Second Lady of the United States
Encyclopedia
Second lady of the United States is an informal title for the wife of the vice president of the United States
, coined in contrast to the first lady
(who is almost always the wife of the president
).
The second lady's visibility in the public sphere has been a somewhat recent development. Although the role of the first lady
as White House
hostess dates from the beginning of the republic (and was typically filled by another member of the president's family if the president was unmarried or a widower), with a few exceptions, it was generally not until the late 20th century and early 21st century that vice-presidential wives took on public roles that attracted significant media attention.
Floride Calhoun
, wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun
, was a central figure in the Petticoat Affair
, a social-political scandal which involved the social ostracism of Secretary of War John H. Eaton and his wife Margaret O'Neill Eaton
further damaging already-strained relations between Vice President Calhoun and President Andrew Jackson
. Tipper Gore
, wife of Vice President Al Gore
, was active in several campaigns to remove material she found objectionable from popular American entertainment like movies, television shows
and music
, starting when her husband was a senator. She challenged performers over their use of profane lyrics and often debated with her critics, such as Dead Kennedys
singer Jello Biafra
. Lynne Cheney
, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney
, championed education
reform, citing specific failures of the American public education
system during her tenure as second lady. She is a particularly outspoken supporter of American history
education, having written five bestselling
books on this topic for children and their families.Jill Biden
, the current second lady, works as an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College
, and is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband is vice president. She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, coined in contrast to the first lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
(who is almost always the wife of the president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
).
The second lady's visibility in the public sphere has been a somewhat recent development. Although the role of the first lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
as White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
hostess dates from the beginning of the republic (and was typically filled by another member of the president's family if the president was unmarried or a widower), with a few exceptions, it was generally not until the late 20th century and early 21st century that vice-presidential wives took on public roles that attracted significant media attention.
Floride Calhoun
Floride Calhoun
Floride Bonneau Calhoun was the wife of prominent U.S. politician John C. Calhoun.-Background and early life:...
, wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, was a central figure in the Petticoat Affair
Petticoat Affair
The Petticoat affair was an 1830–1831 U.S. scandal involving members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet and their wives. Although it started over a private matter, it affected the political careers of several men and resulted in the informal "Kitchen Cabinet"...
, a social-political scandal which involved the social ostracism of Secretary of War John H. Eaton and his wife Margaret O'Neill Eaton
Margaret O'Neill Eaton
Margaret O'Neill Eaton , better known as Peggy Eaton, was the daughter of Rhoda Howell and William O'Neale, the owner of Franklin House, a popular Washington, D.C. hotel. Peggy was noted for her beauty, wit and vivacity...
further damaging already-strained relations between Vice President Calhoun and President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. Tipper Gore
Tipper Gore
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
, wife of Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, was active in several campaigns to remove material she found objectionable from popular American entertainment like movies, television shows
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, starting when her husband was a senator. She challenged performers over their use of profane lyrics and often debated with her critics, such as Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
singer Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
. Lynne Cheney
Lynne Cheney
Lynne Ann Cheney is the wife of former United States Vice President Dick Cheney and served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009...
, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, championed education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
reform, citing specific failures of the American public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
system during her tenure as second lady. She is a particularly outspoken supporter of American history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
education, having written five bestselling
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
books on this topic for children and their families.Jill Biden
Jill Biden
Jill Tracy Biden is an American educator and, as the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is the Second Lady of the United States....
, the current second lady, works as an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College, often abbreviated NVCC and colloquially as NOVA, comprises several locations in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., and is both the second largest multi-campus community college in the United States and the largest educational institution in the...
, and is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband is vice president. She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.
List of wives of the vice presidents
18th century
- Abigail AdamsAbigail AdamsAbigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth...
, wife of John AdamsJohn AdamsJohn Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
(1789–1797) - Vacant: Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
(1797–1801) was a widower
19th century
- Vacant: Aaron BurrAaron BurrAaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
(1801–1805) was a widower - Vacant: George ClintonGeorge Clinton (vice president)George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
(1805–1813) was a widower - Ann GerryAnn GerryAnn Thompson Gerry was the wife of Vice-President Elbridge Gerry. She is regarded as the second Second Lady of the United States following Abigail Adams because Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr, and George Clinton were widowers during their tenures as Vice-President.The daughter of a wealthy New York...
, wife of Elbridge GerryElbridge GerryElbridge Thomas Gerry was an American statesman and diplomat. As a Democratic-Republican he was selected as the fifth Vice President of the United States , serving under James Madison, until his death a year and a half into his term...
(1813–1814) - Hannah TompkinsHannah TompkinsHannah Minthorne Tompkins was the wife of Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice President of the United States during the administration of James Monroe. Born on August 28, 1781, Hannah Minthorne was the second child of Mangle Minthorne by his second wife, Aryet Constable Minthorne , of New York City...
, wife of Daniel D. TompkinsDaniel D. TompkinsDaniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
(1817–1825) - Floride CalhounFloride CalhounFloride Bonneau Calhoun was the wife of prominent U.S. politician John C. Calhoun.-Background and early life:...
, wife of John C. CalhounJohn C. CalhounJohn Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
(1825–1832) - Vacant: Martin Van BurenMartin Van BurenMartin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
(1833–1837) was a widower (his daughter-in-law, Angelica Van BurenAngelica Van BurenAngelica Singleton Van Buren, born Sarah Angelica Singleton was the daughter-in-law of the 8th United States President Martin Van Buren. She was married to the President's son, Abraham Van Buren...
, served as his first ladyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
) - Vacant: Richard Mentor JohnsonRichard Mentor JohnsonRichard Mentor Johnson was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren . He was the only vice-president ever elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment. Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S...
(1837–1841) was unmarried. He considered Julia Chinn to be his common law wife, before her death in 1833. - Letitia Christian TylerLetitia Christian TylerLetitia Christian Tyler , first wife of John Tyler, was First Lady of the United States from 1841 until her death.-Early Life and Marriage:...
, wife of John TylerJohn TylerJohn Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
(1841) - Sophia DallasSophia DallasSophia Chew Nicklin Dallas was the wife of Vice President George Mifflin Dallas who served under President James K. Polk. She was the daughter of Philadelphia merchant Philip Nicklin and the former Julianna Chew. They were married in 1816and had eight children. Mrs...
, wife of George M. DallasGeorge M. DallasGeorge Mifflin Dallas was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the 11th Vice President of the United States , serving under James K. Polk.-Family and early life:...
(1845–1849) - Abigail FillmoreAbigail FillmoreAbigail Powers Fillmore , wife of Millard Fillmore, was First Lady of the United States from 1850 to 1853.Abigail was born in Stillwater, New York, 1798, in Saratoga County, New York. She was the daughter of the Reverend Lemuel Powers, a Baptist minister, and Abigail Newland-Powers, Abigail grew...
, wife of Millard FillmoreMillard FillmoreMillard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
(1849–1850) - Vacant: William R. KingWilliam R. KingWilliam Rufus DeVane King was the 13th Vice President of the United States for about six weeks , and earlier a U.S. Representative from North Carolina, Minister to France, and a Senator from Alabama...
(1853) was unmarried - Mary Cyrene Burch BreckinridgeMary Cyrene Burch BreckinridgeMary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge , the daughter of Clifton Rhodes and Alethia Viley Burch, was born in Georgetown, Scott County, Kentucky, on August 16, 1826. She married John Cabell Breckinridge on December 12, 1843, after a brief courtship, and with him eventually had five children...
, wife of John C. BreckinridgeJohn C. BreckinridgeJohn Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
(1857–1861) - Ellen Vesta Emery Hamlin, wife of Hannibal HamlinHannibal HamlinHannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
(1861–1865) - Eliza McCardle Johnson, wife of Andrew JohnsonAndrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
(1865–1869) - Ellen Maria ColfaxEllen Maria ColfaxEllen Maria Wade Colfax was the second wife of Schuyler Colfax, who became the first House Speaker to be elected Vice President when he ran on a ticket headed by Ulysses S...
, wife of Schuyler ColfaxSchuyler ColfaxSchuyler Colfax, Jr. was a United States Representative from Indiana , Speaker of the House of Representatives , and the 17th Vice President of the United States . To date, he is one of only two Americans to have served as both House speaker and vice president.President Ulysses S...
(1869–1873) - Vacant: Henry WilsonHenry WilsonHenry Wilson was the 18th Vice President of the United States and a Senator from Massachusetts...
(1873–1875) was a widower - Vacant: William A. WheelerWilliam A. WheelerWilliam Almon Wheeler was a Representative from New York and the 19th Vice President of the United States .-Early life and career:...
(1877–1881) was a widower - Vacant: Chester A. ArthurChester A. ArthurChester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
(1881) was a widower - Eliza HendricksEliza HendricksEliza C. Morgan Hendricks was the wife of Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks who was in office for the first eight months of the first administration of Grover Cleveland until his death on November 25, 1885. They were married on September 26, 1845 after a two year courtship and had one son Morgan...
, wife of Thomas A. HendricksThomas A. HendricksThomas Andrews Hendricks was an American politician who served as a Representative and a Senator from Indiana, the 16th Governor of Indiana , and the 21st Vice President of the United States...
(1885) - Anna MortonAnna MortonAnna Livingston Reade Street Morton was the second wife of United States Vice President Levi P. Morton. She was known as Anna Street Morton.Anna married Morton in 1873, and they had five daughters together...
, wife of Levi P. MortonLevi P. MortonLevi Parsons Morton was a Representative from New York and the 22nd Vice President of the United States . He also later served as the 31st Governor of New York.-Biography:...
(1889–1893) - Letitia StevensonLetitia StevensonLetitia Green Stevenson was the wife of Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson I who served in the second administration of President Grover Cleveland. She was the daughter of Reverent Lewis Green who was the head of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. They married in 1866 after a nine year courtship...
, wife of Adlai E. Stevenson (1893–1897) - Jennie Tuttle HobartJennie Tuttle HobartEsther Jane "Jennie" Tuttle Hobart was the wife of Vice President Garret Hobart who served in the administration of President William McKinley as well as a philanthropist and community activist in New Jersey.-Biography:...
, wife of Garret HobartGarret HobartGarret Augustus Hobart was the 24th Vice President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1897 until his death. He was the sixth American vice president to die in office....
(1897–1899)
20th century
- Edith RooseveltEdith RooseveltEdith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1909.-Early life:...
, wife of Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
(1901) - Cornelia Cole FairbanksCornelia Cole FairbanksCornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks was the wife of Charles W. Fairbanks, who served as the 26th Vice President of the United States from 1905 to 1909. During her husband's tenure she held the unofficial position of the Second Lady of the United States...
, wife of Charles W. FairbanksCharles W. FairbanksCharles Warren Fairbanks was a Senator from Indiana and the 26th Vice President of the United States ....
(1905–1909) - Carrie Babcock ShermanCarrie Babcock ShermanCarrie Babcock Sherman was the wife of United States Vice-President James S. Sherman. She married Sherman on January 26, 1881. They had three sons, Sherrill B. Sherman, Richard U. Sherman, and Thomas N. Sherman....
, wife of James S. ShermanJames S. ShermanJames Schoolcraft Sherman was a United States Representative from New York and the 27th Vice President of the United States . He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.-Early life:...
(1909–1912) - Lois Irene MarshallLois Irene MarshallLois Irene Kimsey Marshall was the wife of Thomas R. Marshall, who served as the 28th Vice President of the United States from 1913 to 1921...
, wife of Thomas R. MarshallThomas R. MarshallThomas Riley Marshall was an American Democratic politician who served as the 28th Vice President of the United States under Woodrow Wilson...
(1913–1921) - Grace CoolidgeGrace CoolidgeGrace Anna Goodhue Coolidge was the wife of Calvin Coolidge and First Lady of the United States from 1923 to 1929.-Biography:...
, wife of Calvin CoolidgeCalvin CoolidgeJohn Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
(1921–1923) - Caro DawesCaro DawesCaro Dana Dawes, née Blymyer , was the wife of Vice-President Charles Dawes, who served from 1925 to 1929. Therefore, she was the Second Lady of the United States during that period....
, wife of Charles G. DawesCharles G. DawesCharles Gates Dawes was an American banker and politician who was the 30th Vice President of the United States . For his work on the Dawes Plan for World War I reparations he was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served in the First World War, was U.S...
(1925–1929) - Vacant: Charles CurtisCharles CurtisCharles Curtis was a United States Representative, a longtime United States Senator from Kansas later chosen as Senate Majority Leader by his Republican colleagues, and the 31st Vice President of the United States...
(1929–1933) was a widower - Mariette Rheiner GarnerMariette Rheiner GarnerMariette Elizabeth Rheiner Garner, known as Ettie R. Garner was the wife of John Nance Garner, the 32nd Vice-President of the United States, who served from 1933 until 1941....
, wife of John Nance GarnerJohn Nance GarnerJohn Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
(1933–1941) - Ilo WallaceIlo WallaceIlo Browne Wallace was the wife of Henry A. Wallace, the 33rd U.S Vice President and later Secretary of Commerce. She was the Second Lady of the United States from 1941 until 1945...
, wife of Henry A. WallaceHenry A. WallaceHenry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
(1941–1945) - Bess TrumanBess TrumanBess Truman , was the wife of Harry S. Truman and First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953.-Early life:...
, wife of Harry S. TrumanHarry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
(1945) - Jane Hadley BarkleyJane Hadley BarkleyElizabeth Jane Rucker Hadley Barkley was Second Lady of the United States, as the second wife of Vice President Alben Barkley. She was known as Jane Hadley Barkley.-Early life:...
, wife of Alben Barkley (1949–1953) - Pat NixonPat NixonThelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
, wife of Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
(1953–1961) - Lady Bird JohnsonLady Bird JohnsonClaudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and made that...
, wife of Lyndon Johnson (1961–1963) - Muriel HumphreyMuriel HumphreyMuriel Fay Buck Humphrey Brown was the widow of former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Following her husband's death, she was appointed to his seat in the United States Senate, thus being the first wife of a Vice President to hold public office...
, wife of Hubert HumphreyHubert HumphreyHubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
(1965–1969) - Judy AgnewJudy AgnewElinor Isabel Judefind "Judy" Agnew is the widow of the 39th Vice President of the United States, Spiro Agnew, who also served as Governor of Maryland....
, wife of Spiro AgnewSpiro AgnewSpiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
(1969–1973) - Betty FordBetty FordElizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
, wife of Gerald FordGerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
(1973–1974) - Happy Rockefeller, wife of Nelson RockefellerNelson RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
(1974–1977) - Joan MondaleJoan MondaleJoan Adams Mondale is the wife of Walter Mondale, the 42nd Vice President of the United States and later the U.S. ambassador to Japan. She is an advocate for the arts....
, wife of Walter MondaleWalter MondaleWalter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
(1977–1981) - Barbara BushBarbara BushBarbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
, wife of George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
(1981–1989) - Marilyn QuayleMarilyn QuayleMarilyn Tucker Quayle is an American lawyer, novelist, and political figure who is the wife of former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle and held the unofficial title of Second Lady of the United States from 1989 until 1993....
, wife of Dan QuayleDan QuayleJames Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
(1989–1993) - Tipper GoreTipper GoreMary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
, wife of Al GoreAl GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
(1993–2001)
21st century
- Lynne CheneyLynne CheneyLynne Ann Cheney is the wife of former United States Vice President Dick Cheney and served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009...
, wife of Dick CheneyDick CheneyRichard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
(2001–2009) - Jill BidenJill BidenJill Tracy Biden is an American educator and, as the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is the Second Lady of the United States....
, wife of Joe BidenJoe BidenJoseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
(2009–Present)
List of living current or former vice presidents’ wives
, there were eight living current or former vice presidents’ wives:- Judy AgnewJudy AgnewElinor Isabel Judefind "Judy" Agnew is the widow of the 39th Vice President of the United States, Spiro Agnew, who also served as Governor of Maryland....
, widow of Spiro AgnewSpiro AgnewSpiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland... - Happy Rockefeller, widow of Nelson RockefellerNelson RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
- Joan MondaleJoan MondaleJoan Adams Mondale is the wife of Walter Mondale, the 42nd Vice President of the United States and later the U.S. ambassador to Japan. She is an advocate for the arts....
, wife of Walter MondaleWalter MondaleWalter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota... - Barbara BushBarbara BushBarbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
, wife of George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to... - Marilyn QuayleMarilyn QuayleMarilyn Tucker Quayle is an American lawyer, novelist, and political figure who is the wife of former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle and held the unofficial title of Second Lady of the United States from 1989 until 1993....
, wife of Dan QuayleDan QuayleJames Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana.... - Tipper GoreTipper GoreMary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
, wife of Al GoreAl GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election.... - Lynne CheneyLynne CheneyLynne Ann Cheney is the wife of former United States Vice President Dick Cheney and served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009...
, wife of Dick CheneyDick CheneyRichard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush.... - Jill BidenJill BidenJill Tracy Biden is an American educator and, as the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is the Second Lady of the United States....
, wife of Joe BidenJoe BidenJoseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...