Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States explained

Post:Second Gentleman of the
United States
Incumbentlabel:Current
Incumbent:Doug Emhoff
Incumbentsince:January 20, 2021
Style:Mr. Second Gentleman
Residence:Number One Observatory Circle
Inaugural:Abigail Adams
(as second lady)
Douglas Emhoff
(as second gentleman)
Abbreviation:SGOTUS

The second gentleman or second lady of the United States (SGOTUS or SLOTUS) is the informal title held by the spouse of the vice president of the United States, concurrent with the vice president's term of office. Coined in contrast to "first lady" – albeit used less commonly – the title "second lady" was apparently first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart (wife of Garret Hobart, vice president 1897–1899) to refer to herself. The first second gentleman of the United States is Doug Emhoff, the husband of Kamala Harris, the current vice president and first woman in the position, since January 20, 2021.[1]

Twelve second ladies have gone on to become first ladies during their husbands' terms as president. The first to do this was Abigail Adams, who was married to John Adams, who was the first vice president from 1789 to 1797 and then the second president from 1797 to 1801. Thus, Abigail was the first second lady and the second first lady. The most recent to do this is Jill Biden, who is married to Joe Biden, the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and then the 46th president since 2021.

Since the 1970s, the vice presidential official residence is One Observatory Circle.

History

The second spouse'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.

In one notable exception, 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.

In 1978, Muriel Humphrey, wife of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, became the only former second lady to hold public office; after her husband, who had returned to the U.S. Senate after his term as vice president, died in office, she was appointed by Minnesota governor Rudy Perpich to continue her husband's term.

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 when there were three widower vice presidents and a one-year vacancy in the vice presidency. The most recent second lady vacancy was for 132 days in 1974, between the service of Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller, when the vice presidency was also vacant.

12 second ladies went on to become first lady following their husbands becoming president, the first being Abigail Adams and most recent being Jill Biden.

Role in practice

The role of the second lady is unpaid and not formally defined.[2] The wife of the vice president of the United States was traditionally expected to serve as a hostess and appear at society functions.[3] [4] Jennie Tuttle Hobart, wife of Vice President Garret Hobart (1897–1899) is often cited as the first woman to style herself as "Second Lady".[5] Hobart took over the hostess duties on behalf of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, who had chronic health issues including epilepsy. Starting in 1917, the wife of the vice president took on the unofficial role of convener of the Red Cross Senate Wives, presiding over their lunches; the organization later became known as the Senate Spouses Club. The question of the second lady's status became a topic of debate in 1929 when Dolly Curtis Gann, the sister of Vice President Charles Curtis (1929–1933), assumed the role of hostess on his behalf, since he was widowed.[6] Gann had waged a public "battle of precedence" against Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the wife of the late speaker of the House.[7] Over time, the spouse of the vice president started to become more visible as the Office of the Vice President itself gained power and influence, and assumed additional responsibilities. In 2010, Marie Claire magazine described the role of second ladies as being "relegated to roast-chicken charity dinners and sit-and-smile political functions. They cherry-pick a cause or two...and pretty much stay out of the way."[8] Presidential historian Gil Troy noted that during the Kennedy administration, one of Second Lady Lady Bird Johnson's roles was to replace First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy when she withdrew from public appearances, often at the last minute; Johnson replaced Kennedy on more than 50 occasions.[9]

Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard Nixon, was the first second spouse to add a great deal of substance to the role of the vice president's wife. When Nixon assumed the position in 1953, the role's only official function was to preside over the once-annual Senate Ladies Luncheon.[10] Instead, Nixon launched her own initiatives, sensing great opportunities that her role provided. She established a schedule separate from that of her husband, which often consisted of solo activities. As second lady, Nixon traveled more than 125,000 miles around the world to six continents, including a two-month, 42,000-mile journey through Asia in 1953. As she undertook missions of goodwill across the world, she insisted on visiting schools, orphanages, hospitals and village markets rather than attend tea or coffee functions. In this sense, Nixon essentially created the modern role of the second lady; historian Kate Andersen Brower wrote, "she helped to define this nebulous role for an entire generation of women who would succeed her." Historian Cormac O'Brien says that Pat Nixon "may have well been the most extraordinary second lady in American history" because of her role in accompanying Vice President Richard Nixon on a tour of the world as a goodwill ambassador. She also traveled independently of the vice president and attended events, including campaign tours, on her own. According to O'Brien, Second Lady Nixon proved popular "as a paragon of graciousness, composure, and elegance", and made a conscious effort to travel to locations where local women were banned, to spread a subtle message for equal rights.

During the Reagan administration, Second Lady Barbara Bush hosted more than one thousand events and traveled over 1.5 million miles at home and abroad over eight years, and championed literacy, a cause she continued to support when she later became First Lady.

Tipper Gore, former 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.[11] Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, worked 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.[12] She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.

Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, became the first Second Gentleman of the United States when his wife was elected the first female vice president. He is the first attorney, the first Jewish person, and the first husband to assume this ceremonial role.[13] Emhoff is a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center.[14] His priorities in office have been to advocate for food security across the United States, fight antisemitism on the international stage, address climate change, as well as push for equal access to justice. He has traveled to several countries representing the United States, including France, Germany, Poland, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia among others, having met with heads of state and attended inaugurations and state dinners.

Current living second ladies and gentlemen

Living second ladies and gentlemen (from oldest to youngest):

Causes and initiatives

List of second ladies and gentlemen of the United States

ImageSecond Lady or GentlemanVice President
TenureDate of birthDate of death (age)Tenure as First Lady
Adams, Abigail Abigail Adams (née Abigail Smith)Adams, John John Adams
April 21, 1789 – March 4, 1797data-sort-value=1744-11-1122 November 1744(1818-10-28) 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 after Clinton's death.April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813
Gerry, Ann Ann Gerry (née Ann Thompson)Gerry, Elbridge Elbridge Gerry
March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814data-sort-value=1763-08-1212 August 1763(1849-03-17)
02.1 Vacant; no vice president after Gerry's death.November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817
Tompkins, Hannah Hannah Tompkins (née Hannah Minthorne)Tompkins, Daniel D Daniel D Tompkins
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825data-sort-value=1781-08-2828 August 1781(1829-02-18)
Calhoun, Floride Floride Bonneau Calhoun (née Floride Bonneau Colhoun)Calhoun, John C. John C. Calhoun
March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832data-sort-value=1792-02-1515 February 1792(1866-07-25)
04.1 Vacant; no vice president after Calhoun's resignation.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 a widowerMarch 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841
Tyler, Letitia Christian Letitia Tyler (née Letitia Christian)Tyler, John John Tyler
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841data-sort-value=1790-11-1212 November 1790(1842-09-12)1841–1842
05.1 Vacant; no vice president after Tyler assumed presidency.April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845
Dallas, Sophia Sophia Dallas (née Sophia Chew Nicklin)Dallas, George M. George M. Dallas
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849data-sort-value=1798-06-2424 June 1798(1869-01-11)
Fillmore, Abigail Abigail Fillmore (née Abigail Powers)Fillmore, Millard Millard Fillmore
March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850data-sort-value=1798-03-1313 March 1798(1853-03-30)1850–1853
07.1 Vacant; no vice president after Fillmore assumed presidency.July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
Vacant; William R. King was unmarried.March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853
02.1 Vacant; no vice president after King’s death.April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857
Breckinridge, Mary Cyrene Burch Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge (née Mary Cyrene Burch)Breckinridge, John C. John C. Breckinridge
March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861data-sort-value=1826-08-1616 August 1826(1907-10-08)
Hamlin, Ellen Ellen Hamlin (née Ellen Vesta Emery)Hamlin, Hannibal Hannibal Hamlin
March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865data-sort-value=1835-09-1414 September 1835(1925-02-01)
Johnson, Eliza Eliza McCardle Johnson (née Eliza McCardle)Johnson, Andrew Andrew Johnson
March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865data-sort-value=1810-10-044 October 1810(1876-01-15)1865–1869
10.1 Vacant; no vice president after Johnson assumed presidency.April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
Colfax, Ellen Maria Ellen Maria Colfax (née Ellen Maria Wade)Colfax, Schuyler Schuyler Colfax
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873data-sort-value=1836-07-2626 July 1836(1911-03-04)
Vacant; Henry Wilson was a widower.March 4, 1873 – November 22, 1875
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 after Arthur assumed presidency.September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885
Hendricks, Eliza Eliza Hendricks (née Eliza Carol Morgan)Hendricks, Thomas A. Thomas A. Hendricks
March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885data-sort-value=1823-11-2323 November 1823(1903-01-03)
12.1 Vacant; no vice president after Hendricks's death.November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889
Morton, Anna Anna Morton (née Anna Livingston Reade Street)Morton, Levi P. Levi P. Morton
March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893data-sort-value=1846-05-1818 May 1846(1918-08-14)
Stevenson, Letitia Letitia Stevenson (née Letitia Green)Stevenson, Adlai I Adlai Stevenson I
March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897data-sort-value=1843-01-088 January 1843(1913-12-25)
Hobart, Jennie Esther Jane "Jennie" Tuttle Hobart (née Esther Jane Tuttle)Hobart, Garret Garret Hobart
March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899data-sort-value=1849-04-3030 April 1849(1941-01-08)
15.1 Vacant; no vice president after Hobart's death.November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901
Roosevelt, Edith Edith Roosevelt (née Edith Kermit Carow)Roosevelt, Theodore Theodore Roosevelt
March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901data-sort-value=1861-08-066 August 1861(1948-09-30)1901–1909
16.1 Vacant; no vice president after Roosevelt assumed presidency.September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905
Fairbanks, Cornelia Cornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks (née Cornelia Cole)Fairbanks, Charles W. Charles W. Fairbanks
March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909data-sort-value=1852-01-1414 January 1852(1913-10-24)
Sherman, Carrie Carrie Babcock Sherman (née Carrie Babcock)Sherman, James S. James S. Sherman
March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912data-sort-value=1856-11-1616 November 1856(1931-10-06)
18.1 Vacant; no vice president after Sherman's death.October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913
Marshall, Lois Irene Lois Irene Marshall (née Lois Irene Kimsey)Marshall, Thomas R. Thomas R. Marshall
March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921data-sort-value=1873-05-099 May 1873(1958-01-06)
Coolidge, Grace Grace Coolidge (née Grace Anna Goodhue)Coolidge, Calvin Calvin Coolidge
March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923data-sort-value=1879-01-033 January 1879(1957-07-08)1923–1929
20.1 Vacant; no vice president after Coolidge assumed presidency.August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925
Dawes, Caro Caro Dawes (née Caro Dana Blymyer)Dawes, Charles G. Charles G. Dawes
March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929data-sort-value=1866-01-066 January 1866(1957-10-03)
21.1 Vacant; Curtis, Charles Charles Curtis was a widower.March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
Garner, Mariette Mariette Elizabeth "Ettie" Garner (née Mariette Elizabeth Rheiner)Garner, John Nance John Nance Garner
March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941data-sort-value=1869-07-1717 July 1869(1948-08-17)
Wallace, Ilo Ilo Wallace (née Ilo Browne)Wallace, Henry A. Henry A. Wallace
January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945data-sort-value=1888-03-1010 March 1888(1981-02-22)
Truman, Bess Bess Truman (née Elizabeth Virginia Wallace)Truman, Harry S. Harry S. Truman
January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945data-sort-value=1885-02-1313 February 1885(1982-10-18)1945–1953
24.1 Vacant; no vice president after Truman assumed presidency.April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949
24.2 Vacant; Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley was a widower.January 20, 1949 – November 18, 1949
Barkley, Jane Hadley Jane Hadley Barkley (née Elizabeth Jane Rucker)Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley
November 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953data-sort-value=1911-09-2323 September 1911(1964-09-06)
Nixon, Pat Pat Nixon (née Thelma Catherine Ryan)Nixon, Richard Richard Nixon
January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961data-sort-value=1912-03-1616 March 1912(1993-06-22)1969–1974
Johnson, Lady Bird Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (née Claudia Alta Taylor)Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963data-sort-value=1912-12-2222 December 1912(2011-07-11)1963–1969
27.1 Vacant; no vice president after Johnson assumed presidency.November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965
Humphrey, Muriel Muriel Humphrey Brown (née Muriel Fay Buck)Humphrey, Hubert Hubert Humphrey
January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969data-sort-value=1912-02-2020 February 1912(1998-09-20)
Agnew, Judy Elinor "Judy" Agnew (née Elinor Isabel Judefind)Agnew, Spiro Spiro Agnew
January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973data-sort-value=1921-04-2323 April 1921(2012-06-20)
30.1 Vacant; no vice president until Ford's confirmation under the 25th Amendment.October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973
Ford, Betty Elizabeth "Betty" Ford (née Elizabeth Anne Bloomer)Ford, Gerald Gerald Ford
December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974data-sort-value=1918-04-088 April 1918(2011-07-08)1974–1977
30.1 Vacant; no vice president until Rockefeller's confirmation under the 25th Amendment.August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974
Rockefeller, Happy Margaretta "Happy" Rockefeller (née Margaretta Large Fitler)Rockefeller, Nelson Nelson Rockefeller
December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977data-sort-value=1926-06-069 June 1926(2015-05-19)
Mondale, Joan Joan Mondale (née Joan Adams)Mondale, Walter Walter Mondale
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981data-sort-value=1930-08-088 August 1930(2014-02-03)
Bush, Barbara Barbara Bush (née Barbara Pierce)Bush, George H. W. George H. W. Bush
January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989data-sort-value=1925-06-088 June 1925(2018-04-17)1989–1993
Quayle, Marilyn Marilyn Quayle (née Marilyn Tucker)Quayle, Dan Dan Quayle
January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993data-sort-value=1949-07-2929 July 1949-- Living
Gore, Tipper Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson)Gore, Al Al Gore
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001data-sort-value=1948-08-1919 August 1948-- Living
Cheney, Lynne Lynne Cheney (née Lynne Ann Vincent)Cheney, Dick Dick Cheney
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009data-sort-value=1941-08-1414 August 1941-- Living
Biden, Jill Jill Biden (née Jill Tracy Jacobs)Biden, Joe Joe Biden
January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017data-sort-value=1951-06-033 June 1951-- Living
2021–present
Pence, KarenKaren Pence (née Karen Sue Batten)Pence, MikeMike Pence
January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021data-sort-value=1957-1-11 January 1957--Living
Emhoff, DouglasDouglas Craig EmhoffHarris, KamalaKamala Harris
January 20, 2021 – presentdata-sort-value=1964-10-1313 October 1964--Living

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Johnson . Ted . Twitter Will Offer @SecondGentleman Account For Doug Emhoff; Outlines Plans For Transfer To Joe Biden's Administration . Deadline . January 15, 2021.
  2. Book: Gore, Tipper . Picture This: A Visual Diary . Broadway Books . 1996 . 9780553067200 . New York . 1.
  3. Book: O'Brien, Cormac . Secret Lives of the First Ladies: What your teachers never told you about the women of the White House . Quirk Books . 2005 . 9781594740145 . Philadelphia . 184, 238, 271.
  4. Web site: Shogan . Colleen . Second Spouses – Historical Development of an Official Role . 2022-12-20 . The White House Historical Association.
  5. Web site: Hartmann . Margaret . July 5, 2017 . Trump Reveals That He's Never Heard the Term 'Second Lady' . 2022-12-20 . Intelligencer.
  6. News: Anthony . Carl Sferrazza . July 30, 1989 . The Second Ladies in the Shadows' Shadow . . 2022-12-20.
  7. News: December 5, 1932 . Lamest Duck . TIME Magazine . 2022-12-20 . EBSCOHost.
  8. News: Jacobs . Alexandra . July 2010 . Q. So What Does the Veep's Wife Do Anyway? . . 2022-12-15 . EBSCOHost.
  9. Book: Troy, Gil . Affairs of State: The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple Since World War II . Free Press . 1997 . 0684828200 . New York . 120.
  10. Web site: Brower . Kate Andersen . June 24, 2018 . Remembering Pat Nixon: A fearless first and second lady . August 6, 2018 . The Hill.
  11. Web site: Mrs. Lynne Cheney . October 13, 2008 . . National Archives.
  12. News: Abcarian . Robin Abcarian . February 2, 2009 . Hi, I'm Jill. Jill Biden. But please, call me Dr. Biden . Los Angeles Times . February 9, 2017.
  13. News: Deliso. Meredith. November 7, 2020. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's husband Doug Emhoff set to become 1st second gentleman. . US . November 9, 2020.
  14. News: 2020-12-10. Kamala Harris's Husband Named to Faculty at Georgetown Law. en . . subscription . 2020-12-11.