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After the war, she opposed George Washington's agreeing to be President of the newly formed United States of America,[citation needed] and she did not attend his inauguration on April 30, 1789. Once he assumed office, as the First Lady Martha Washington hosted many affairs of state at New York City and Philadelphia during their years as temporary capitals. The socializing became known as "the Republican Court".[10][11]
Why would she not want her husband to be the new President? And not even going to his inauguration??
Why would she not want her husband to be the new President? And not even going to his inauguration??
Why would she not want her husband - who had been away in service to his country for so much of his life, and had recently been enjoying a semi-retirement at Mount Vernon - to be carried away again by national service, this time to far-off New York?
Seems rather obvious, no?
Many first ladies have disliked the Presidency to various degrees. Michelle Obama was less than thrilled about her husband entering politics in the first place, and with each of his subsequent political advancements. Ann Romney disliked Mitt's Presidential campaigns. By Richard Nixon's 1960 election loss, Pat was completely fed up with politics, and in no way wanted her husband to re-enter politics, as he did first in 1962 and again in 1968.
Why would she not want her husband - who had been away in service to his country for so much of his life, and had recently been enjoying a semi-retirement at Mount Vernon - to be carried away again by national service, this time to far-off New York?
Seems rather obvious, no?
Many first ladies have disliked the Presidency to various degrees. Michelle Obama was less than thrilled about her husband entering politics in the first place, and with each of his subsequent political advancements. Ann Romney disliked Mitt's Presidential campaigns. By Richard Nixon's 1960 election loss, Pat was completely fed up with politics, and in no way wanted her husband to re-enter politics, as he did first in 1962 and again in 1968.
It's very understandable.
Seems likely. That a man aspires to the presidency, doesn't necessarily mean that his wife aspires to being First Lady. Like it or not you are getting thrust into a public role which comes with a set of expectations regarding your behavior.
Each case would be different. In some cases the wife has been very supportive and embraced the celebrity to support worthy causes. Rosalyn Carter would be one such example. Or it could be a matter of both being highly ambitious such as Bill and Hillary Clinton or Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Jackie Kennedy appeared to be enjoying the position, but she wasn't the sort to publicly display any clandestine unhappiness, so who knows?
In the case of Mary Todd Lincoln we have a woman who began as extremely supportive of her husband, but coming to grief as a consequence of the pressures of being First Lady during a Civil War where her family members were fighting for the rebels. She was mocked as an unsophisticated westerner, savaged by the newspapers for her spending on White House decorations, lost a son, lost two brothers in law...and finally her husband. Not an especially pleasant experience for her.
Then there are the ones we are discussing here. Martha, Michelle, Pat....and I'd add Bess Truman, all of whom were very uncomfortable with the role.
Seems likely. That a man aspires to the presidency, doesn't necessarily mean that his wife aspires to being First Lady. Like it or not you are getting thrust into a public role which comes with a set of expectations regarding your behavior.
Each case would be different. In some cases the wife has been very supportive and embraced the celebrity to support worthy causes. Rosalyn Carter would be one such example. Or it could be a matter of both being highly ambitious such as Bill and Hillary Clinton or Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Jackie Kennedy appeared to be enjoying the position, but she wasn't the sort to publicly display any clandestine unhappiness, so who knows?
In the case of Mary Todd Lincoln we have a woman who began as extremely supportive of her husband, but coming to grief as a consequence of the pressures of being First Lady during a Civil War where her family members were fighting for the rebels. She was mocked as an unsophisticated westerner, savaged by the newspapers for her spending on White House decorations, lost a son, lost two brothers in law...and finally her husband. Not an especially pleasant experience for her.
Then there are the ones we are discussing here. Martha, Michelle, Pat....and I'd add Bess Truman, all of whom were very uncomfortable with the role.
One of several ironies being that Mary Todd Lincoln was a member of a highly educated and cultured family, and was very well-educated herself. She spoke fluent French, having graduated from Madame Mentelle's very rigorous Academy in Lexington, KY, where Mme. Mentelle and her husband, aristocratic refugees from the French Revolution, taught all classes in French.
On her own initiative, the young Mary Todd then "audited" her brother's classes at Transylvania College (as it then was) by reading all his assignments, writing original papers on his assigned topics, and meeting with his professors for further individual instruction, Oxford-style. Mary Todd Lincoln is said by many to have had the equivalent of at least a junior college education. I think I'd credit her with a bit more.
After moving to live with her older sister in Springfield, Ill as a young adult, Mary Todd met Abraham Lincoln. During their courtship, Mary, with Abe's encouragement, wrote killingly funny original satirical letters to the editor of the local paper, using the voice of a country hayseed to poke fun at local politics and political figures.
During her colorful and tragic life, Mary Todd Lincoln was many things - but she was never an "unsophisticated westerner", despite the best efforts of Lincoln's political enemies to depict her thusly.
Martha Washington had played a very active supportive role during the American Revolution. She joined her husband in winter camp for several years, loading up the coach with blankets, country hams, and other provisions and making the long journey north from Mount Vernon.
During the winter at Valley Forge, Martha could be found tending the sick and continually knitting wool stockings for the soldiers. She organized the other overwintering officer' wives into providing assistance to the enlisted men, something some had previously considered themselves too fine to do.
Martha's only son, Jacky Custis, died of disease after enlisting late in the war, leaving a young widow and several children, whom the Washingtons then reared. No doubt Martha anticipated a quieter life at Mount Vernon after the difficult war years, but that was not to be immediately, so she became the first First Lady with as good grace as possible, if not with enthusiasm. She created the template for the First Ladies who followed her, and was gracious, welcoming, an excellent hostess and a fine companion for the President, her husband.
Why would she not want her husband - who had been away in service to his country for so much of his life, and had recently been enjoying a semi-retirement at Mount Vernon - to be carried away again by national service, this time to far-off New York?
Seems rather obvious, no?
Many first ladies have disliked the Presidency to various degrees. Michelle Obama was less than thrilled about her husband entering politics in the first place, and with each of his subsequent political advancements. Ann Romney disliked Mitt's Presidential campaigns. By Richard Nixon's 1960 election loss, Pat was completely fed up with politics, and in no way wanted her husband to re-enter politics, as he did first in 1962 and again in 1968.
It's very understandable.
And it's not just the American Presidency - when Tony Blair left Downing Street, his wife Cherie happily told the media "Goodbye, we won't miss you!"
Speaking as a woman, men in politics (or women) spend every waking moment working, traveling, campaigning, and the higher they are the more they're scrutinized about everything they say and do. I'm sure a lot of wives of politicians, even a President, wish their husband would spend more time at home, and that they would have more privacy as a couple / family.
Because she was a woman...they always oppose everything we want to do!
I certainly hope that's just a joke.
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