ABSTRACT
Americans have been ambivalent about how US presidents’ wives have defined the role of First Lady. Although the position has the potential to become an important part of a presidential administration, cultural constraints historically have only allowed the presidents’ wives to assist with ceremonial head-of-state duties, thereby limiting them to the seemingly non-political role of “first hostess.” This chapter discusses coverage in one newspaper about one First Lady who served during a time of crisis and transition in American society—the Civil War 1861-1865. In general, the New York Times coverage defined the role of the First Lady as restricted to activities in the household domain. The overwhelming number of images of Mary Todd Lincoln as being politically and publicly passive, yet domestically and privately active, supports this role definition and conforms to the proper sphere ideal that prevailed during the Civil War era.
