Joan, Like you, I like to answer the question as it was asked. The word asked was “distinguished” — and Eleanor conducted herself always - not just as First Lady - but as an extremely intelligent woman, well versed in government and thus able to become well-known in her own right in many directions - even after the presidency. To me, “First Lady” has no appeal - not in these days. I have found that we - as women - can, and should, stand on our own with no support whatsoever. If I set my goal on something, I go for it, and I achieve it. In 1976 I remember addressing the Republican Women of my large state - as an elected official myself - on how to take the first steps along that road. I ws young and it was a fast learning experience that first time, standing at train stations in the morning, handing out fliers, and so much more. But when you get into the voting booth, it is name recognition that is so important — there is a psychological element at work that day. Each forward move became a stepping stone to boards and interests I would never have dreamed of in my younger days. There has to be a great belief in yourself as a smart person who WILL succeed (and not thinking of it “as a woman” which I abhore) who can hold their own in more challenging roles with gender not a part of it at all. No matter how much a future “First Lady” may accomplish, it would not be for me — any attachment to another subtly negates the full accomplishment - and you know this as well as I. All I can say — and you can say — is that we did it ourselves —- and what a life!!!

I think there are a lot of paths to a fulfilling and productive life and First Lady is one of them. Some day, probably not too far off in the future, there will be a First Gentleman. That job too will be unique to the person in it because this position is not really defined except by each individual who occupies it. I don’t see it as less than, or more than, “doing it yourself”… any more than I would say a woman who becomes a Senator is more accomplished than a woman who chose to stay home and raise a family. We all have different paths and the worth of what we do probably varies according to how we happened to effect the people around us and according to what our individual needs, expectations and goals are.