Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» There will NEVER BE a first lady as stunningly effective as Michelle Obama. Did you hear her speech? It brought me to tears. You too?
I didn't hear her speech but I've always thought she is a woman of accomplishment, beauty, and class. Just as important, she appears to be a very good mother.
Yes to all of that. They will probably replay it so hopefully you will be able to hear parts of it. Thank you for your reply Louie and Happy Friday! :)
Well, I think Eleanor Roosevelt would hold up strongly in a comparison with Michelle Obama, but I do agree Mrs. Obama seems to have conducted herself well.
Mrs. Roosevelt was an anomaly! A brilliant woman who was considered homely and in the background for many years but once unbound and out and about she stunned the world. We will not see her kind again. I also believe we will not see another Michelle Obama any time soon. What we will see is anyone's guess. Mahalo for your reply OS! :)
I have some old postage stamps featuring Mrs. Roosevelt. I would like to use them for letters, but am put off by my refusal to lick her on the backside. (of the stamp)
I think Michelle Obama has been an incredible first lady. She has it all; class, smarts, sense of humor, intelligence, and certainly a wonderful wife and mother figure.
There have been other great First Ladies, perhaps the most interesting being Barbara Bush. Here are some fun facts:
Dolley Madison originally furnished the White House and sometimes served as widower President Thomas Jefferson's hostess for official ceremonial functions. She became the official First Lady when her husband, James Madison, was president from 1809-1817. She was renowned for her social graces and hospitality, and contributed to her husband's popularity as president. She was the only First Lady given an honorary seat on the floor of Congress, and the first First Lady (and first American) to respond to a telegraph message.
Lady Bird Johnson created the modern structure of the First Lady's office; she was the first to have a press secretary and chief of staff of her own and an outside liaison with Congress. Her press secretary was Liz Carpenter, the first professional newswoman to become press secretary to a First Lady, and she also served as Lady Bird's staff director. Lady Bird's tenure as First Lady marked the beginning of the hiring of employees in the East Wing to work specifically for the First Lady's projects. During the 1964 election, Lady Bird traveled through eight Southern states in her own train to promote the Civil Rights Act, at one point giving 45 speeches over five days. It was the first solo whistlestop tour by a First Lady.
Nancy (Davis) Reagan was an accomplished TV and film actress in her own right, though she probably was more famous for that than for her tenure as First Lady.
Barbara Bush embraced the cause of family literacy, serving on literacy committees and chairing many reading organizations. She helped develop the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She continues to be dedicated to eliminating the generational cycle of illiteracy in America by supporting programs where parents and their young children are able to learn together. During the early 1980s, after statistics had shown that foreign born immigrants from Latin America had nearly quintupled just since 1960, statistics showed that 35 million adults could not read above the eighth-grade level and that 23 million were not able to read beyond a fourth-grade level. Mrs. Bush appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss the situation and spoke regularly on Mrs. Bush's Story Time, a national radio program that stressed the importance of reading aloud to children. Now 91, Mrs. Bush remains active in the foundation and serves as honorary chair.
She also was active in the White House Historical Association, and worked to revitalize the White House Preservation Fund, which she renamed the White House Endowment Trust. It raises funds for the ongoing refurbishment and restoration of the White House. She met her goal of raising $25 million towards the endowment. The White House residence staff generally found Mrs. Bush to be the friendliest and most easygoing of the First Ladies they dealt with.
And, of course, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, and Hillary Clinton were all known for different reasons as high-profile First Ladies.
I don't pay attention to them. The spouses of elected leaders really don't and shouldn't have any valid job, authority, or say about anything. They aren't elected and really the spouse should be just hang back and be quiet and do nothing. Anything else is an abuse. Again they are the spouse of an elected official, they hold no valid position of power. It's annoying and wrong have used it to put forth agendas and it's manipulative.
Actually, the First Lady has a staff including a Chief of Staff and press secretary, and it has been so since Lady Bird Johnson in 1963. It goes with the territory and is a fact whether you like it or not.
This post was edited by Stu Spelling Bee at January 6, 2017 2:25 PM MST
Louie 