America’s Most Well-Known First Ladies — Ranked

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady, and presidential contender is one of the study’s top-ranked wives, notably for leadership, personal womanhood, achievements, and importance to the president. The Yale-educated lawyer became involved in policymaking and lobbying for women’s and children’s rights in other nations during Bill Clinton’s presidency.

She is one of history’s most distinguished first wives. She served as a senator from 2001 to 2007 and then as Secretary of State during Barack Obama’s first term in office from 2008 to 2013. Hillary has also published books, given speeches, and run for president independently.

Nonetheless, she has been linked to various scandals, such as the Whitewater and Travelgate investigations. The FBI probed her for a personal email account, which may explain why she lags below some of the other First Ladies in terms of integrity and public image.

Lady Bird Johnson

Lady Bird Johnson succeeded Jackie Kennedy as the First Lady on the heels of America’s darling. Yet, she remained one of the country’s most famous first women. She was well-known for campaigning hard for her husband’s presidential campaign in 1964, bringing her train, called the “Lady Bird Special,” across various Southern states.

She supported working women and persuaded her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, to appoint women to government positions. She pledged to “beautify” the country by advocating for removal of obnoxious advertising from roads and protecting California redwoods.

Lady Bird was the first First Lady to get a press secretary and staff director. Her importance to the president and leadership abilities place her in the top tier. Her favorite program as the First Lady was Head Start – a program intended to assist preschool children from low-income families prepares for their education.

Betty Ford

Betty Ford was a strong personality in her own right who didn’t shy away from contentious themes. She freely acknowledged her mental treatment, advocated for women’s equality, argued that premarital sex could reduce divorce rates, and backed the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade.

When she opted to be open about her treatment for breast cancer in 1974, she was possibly the first First Lady to be candid with the public about her health difficulties. Despite having chemotherapy, she continued to execute all of her responsibilities. She struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.

Still, she completed treatment and co-founded the Betty Ford Center for Substance Abuse. For her contributions to raising public awareness and rehabilitation of drug and alcohol addiction, George H.W. Bush bestowed her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991.