For far longer than conventional wisdom would have us believe, Americans voting for a President et of the United States have given consideration to a matter that had – at least on the surface – nothing to do with policy.
Who did they marry and how might they influence their spouses if there y’re elected Chief Executive?
The 2016 presidential campaign’s caucusing and primary voting is about to begin and as the weeks and months unfold, the candidates’ spouses will become inevitably more visible. They’ll be seen not only in the church halls, country clubs, and coffee shops and of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Michigan – but also on winter coats, suit jackets, pants suits, evening gowns, sweaters and tee-shirts.
Because, they’ll be used to convey messages in support of their candidate-spouses….or opposition to their rivals. with a slogan or a smile from the front of a metal pinback campaign button.
And this year there’s far less conventionality among the group. Among the 2016 Republican and Democratic presidential candidates’ spouses are two born in foreign countries, two Wall Street brokers and two men. And some are already drawing media scrutiny. Mary Pat Christie last week assumed her husband’s New Hampshire speaking schedule as he returned to deal with the snowstorm. Heidi Cruz was drawn into potential scandal for arranging an unreported campaign loan. Melania Trump engenders curiosity from her purposeful silence and glitzy Instagram pix. And Bill Clinton….there’s too much to say in a little bit of space.
A bit of context for them all is the new and free Electing First Ladies: Presidential Candidates’ Spouses as Campaign Symbols the very first history of how the spouses have been used by both supporters and opponents as images and ideas on campaign buttons, some posters, envelopes and even a parachute. It’s online at the National First Ladies’ Library website’s Blog.
The ten-part series, eight of which are already up and available, also traces the evolution of American women’s slow but growing importance in the national elections for the presidency.
As some subscribers here may know, this website’s creator works as the NFLL Historian, and the series authored by yours truly. To those especially interested in what is a genuinely fascinating and integral part of the presidency, subscribing to the NFLL Blog will ensure email alerts on new articles and series, all of which are deeply researched to provide original content. Another upcoming series focuses on the untold story of Jacqueline Kennedy’s uniquely imaginative, creative, even handcrafted gifts she gave over the course of her life to close friends, family and special heads of state. Membership in the NFLL provides further benefits.
In the meanwhile, here a small sampling of some of those buttons.
Categories: First Ladies, Presidential Campaigns and Elections
Tags: Barbara Bush, Bill Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Heidi Cruz, Hillary Clinton, Jacqueline Kennedy, Melania Trump, Nancy Reagan
First Ladies Man…. oh the irony!
Thank you for all your hard work Mr. Anthony …….. ps Jackie will always be my #1 First Lady ! —- do you know the story of how she once said that being called the First Lady made her feel she just won a horse race !
I still like his own notion on what he might be called, “First Laddie.” Thanks for the imput!
Fascinating, as always, Mr. Anthony. I’m sorry, that I have not been in touch with you, these past several months, but my wife died, suddenly, three months ago. I have a question, which is along the lines of this article. When did they start using all four candidates and spouses (for president and vice-president) names and likenesses, on buttons? I seem to recall, back in 1976, seeing pictures of the Carters and Mondales, on buttons.