First ladies evolve throughout history

No one is closer to the president than the first lady.\nFrom Martha Washington to Eleanor Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton, the role of the first lady has undergone major changes. While they were once the assumed hostesses of the White House, first ladies during the past few decades have switched their attention from the rose garden to social issues.\n"Just as families are changing, it seems ludicrous that the first lady should not be changing as well," said Dean of Women's Affairs and political science associate professor Jean C. Robinson.\nMartha Washington had the difficult task of pioneering the place of the first lady. Washington had to juggle two separate households, as an official capital city had not officially been chosen. \nAccording to the White House Web page, Washington was reputedly an exceptional hostess. But according to an excerpt in her biography, Washington was not completely satisfied with her stifled position. "I think I am more like a state prisoner than anything else, there (are) certain bounds set for me which I must not depart from..."\nAbigail Adams is said to have had a more active interest in politics and the presidency, said associate history professor Wendy Gamber. "Abigail Adams gave quite a bit of advice to her husband," she said.\nBut it was Eleanor Roosevelt who was the first woman to take on a more public, active role. During her husband\'s time as New York senator, Roosevelt joined the state Democratic committee to stay involved. When she became first lady, she began to travel all over the country to learn more about the social problems in America and held regular press conferences -- something first ladies of the past had never done before.\n"She made a mark for herself by being very involved in civil rights groups," Gamber said, "she could say things that (President Roosevelt) could not say politically." Roosevelt did a lot of traveling in lieu of her husband because of his disability, Gamber said.\nDespite her non-traditional involvement in public affairs, Roosevelt still made an excellent hostess according to the White House Web site. "She never shirked official entertaining; she greeted thousands with charming friendliness," according to the site.\nClaudia "Lady Bird" Johnson continued this legacy of social activism by bringing the issue of the environment to the attention of the American people. Johnson started a group called the Committee for a More Beautiful Capital, which later extended to other parts of the country.\n"(Johnson) established a tradition that first ladies need to have a project," said Gamber.\nHillary Clinton took on a large project when she was asked to help create a new health care plan.\n"Hillary was the first modern president's wife," said Robinson, "she was a lawyer with a lot of training ... asking her to participate may have been reasonable."\nBut Clinton was subject to much criticism after the plan was complete. Many newspapers and political analysts criticized the plan for being too complex and difficult to understand.\nGamber said she remembers a tremendous public outrage against Clinton's involvement, which seemed to disappear after the Lewinsky scandal.\nToday, Clinton is running a race for Senate in New York. Not one first lady before Clinton has ever pursued public office after their time in the White House.\nIn only four days, a new first lady will take her place on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Both of the leading candidate's wives have different styles and different personalities.\n"Tipper (Gore) is more similar to Hillary," Robinson said, "she is currently involved in a number of activities." Robinson said Gore's involvement in mental health issues will most likely continue should her husband be elected."\n"Laura (Bush) has not been in the public limelight as much," Gamber said. In light of her avoidance of the media, Robinson expects Bush to assume a more subdued and traditional role as a potential first lady.\nBut whether the next first lady is an activist in the White House or not, co-president of Women's Students Association Sarah Oberlander still thinks the first lady will do a good job of being supportive and making sure her husband knows where she stands.\n"One person can't do everything," Oberlander said. "Having a woman that can implement policy only makes it (the presidency) stronger"