not lived his life in a bubble as so many previous presidents have, due to their family backgrounds. I think this will serve him and the rest of us very well!
By DeBúrca obj on 01/14/2009 11:46 am
Diana T
DeB, The African connection must have had a huge impact on the way he lives his life. When one looks at his story, what a movie it would make! I wonder what he thinks when he sees what is happening in so many places in Africa. And, Michelle has her story too. Her background of slavery and ending up in the White House. I really think it will make a difference, perhaps not in the immediate future, but, it will change our awareness and sensitivities, especially with the youngsters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TldmoSfisKM
By Diana T on 01/14/2009 12:34 pm
DeBúrca obj
Young people today will grow up with an entirely different attitude just by having this man and his family in the White House. I remember being a child when the Kennedys where there. I grew up, even after they left, thinking of Caroline and “John-John” as extended family members. Imagine, my son at 6 yrs old will be looking at the Obama girls the same way! Hopefully he will get to watch them grow up in the WH for the next 8 years!
By DeBúrca obj on 01/14/2009 12:55 pm