Which U.S. First Lady has had the most impact on American society?

Question

By that I mean, which 1st Lady has brought lasting change (of whatever kind) to the way America behaves and thinks? I just finished reading a biography of Nellie Taft that I found fascinating and thought I'd find out what you all think of our First Ladies. Thanks!

Answer 1

There were many who took initiatives but I think that if we have to find out in a book then their changes were not lasting.

Nancy Reagan gave us the enduring phrase Just Say No. Jackie Kennedy may always be the most glamorous. But only Hilary Clinton interfered with the running of government, tying up congress with her failed leadership of health care changes. She made her mark on history because unlike Eleanor Roosevelt, she wielded her unelected power right out in the open and the public knew about it at the time. Hers became a cautionary tale of blind power grabbing equivalent to Alexander Haig's "I'm in charge here" assertion after Ronald Reagan was shot. Hers is the only first lady performance that became the basis of a senatorial and then a presidential run. As my senator she did nothing but plan to run for president. If you think Pres Bush is asserting too much authority, just wait until the great dictator takes hold; then you'll really see first lady impact.

Answer 2

Eleanor Roosevelt.

Answer 3

Depends on what era. Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy had definite impacts on their era - but so did Abigail Adams and there was even one First Lady (Mrs. Wilson?) who was one of the main forces behind Prohibition. There was also one who acted as President while her husband was in a coma.

Answer 4

to call purely some . . . Sojourner certainty - abolitionist, women's rights activist Harriet Tubman - abolitionist, humanitarian, Union undercover agent, women's suffragist Sarah Boone - inventor, ironing board Sarah E. Goode - inventor, cabinet mattress (precursor to the Murphy, folding, and hideaway beds) Virgie M. Ammons - inventor, hearth damper Marie Van Britten Brown - inventor, closed circuit risk-free practices device Bessie Blount Griffin - actual therapist, forensic scientist, and inventor, emesis basin and digital amputee feeding gadget Annie Easley - workstation scientist, maximum observed for being a superior member of the gang which progressed utility for the Centaur rocket degree Valerie Thomas - mathmatical documents analyst (NASA), inventor, phantasm Transmitter Patricia bathtub - opthalmologist, inventor, LASERPHACO Probe (for laser removing of cataracts) Rosa Parks - civil rights activist Gwendolyn Brooks - Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Poet Laureate representative to the Library of Congress Rita Dove - Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Poet Laureate representative to the Library of Congress Toni Morrison - Nobel Prize in Literature, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction this is an exceedingly small style of African American women who've contributed to society yet a minimum of that's a initiate! Oh yeah, Oprah, too, belongs on the record using her contributions and effect in standard custom.

Answer 5

Jackie Kennedy. Even though First Ladies serve absoluty no purpose whatsoever.

Answer 6

Wow, that's wow.

My guess, Eleanor Roosevelt?

It may be Hillary next if she becomes president.

Answer 7

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT!!