Each First Lady that steps in to the White House brings their unique personal characteristics to the job. In some cases, they draw focus to a cause that they are passionate about in order to make this nation a better place. They are often seen as stabilizing forces because they offer emotional support to their husbands in the face of one of the toughest and stressful tasks you could ever imagine. No matter what the situation every First Lady leaves with a specific lasting legacy. This list includes 10 First Ladies who were able to use their position to impact the world.

10. Rosalynn Carter

The wife of 39th President Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn was also a loving mother (her youngest daughter Amy was just 9 years old at the time her father was elected as president) as well as a spouse. However, she wasn’t confined to a role as a hostess. She was active politically during the administration of Carter. She was actually the closest adviser to her husband, even attending Cabinet meeting. She was a vocal advocate for the rights of women and civil rights. Also, she was a supporter of projects related to mental health.

9. Laura Bush

Contrary to First Ladies like Carter or Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush chose to remain out of the husband, George W. Bush’s political activities and instead remained more like a traditional First Lady. Laura Bush was a librarian by profession, and it is sense to advocate for reading. Her name is the reason she created the National Book Festival in 2001. Twenty years later, the festival is still in existence.

8. Lady Bird Johnson

A highly educated woman in her time, Johnson was a high attainer, who purposely let her grades at high school to fall so she didn’t need to deliver her valedictorian’s speech. Johnson was an investor and a manager and even financed her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson’s first congressional campaign. She was First Lady and advocated for the improvement of highways and cities. Also, she was the first First Lady to demand having her personal press secretary. To honor her effort the President Carter presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.

7. Nancy Reagan

When Nancy Reagan generated some controversy over her lack of understanding during the first few months of Ronald’s presidency (she took advantage of free presents of designer clothes and lavishly spent over $200,000 on expensive China in a period when that the nation was in downturn) there’s no doubt that her and the 41st president shared a close bond. Her role was significant in a number of his political and personal decisions. Her reputation was regarded as a pragmatic one at the end of her career and accepted then First Lady Michelle Obama’s invitation to the White House luncheon and not seeking to have anything to do Donald Trump.

6. Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama grew up in the south of Chicago However, she was blessed with an incredibly stable and loving childhood. Her and her younger brother failed to make it through 2nd grade because of their abilities in school. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Princeton and a law diploma from Harvard. In her role as First Lady, her efforts focused on tackling poverty as well as encouraging healthy and fit eating. Similar to the 44th president Michelle is an accomplished author and speaker. In 2020, she was named one of Gallup’s top women in America for a third consecutive year.

5. Betty Ford

Even though her husband Gerald — who was the erroneous president elected following Richard Nixon resigned — was only president for two years The First Lady was able to achieve a lot during this short period of period of time. Breast cancer was a recurrence for her and a public figure in the fight against this issue. She spoke out about many issues like equality in pay, abortion, the sex industry, and drug control. The first female First Lady in history to announce publicly her fight against the addiction to drugs and alcohol. She created the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California to help people overcome addictions.

4. Barbara Bush

As the wife of the president of one and mother of another, Barbara Bush is only the second First Lady in history to be able to claim this distinction (the one before her was Abigail Adams). She was a frequent participant in libertarian positions, including the rights of gays, civil rights as well as access to abortion. Literacy was one of her main goals. She founded her foundation, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and “ghost created” an award-winning children’s book in honor of her loved Springer Spaniel Millie.

3. Hillary Clinton

Although it’s not an overstatement to claim that Clinton was an unpopular character, anyone insisting to deny her achievements has been drinking the Kool-Aid. Partner at a prominent law firm, while her husband was the governor of Arkansas and the Yale Law graduate has always had a keen eye for. In her role as First Lady, she fought for better health care in addition to the equality of women. Following the departure of President 42nd from the presidency, Hillary made history by being the first former First Lady selected to be a member of the Senate. Hillary later served as Secretary of State during the Obama administration. In 2016, she was the first woman to be elected president by a major political party.

2. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Kennedy was most well-known for her work in restoring Kennedy was most famous for restoring the White House and creating the gorgeous gardens at the estate. Also, she was stylish and stylish, and was also the first President to be the first with the press secretary she had her own. While her husband served as preside over the presidency, she was also raising two small children. Her goal was to shield them from the spotlight, and to give them an as normal a life as is possible in the current circumstances.

1. Eleanor Roosevelt

The lady who was the wife of FDR was well ahead in her day. It is said that she was one of the most influential first ladies. There were even suggestions she was the president of the nation after her husband’s decline in his health. Eleanor was part of the NAACP’s board. NAACP which helped to establish the United Nations after World War II and was the very first Chairperson of the UN Human Rights Commission at the time that women were at home making food.