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Roles of the First Lady

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First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy signed portrait

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (ca. 1963)

White House Historical Association

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The Constitution provides guidance for the responsibilities of the president, but what about the first lady? No founding document exists that explains the duties of the first lady. Instead, generations of women have shaped how the modern Office of the First Lady formed, and the roles of the president's spouse. Learn the usage of the title First Lady and explore the ways various first ladies throughout history used this position to effect changes at the White House and across the country.

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