1. “What Role Shall I play?” http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/
First Ladies of the U.S.
“What Role Shall I play?”

2. Abigail Adams
“Though I have been called to sacrifice to my Country,
I can glory in my sacrifice, and derive pleasure
from my intimate connection with one who is estimated
worthy of the important trust developed upon him.”

3. Dolly Madison 1809-1817 “There is one secret, and that is the power
we all have in forming our own destinies”

4. Sarah Polk 1845-1849 “If I get into the White House, I will neither
keep house nor make butter.”

5. Mary Lincoln 1861-1865 “I do not belong to the public;
my character is wholly domestic,
and the public have nothing to do with it.”

6. Lucretia Garfield 1881-1881 “I’m going to try harder than ever before
to be the best little wife possible.”

7. Edith Wilson
“I myself never made a single decision regarding the
disposition of public affairs. The only decision that was
mine was what was important and what was not, and the
very important decision of when to present matters to
my husband.”

8. Jackie Kennedy
“I think the major role of the First Lady is to take care
of the President so that he can best serve the people.
And not to fail her family, her husband, and children.”

9. Nancy Reagan
“The First Lady is, first of all, a wife.”

10. Laura Bush 2001-2009 “The role of First Lady is whatever the
First Lady wants it to be.”

11. Eleanor Roosevelt
“…but there isn’t going to be any First Lady.
There is just to be plain, ordinary Mrs. Roosevelt”