The First Lady Who'd Prefer to Be Mrs.Bush

The New York Times Magazine ^ | 9/09/2001 | DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

[Utah Girl]

Comparisons between Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton were inevitable. New presidents are judged against the promises they made while campaigning, but with little or no public record of their own, first ladies are measured against a different yardstick: the legacy of their predecessor. As inevitable as the comparisons are, however, they are also irrelevant. Each first lady, depending wholly on her temperament and inclinations, puts her unique stamp on the position -- one that remains as undefined today as it was in the early days of the Republic, when she was sometimes called ''presidentress'' or ''Mrs. President.''

In the long procession of first ladies through the pages of history, this is not the first instance that a highly visible, politically active woman has been followed by someone who preferred to be seen more as a wife, or to not be seen at all. When Bess Truman first took her place in the White House, she was cast in the part last played by Eleanor Roosevelt, the most powerful first lady in history. Roosevelt had shattered the traditional mold in which the role of the first lady had been cast, reshaping it around her own skills and commitments to social reform. She seized the potential power in the position to become, in the words of a contemporary columnist, ''a cabinet minister without portfolio.'' She was the first president's wife to hold a government job, testify before a Congressional committee, speak before a national party convention, write a syndicated column, travel overseas to visit American troops, deliver commentary on the radio or earn money as a lecturer. And she was the first first lady to hold regular news conferences -- to which only female reporters were invited, thus forcing newspaper editors all around the country to hire their first female news reporters.

When Franklin Roosevelt died and Harry Truman moved into the White House, Eleanor offered to introduce Bess Truman to the press corps so she, too, could conduct weekly news conferences. Bess was horrified. ''I don't even think about public affairs,'' she confessed to Frances Perkins, Roosevelt's labor secretary.

Harry left it up to Bess to decide what she wanted to do and when she wanted to do it, reminding reporters that it was he, not Bess, who had chosen to run for office. With time, she found her own way through the responsibilities and privileges of the office.

In her first six months in Washington, Laura Bush (who married her husband on the condition that she never have to deliver a politician's-wife speech) has made it clear that she will choose her own path. She has moved her office out of the West Wing, back into the more traditional preserve of the East Wing. And she has stepped not only out of the spotlight but also very nearly out of sight. She has deliberately chosen to steer clear of White House meetings, preferring to advise her husband in private, not in public. She has similarly chosen to limit her public appearances, attending the occasional worthy function or state dinner but not making a daily show of her goodwill activities.

What do Americans make of these choices, of this redirection of the power of her title? They appear to love it. A recent poll placed her job-approval rating at 70 percent -- higher than her predecessor's, higher than her husband's.

It remains to be seen how Laura Bush's conception of the first lady's role will change over time. She did, after all, change her mind about public speaking when she delivered a politician's-wife speech at the 2000 Republican convention.

Whatever she decides to do, the choice is entirely hers.

First lady's club: Laura Bush, center, with her longtime friends Jan O'Neill, Lois Betts, Nancy Weiss, Regan Gammon. Photograph by Jessica Wynne.

[Utah Girl]

Laura Bush's polls are higher than the queen bee's? Cool. I thought this was a great article, except that Goodwin just cannot get over her hero worship of the Roosevelts.

[Rudder]

Eleanor Roosevelt, the most powerful first lady in history...

With an ugly mug likes hers, she probably learned to fight at an early age.

By the way, how much could Eleanor bench-press? I guess she was powerful enough to lift FDR off of her when the fun was over.

[DeckTheHallsHolly]

Bet Hillary is stamping her feet right now shouting "70% and being a traditional first lady. If I just had a chance I would show her how to be the first lady and how to do it right..."

[passionfruit]

I never liked the idea of the "two for the price of one" Clinton presidency. I never liked the idea of Hillary having any say in government. I never liked her views, and as I woman, I thought the things she thought of as woman's issues are really harmful to women and children. We didn't hire her, we couldn't fire her. I still can't understnd why New Yorkers elected her.

I like Laura Bush, and I like that she stays out of the way and lets W do his job!

[Quilla]

Laura Bush is a true lady; Hillary never was, never will be. I am constantly amazed when anyone on this planet makes a complimentary comment about Mrs. Clinton. I just can't see it and must conclude the one making such a comment is completley nuts. I guess that sums up the lamestrean press - in a nutshell so to speak.

[Paul Atreides]

Eleanor Roosevelt, the most powerful first lady in history...

Who was cloned in the form of Janet Reno at Area 51 in Roswell. They did the best they could with plastic surgery.

[Paul Atreides]

I would also guess that the Whore of Babble-On is so connected and so evil that if she gets wind of a negative comment she would ruin the commentor's life as retribution.

[Utah Girl]

The only good thing I have to say about Hillary is that I liked the china she picked out for the White House. Only I think she didn't make the choice, she had one of her minions choose it.

I honestly do not understand the undying fawning that some Dems and liberals have for goodl ole Hillary. She feels nothing but contempt for everyone who can't help her advance her political career. She is rude and imperious and nasty. I think she has the goods (blackmail) on most of the politicians and media, personally.

[Quilla]

You can see that trait in her eyes.

I am a firm believer in the adage "what goes around comes around". The W o' B will evenutally get her just deserts. [Please God, just make it soon.]

[Quilla]

Makes you wish that Gary Aldrich could put his hands on Hillary's FBI file and post it on FR for the world to see.

[Utah Girl]

Wouldn't that be wonderful? And speaking of Gary Aldrich, at least we won't have pornographic Christmas trees in the White House this year...The Clintons just had no sense of right and wrong.

[mombonn]

I can't stand doris kearns goodwin, but can't find much to blast her on here except her "if only the masses were more enlightened, Laura Bush wouldn't be at 70%" tone.

Viva Laura Bush!

[Paul Atreides]

Can you imagine the shipload of bad Karma that pair have accumulated?!!

[Quilla]

My fifteen year old daughter had to write an essay over the weekend entitled "What it means to be an American". She asked me to proof it before she printed it. When I reached the part that described our democracy which allows people to elect honorable representatives to serve in government, I shot her a look that may have been dangerous. She left me a copy on the kitchen counter to enjoy with my coffee this morning. She had added a parenthetical phrase to the above statement: (except for the disgrace Americans have had to endure during the eight years of the Clinton Administration). I think I'll increase her allowance.

[Jim Scott]

Goodwin's grudging column about First Lady Laura Bush spends almost as much space on Eleanor Roosevelt as it does Mrs. Bush. Goodwin obviously doesn't think Laura Bush is up to her idol's standards. Her tone is one of polite disapproval but with little to disapprove of, Goodwin has the sense to smile and generally grant Laura Bush to right to do as she thinks best in her role as First lady.
I'm sure the 70% approval rating annoys Doris, but she handles it well, although the piece says practically nothing of any substance. Ho hum.

[Utah Girl]

Like I said, Goodwin needs to get over her adoration of the Roosevelts. And I think like many people (media, Dems, historians) she is flummoxed over why Laura Bush is so popular.

[RJayneJ]

Essay Of The Week

[Bogie]

Who's the Springer?

[princess leah]

Maybe 70% of the population believes it doesn't have to be "told" how to live which is what The Wicked Witch of the East (NY senator) always believed...like we were children that are incapable of making our own decisions...Laura Bush on the other hand, is a true first lady who has strong commitment to education and trying to change what is wrong (I love how she is going to military bases and encouraging those military personnel looking to retire or are leaving to pick up teaching as their next career)...Laura, unlike Hillary, doesn't have a big mouth...she has a big heart! I love those Bushes!

[Utah Girl]

I'm sure that is Spot, the Bush's dog. I believe his whole name is Spot Fletcher Bush, and he is one of Millie's offspring, the dog of George and Barbara Bush.