Keeping Up With The White House First Ladies On The Internet

Mrs. Laura Bush, first row-center, joins forme...
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Every four years the United States takes part in the race for President. It’s a long and expensive contest that ends with the pivotal decision of who will become the leader of the free world. At the same time we choose the President, we also decide who will become the nation’s First lady. Though not an elected official, The First Lady is a defacto leader who holds an important position on many levels. She represents the United States diplomatically and symbolically.

Historically, the First lady wasn’t always necessarily the wife of the President; she was sometimes a close relative who stepped in to represent the President if he wasn’t married. In recent times, however, the First Lady has always been the presidential wife as well.

Several of the First Ladies have been greatly admired for their achievements, intelligence, interests, and for their personal style. Lady Bird Johnson was known for her national beautification project, which put a focus on landscaping the nation’s roadways. Jackie Kennedy used her knowledge of antiques and art history to head up a major restoration project at the White House. Dolly Madison was known for her heroism. Thinking quickly, she saved a portrait of President George Washington when the White House was threatened by British troops during the War of 1812.

The Internet has several sites devoted to our nation’s First Ladies, offering a wealth of information about the various women who have held the role and their part in history.

The National Library has a very detailed site at: http://www.firstladies.org. It offers biographies, film clips, information on events and exhibits about the First Ladies, and a special section on the First Ladies’ style choices.

The White House has its own Internet website at http://www.whitehouse.gov. The site focuses on the biography and special achievements of our current First Lady, Michelle Obama.

There’s even a site devoted to the work of former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is now Secretary of State. Go to: http://www.state.gov/secretary/ to find out what Secretary of State Clinton (and President Clinton’s First Lady) is doing today.

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Grace and Greatness — The Epic Poise of First Lady Jackie Kennedy

Picture of John F. Kennedy
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The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a searing event that changed the social and political landscape of the United States in ways that continue to reverberate. The shock of his death affected the populace as deeply as a death in the family.

The funeral of President Kennedy took place over the three days following his assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. The event was broadcast live, and was, to this day, one of most watched events ever broadcast. The funeral stands out in history not only as it signified the tragic loss of a young President, but also because it was the first time television, still a relatively new medium, was used as a means for bringing people together. Americans everywhere stopped what they were doing and gathered to watch, in sorrow, as the sad pageant of JFK’s funeral procession made its way through Washington D.C.

Accompanying the military procession throughout was President Kennedy’s widow, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy. Greatly admired for her grace and style as First Lady, Mrs. Kennedy exhibited another kind of grace after her husband’s death. She walked alongside the President’s casket during the funeral procession, dressed in black, displaying great stoicism and an almost regal composure throughout.

Somehow Mrs. Kennedy had the presence of mind to outline a plan for the funeral, staying up all night to prepare it, just hours after witnessing, first-hand, the President’s assassination. At Mrs. Kennedy’s direction, the event followed along the lines of the funeral of Abraham Lincoln. The procession included a military guard lead by a riderless horse.

In the years that followed, Mrs. Kennedy held a special place in the hearts of the American public, as many people said it was her brave composure in the aftermath of the tragedy that gave them a feeling of hope, a feeling that somehow the loss of President could be endured, and life would go on.

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Michelle Obama Uses Summer Break to Melt Away Childhood Obesity!

Michelle Obama - Tallahassee, Florida.
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Democrat or Republican, few First Ladies have been as relatable to the everywoman as Michelle Obama. That’s not to say Laura Bush’s quiet politeness and literary background or Hilary Clinton’s “bull-by-the-horns” version of healthcare reform weren’t equally important or equally beneficial for our country. It’s just that somewhere between the DIY vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House and the wardrobe from Talbot’s and J.Crew (read: NOT Saks or Barney’s), Michelle Obama seems to effortlessly tap into the hearts and homes of the everymom, because she is one. Good thing too, since she’ll no doubt need the support of women, moms and teachers across America this summer as she tackles the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

The most recent initiative in Michelle Obama’s ongoing battle against the sad state of our children’s waistlines zeroes in on the educational and nutritional backslide America’s school aged kids call summer break. Dubbed “Let’s Read. Let’s Move,” the initiative aims to contend both with children’s lack of physical activity and healthy eating habits during their off months, and also with their tendency to lose up to three months of reading progress in that time. The First Lady, alongside congressional leaders, officially launched the program on June 8, 2010 – and jump started progress by supplying underprivileged youth with “healthy lifestyle kits” packed with healthy snacks, reading material and activity equipment like swim goggles.

The ideas and motivation behind “Let’s Read. Let’s Move” are rock-solid. The statistics on unhealthy kids are staggering, and Type 2 Diabetes among children under 12 is rapidly spiraling out of control. Truthfully, parents and educators ultimately bear responsibility for these alarming trends – and if Michelle Obama can reach out to those American mothers who already connect with her, turning an unhealthy summer break into an educational, nutritious and healthy one for our country’s children may be easier than we think.

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