Barbara holds the same distinction also held by first lady Abigail Adams––both were not only the wife of a president, but also the mother of another. And at age 63, Barbara was the oldest woman to become first lady and move into the White House.
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Nancy Reagan served as first lady throughout both terms of her husband Ronald Reagan in the years 1981-1989. Nancy was 59 years old when she became first lady.
Continue reading >>When Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency following President Lincoln’s assassination, his 54-year-old wife Eliza Johnson had been weakened by tuberculosis and was too sickly to perform the social duties required of a first lady. The Johnson’s married da
Continue reading >>Mary Lincoln served as first lady throughout Abraham Lincoln’s tenure as president, from 1861 until he was assassinated in 1865. Mary was 42 years old when she became first lady.
Continue reading >>James Buchanan is the only president who never married. He had raised his orphaned niece, Harriet Lane, from the age of eleven, and at age 26 she went to the White House with him to act as White House hostess. Harriet therefore served as first lady throug
Continue reading >>Jane Pierce became first lady when she was 46 years old and held the title of first lady throughout Franklin Pierce’s administration in the years 1853-1857; however, a deep depression prevented her from performing most of her duties and maintaining a regu
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