America’s Most Well-Known First Ladies — Ranked

Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln was not just the wife of America’s most famous president. She was also one of history’s most reviled first ladies. Mary became the First Lady soon before the Civil War broke out, which was difficult because she was from the south and some of her ancestors were Confederate soldiers.

While she was initially praised for her parties and hosting skills, she came under fire for her wartime renovation of the White House. She had already lost one son to typhoid disease in 1850. The public began to notice her more eccentric behavior after the death of her second, Willie, in 1862.

In 1870, Congress granted her a $3,000 annual pension as the wife of the nation’s first assassinated president, which is around $65,000 in today’s money. She gained notoriety for her terrible temper and lavish spending during her time in the White House.

Her last son committed her to a mental institution for three months. She spent the rest of her life in poor condition after being liberated and died in 1882. She was buried close to her husband.

Pat Nixon

Pat Nixon’s “sole ambition,” according to reports, was to “go down in history as the wife of a president.” Alas, history will primarily remember her for that. Despite being one of the most well-traveled first ladies in history, acting as ambassador and assistant, and vocally supporting equal rights, she scored low across numerous measures, including leadership, own woman, and achievement.

Her credibility is also lacking, possibly due to her husband Richard’s tragic Watergate scandal. Pat advised him to erase the incriminating cassette recordings while they were still private property, and instead of resigning, he should defend the charges.

Additionally, she played a pivotal role in making the White House more accessible to the hearing impaired, the physically disabled, and those whose work schedules only permitted nighttime off. She gained the harsh nickname “Plastic Pat” for her stiff smile, but Pat stated that the criticism did not disturb her in interviews.

Melania Trump

She was better known for her modeling and QVC skincare brand before her husband got into politics. She has kept a low and cryptic public presence. She was less visible and involved in White House operations than her recent predecessors.

Fashion decisions have caused controversy (such as a blazer with the statement “I really don’t care. Do U?” on a trip to meet imprisoned migrant children) and a leaked, expletive-filled audio about Christmas decorating tarnished her image as the graceful and elegant First Lady.

She didn’t do much throughout her husband’s two presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020 except for giving a single speech at the Republican National Convention. Her anti-cyberbullying campaign, “Be Best,” was also criticized, with opponents noting how her husband’s online habits led to his suspension from Twitter and other social media platforms.