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Greatest FIRST LADY in United States History?

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nickshepDEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:34 PM
Original message
Poll question: Greatest FIRST LADY in United States History?
Edited on Tue Jan-18-05 07:39 PM by nickshepDEM
Just wondering who you guys admire or believe was the greatest first lady in history?
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The Velveteen Ocelot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:36 PM
Response to Original message
1. Eleanor Roosevelt, definitely.
Edited on Tue Jan-18-05 07:37 PM by ocelot
Barbara "Mama Caligula" Bush, not so much.
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NoStinkinBadges Donating Member (99 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:45 PM
Response to Reply #1
11. Mary Lincoln?
Very Funny adding her to the list.
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nickshepDEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:54 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. Why?
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NoStinkinBadges Donating Member (99 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #15
31. She had so many problems.
Including mental illness.
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newsguyatl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 09:11 PM
Response to Reply #31
33. poor thing married a gay man
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sweetheart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #1
20. no question... behind the human rights declaration on me home page
She's the great one of the lot.... greater than most presidents, truth
be told.
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LiviaOlivia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 09:18 PM
Response to Reply #1
36. Hey Op where is Abigail Adams?
eom
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umtalal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:37 PM
Response to Original message
2. without a doubt, Eleanor!
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superconnected Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:38 PM
Response to Original message
3. None for Hillary?
Edited on Tue Jan-18-05 07:38 PM by superconnected
I don't know enough about Ms. Roosevelt to vote for her.

I'll vote Hillary because I thought she was strong, herself, and very together.
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annabanana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:41 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. Hillary is still working on her legacy....
When you get a chance, look Eleanor up. You will be amazed at the things we take for granted that she had a hand in.
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Mountainman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:56 PM
Response to Reply #3
16. You should read about he life
Ms. Roosevelt was one of the greatest human beings on earth in my estimation. Of course she is probably my one and only idol.

She was born to a beautiful mother though she was not good looking.
She loved and was loved by her dad who died early of alcoholism
She married her cousin and was forced by his mother to submit to her.
She took her husbands place when he was stick en with polio so he could still remain in politics.
She stood up for minorities and Jews when everyone around her did the opposite.
She worked in the slums of New York even though she was a wealthy woman who did not have to do anything.
She was married to a man who played around on her and lied to her constantly about it.
She found out that her husband died in a room with the other woman.
and on and on and on.

I couldn't begin to tell anyone how great the things she did were.
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Rejoe Donating Member (3 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 11:11 PM
Response to Reply #3
25. Hillary for president
Why are so many democrats on here against Hillary?
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nickshepDEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 01:01 AM
Response to Reply #25
28. She cant win the GE,,, n/t
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Piperay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 05:27 AM
Response to Reply #25
29. Cause we don't want our asses whipped
by whoever the repukes run, it would be nice to win the Whitehouse for a change.
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KamaAina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:38 PM
Response to Original message
4. Hillary not even on the list?
Edited on Tue Jan-18-05 07:39 PM by KamaAina
I still voted Eleanor -- Rosalynn Carter was no slouch either -- but c'mon, where's the love for a sitting Dem Senator?

Edit: There she is. Ahhhhhh.
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LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:39 PM
Response to Original message
5. Roosevelt
Although she lived a lonely life with a disinterested husband she is the apogee on which all other first ladies should be judged.
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nickshepDEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:40 PM
Response to Original message
6. I heard Doll Madison was a great first lady and someone else on...
another board said Edith Wilson was practically President when her husband had a stroke.
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Book Lover Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:44 PM
Response to Original message
8. Irrelevant - not an elected position
Edited on Tue Jan-18-05 08:04 PM by Book Lover
The more power we the people give to this social, non-elected position, the closer we come to a monarchy. I know that Eleanor and Hillary were positive and effective influences on their husbands; I just do not agree that they *should* have been. Same goes for Grandma Bush and the Doorknob.

<puts flamesuit on>

on edit: I see folks are mentioning that Edith Wilson acted as the de facto president while her husband was ill - this was not a good thing; it was an unconstitutional transfer of power!
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Mabus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:44 PM
Response to Original message
9. Tipper
for her work with those with mental illness.
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
10. J. Edgar Hoover
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NoStinkinBadges Donating Member (99 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:46 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Made my night.
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Rowdyboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:52 PM
Response to Original message
13. Write in for Victor Ashe
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FarLeftRage Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 07:53 PM
Response to Original message
14. Alright...Who voted for that ugly hag?
B*sh????
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EVDebs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 08:03 PM
Response to Original message
17. Edith Wilson was president, de facto ....!!!! n/t
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burn the bush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 08:41 PM
Response to Original message
18. i say Dolly Madison, coz she has cupcakes and stuff Yummm
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ElsewheresDaughter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
19. alert alert dr smith 2 freepers on the board!..alert alert
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lostnfound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 09:19 PM
Response to Original message
21. Eleanor deserves it but what I love about Jackie
is her priorities towards her children. 'If you screw up raising your children, nothing else you've done in your life matters' or something to that effect. Seems like she managed to raise them well in spite of everything.
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Shopaholic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 09:20 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Jackie wins for being the best Mom and for being a fashion Icon
but Eleanor wins it hands down for redefining the role of First Lady.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 09:32 PM
Response to Original message
23. I voted for Eleanor Roosevelt but there are two others who were great
but not as great as Eleanor ... for the many reasons already stated.

But I also think Jacqueline Kennedy was an important first lady. She brought a whole new awareness to the White House and in her way made Americans feel good about being Americans. Then there was her grace and dignity when her husband was killed. The seared image of her blood stained dress even as Johnson was being sworn in. Powerful and graceful at the same time.

Then there's Rosalynn Carter. Just like her husband, she lives the life of goodness and firm, quiet, resolved christian values. As much good as he has done for mankind, she has, too, by being there with him every step of the way. If one were to look up the term "good person" Jimmy and Rosalynn would be the illustration.
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Darth_Kitten Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 09:52 PM
Response to Original message
24. I voted Barbara Bush.....
I feel sorry for the old, useless, bitchy old bag. :evilgrin: ;)

Oh, that wasn't very nice, DK. :)
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stanwyck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 11:28 PM
Response to Original message
26. Rosalyn Carter
A beautiful representative of America. Intelligent, compassionate, hard-working, and charming. And Rosalyn Carter is a real Christian. She's farther down the path than most people. She and her husband. I admire Hillary and I'll vote for Hillary. Hopefully, I'll get the chance. But Rosalyn deserves to be remembered for her extensive travel, her endless speaking engagements, and her real grasp of world issues. She never took the easy way out as First Lady. She went to the scary places. She should be honored for her courage and grace, always, under pressure.
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RBHam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-05 11:32 PM
Response to Original message
27. Sally Hemmings...
Edited on Tue Jan-18-05 11:32 PM by RBHam
"And I don't want to hear a peep out of you, Mr. Strom Thurmond!"
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robcon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 06:56 AM
Response to Original message
30. Abigail Adams
She had a third grade education, and could write as well as her Harvard-educated husband. Her letters are among the finest writings of the Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary age.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
32. What, no Betty Ford?
Enough to drive a man to drink...
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American Tragedy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-20-05 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #32
37. Hey, I actually really like Betty Ford.
She seems like a decent person. She was openly pro-choice (like her husband) and for the Equal Rights Amendment - not a right winger by any stretch of the imagination. It's true that she had substance abuse problems, but I give her credit for overcoming them and then going public with it.

For that matter, I think the majority of First Ladies seem to have been fine people, even when their husbands were not.
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bobweaver Donating Member (953 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 09:12 PM
Response to Original message
34. I'm biased because my dad once met Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart
at the same time, as a boy attending a luncheon of the National Geographic Society with my grandmother. (My grandfather was sick that day so my dad got to go in his place.) As far as politics, E.R. is the best First Lady of all time.
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Spider Jerusalem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-19-05 09:16 PM
Response to Original message
35. Eleanor Roosevelt is the only correct answer.
No other First Lady has done so much for those less privileged, has done so much to advance the state of race relations, has done so nuch for workers, has done so much in the interests of world peace, et cetera. One may sum the achievements of ALL of the other First Ladies and Eleanor Roosevelt STILL comes out ahead in comparison.
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