Second Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States

Second Lady of the United States (SLOTUS) or Second Gentleman of the United States (SGOTUS) is the informal title held by the spouse of the vice president of the United States, concurrent with the vice president's term of office. Coined in contrast to "first lady", albeit used less commonly, the title "second lady" was apparently first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart (wife of Garret Hobart, vice president 1897–1899) to refer to herself. Second Gentleman of the United States is the title held by Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris.[1]

Second Gentleman of the United States
Currently in role Doug Emhoff since January 20, 2021
Style	Mr. Emhoff
Abbreviation	SGOTUS
Residence	Number One Observatory Circle
Inaugural holder	Abigail Adams
Formation	April 21, 1789
Website	WhiteHouse.gov

The title later fell out of favor, but was revived in the 1980s.[2][3] During the 1990s and 2000s, the title was again abandoned in favor of "wife of the vice president", but was later resurrected during the presidency of Barack Obama.[3] Its use was continued by the administration of Donald Trump.[4]

Twelve second ladies have gone on to become first ladies during their husbands' terms as president. The first to do this was Abigail Adams, who was married to John Adams, who was the first vice president from 1789 to 1797 and then the second president from 1797 to 1801. The most recent to do this is Jill Biden, who is married to Joe Biden, the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and then the 46th president since 2021.

The current second gentleman is Doug Emhoff, since his wife Kamala Harris became the 49th vice president of the United States on January 20, 2021. Emhoff is the first second gentleman of the United States.

There are five living former second ladies: Marilyn Quayle (wife of Dan Quayle), Tipper Gore (now separated wife of Al Gore), Lynne Cheney (wife of Dick Cheney), First Lady Jill Biden (wife of Joe Biden), and Karen Pence (wife of Mike Pence).

History

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.

In one notable exception, 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.

Doug Emhoff was the first male to receive the title as Second Gentlemen of the United States in January 20, 2021.

Second Lady Pat Nixon, with Vice President Richard Nixon, led a delegation to Ghana in 1957. One historian wrote that Pat Nixon "helped to define this nebulous role for an entire generation of women who would succeed her."

Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard Nixon, was the first second spouse to add a great deal of substance to the role of the vice president's wife. When Nixon assumed the position in 1953, the role's only official function was to preside over the once-annual Senate Ladies Luncheon.[5] Instead, Nixon launched her own initiatives, sensing great opportunities that her role provided. She established a schedule separate from that of her husband, which often consisted of solo activities. As second lady, Nixon traveled more than 125,000 miles around the world to six continents, including a two-month, 42,000-mile journey through Asia in 1953.[5] As she undertook missions of goodwill across the world, she insisted on visiting schools, orphanages, hospitals and village markets rather than attend tea or coffee functions. In this sense, Nixon essentially created the modern role of the second lady; historian Kate Andersen Brower wrote, "she helped to define this nebulous role for an entire generation of women who would succeed her."[5]

In 1978, Muriel Humphrey, wife of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, became the only former second lady to hold public office; after her husband, who had returned to the U.S. Senate after his term as vice president, died in office, she was appointed by Minnesota governor Rudy Perpich to continue her husband's term. 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.[6] Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, 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 was vice president.[7] She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.

The term remains an unfamiliar and uncertain one, even when it is used.[8]

There have been 17 periods of vacancy in the role, the longest of which continued for 16 years between the service of vice presidential spouses Abigail Adams and Ann Gerry when there were three widower vice presidents and a one-year vacancy in the vice presidency. The most recent second lady vacancy was for 132 days in 1974, between the service of Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller, when the vice presidency was also vacant.

List of second ladies and gentlemen of the United States

Image	Second Lady or Gentleman	Vice President Marriage date	Tenure	Date of birth	Date of death (age)	Tenure as First Lady
	Abigail Adams (née Abigail Smith)	John Adams October 25, 1764	April 21, 1789 – March 4, 1797	November 11, 1744	October 28, 1818 (73 years, 351 days)	1797–1801
Vacant; Thomas Jefferson was a widower.			March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801
Vacant; Aaron Burr was a widower.			March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1805
Vacant; George Clinton was a widower.			March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812
Vacant; no Vice President.			April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813
	Ann Gerry (née Ann Thompson)	Elbridge Gerry January 12, 1786	March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814	August 12, 1763	March 17, 1849 (aged 85)
Vacant; no Vice President.			November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817
	Hannah Tompkins (née Hannah Minthorne)	Daniel D Tompkins February 20, 1798	March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825	August 28, 1781	February 18, 1829 (aged 47)
	Floride Bonneau Calhoun (née Floride Bonneau Colhoun)	John C. Calhoun January 8, 1811	March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832	February 15, 1792	July 25, 1866 (aged 74)
Vacant; no Vice President.			December 28, 1832 – March 4, 1833
Vacant; Martin Van Buren was a widower.			March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837
Vacant; Richard M. Johnson was a widower via common-law marriage.			March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841
	Letitia Tyler (née Letitia Christian)	John Tyler March 29, 1813	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841	November 12, 1790	September 12, 1842 (aged 51)	1841–1842
Vacant; no Vice President.			April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845
	Sophia Dallas (née Sophia Chew Nicklin)	George M. Dallas 1816	March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849	June 24, 1798	January 11, 1869 (aged 70)
	Abigail Fillmore (née Abigail Powers)	Millard Fillmore February 5, 1826	March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850	March 13, 1798	March 30, 1853 (aged 55)	1850–1853
Vacant; no Vice President.			July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
Vacant; William R. King was unmarried.			March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853
Vacant; no Vice President.			April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857
	Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge (née Mary Cyrene Burch)	John C. Breckinridge December 12, 1843	March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861	August 16, 1826	October 8, 1907 (aged 81)
	Ellen Hamlin (née Ellen Vesta Emery)	Hannibal Hamlin September 25, 1856	March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865	September 14, 1835	February 1, 1925 (aged 89)
	Eliza McCardle Johnson (née Eliza McCardle)	Andrew Johnson May 17, 1827	March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865	October 4, 1810	January 15, 1876 (aged 65)	1865–1869
Vacant; no Vice President.			April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
	Ellen Maria Colfax (née Ellen Maria Wade)	Schuyler Colfax November 18, 1868	March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873	July 26, 1836	March 4, 1911 (aged 74)
Vacant; Henry Wilson was a widower.			March 4, 1873 – November 22, 1875
Vacant; no Vice President.			November 22, 1875 – March 4, 1877
Vacant; William A. Wheeler was a widower.			March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
Vacant; Chester A. Arthur was a widower.			March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
Vacant; no Vice President.			September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885
	Eliza Hendricks (née Eliza Carol Morgan)	Thomas A. Hendricks September 26, 1845	March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885	November 23, 1823	January 3, 1903 (aged 79)
Vacant; no Vice President.			November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889
	Anna Morton (née Anna Livingston Reade Street)	Levi P. Morton 1873	March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893	May 18, 1846	August 14, 1918 (aged 72)
	Letitia Stevenson (née Letitia Green)	Adlai Stevenson I December 22, 1866	March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897	January 8, 1843	December 25, 1913 (aged 70)
	Esther Jane "Jennie" Tuttle Hobart (née Esther Jane Tuttle)	Garret Hobart July 21, 1869	March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899	April 30, 1849	January 8, 1941 (aged 91)
Vacant; no Vice President.			November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901
	Edith Roosevelt (née Edith Kermit Carow)	Theodore Roosevelt December 2, 1886	March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901	August 6, 1861	September 30, 1948 (aged 87)	1901–1909
Vacant; no Vice President.			September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905
	Cornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks (née Cornelia Cole)	Charles W. Fairbanks 1874	March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909	January 14, 1852	October 25, 1913 (aged 61)
	Carrie Babcock Sherman (née Carrie Babcock)	James S. Sherman January 26, 1881	March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912	November 16, 1856	October 6, 1931 (aged 74)
Vacant; no Vice President.			October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913
	Lois Irene Marshall (née Lois Irene Kimsey)	Thomas R. Marshall October 2, 1895	March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921	May 9, 1873	January 6, 1958 (aged 84)
	Grace Coolidge (née Grace Anna Goodhue)	Calvin Coolidge October 4, 1905	March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923	January 3, 1879	July 8, 1957 (aged 78)	1923–1929
Vacant; no Vice President.			August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925
	Caro Dawes (née Caro Dana Blymyer)	Charles G. Dawes 1889	March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929	January 6, 1866	October 3, 1957 (aged 91)
Vacant; Charles Curtis was a widower.			March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
	Mariette Elizabeth "Ettie" Garner (née Mariette Elizabeth Rheiner)	John Nance Garner November 25, 1895	March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941	July 17, 1869	August 17, 1948 (aged 79)
	Ilo Wallace (née Ilo Browne)	Henry A. Wallace May 20, 1914	January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945	March 10, 1888	February 22, 1981 (aged 92)
	Bess Truman (née Elizabeth Virginia Wallace)	Harry S. Truman June 28, 1919	January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945	February 13, 1885	October 18, 1982 (aged 97)	1945–1953
Vacant; no Vice President.			April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949
Vacant; Alben W. Barkley was a widower.			January 20, 1949 – November 18, 1949
	Jane Hadley Barkley (née Elizabeth Jane Rucker)	Alben W. Barkley November 18, 1949	November 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953	September 23, 1911	September 6, 1964 (aged 52)
	Pat Nixon (née Thelma Catherine Ryan)	Richard Nixon June 21, 1940	January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961	March 16, 1912	June 22, 1993 (aged 81)	1969–1974
	Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (née Claudia Alta Taylor)	Lyndon B. Johnson November 17, 1934	January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963	December 22, 1912	July 11, 2007 (aged 94)	1963–1969
Vacant; no Vice President.			November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965
	Muriel Humphrey Brown (née Muriel Fay Buck)	Hubert Humphrey September 3, 1936	January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969	February 20, 1912	September 20, 1998 (aged 86)
	Elinor "Judy" Agnew (née Elinor Isabel Judefind)	Spiro Agnew May 27, 1942	January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973	April 23, 1921	June 20, 2012 (aged 91)
Vacant; no Vice President.			October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973
	Elizabeth "Betty" Ford (née Elizabeth Anne Bloomer)	Gerald Ford October 15, 1948	December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974	April 8, 1918	July 8, 2011 (aged 93)	1974–1977
Vacant; no Vice President.			August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974
	Margaretta "Happy" Rockefeller (née Margaretta Large Fitler)	Nelson Rockefeller May 4, 1963	December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977	June 9, 1926	May 19, 2015 (aged 88)
	Joan Mondale (née Joan Adams)	Walter Mondale December 27, 1955	January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981	August 8, 1930	February 3, 2014 (aged 83)
	Barbara Bush (née Barbara Pierce)	George H. W. Bush January 6, 1945	January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989	June 8, 1925	April 17, 2018 (aged 92)	1989–1993
	Marilyn Quayle (née Marilyn Tucker)	Dan Quayle November 18, 1972	January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993	July 29, 1949	Living 71 years, 195 days
	Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson)	Al Gore May 19, 1970	January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001	August 19, 1948	Living 72 years, 174 days
	Lynne Cheney (née Lynne Ann Vincent)	Dick Cheney August 29, 1964	January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009	August 14, 1941	Living 79 years, 179 days
	Jill Biden (née Jill Tracy Jacobs)	Joe Biden June 17, 1977	January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017	June 3, 1951	Living 69 years, 251 days	2021–present
	Karen Pence (née Karen Sue Batten)	Mike Pence June 8, 1985	January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021	January 1, 1957	Living 64 years, 39 days
	Douglas Craig Emhoff	Kamala Harris August 22, 2014	January 20, 2021 – present	October 13, 1964	Living 56 years, 119 days

Other spouses of U.S. vice presidents

Various other spouses of vice presidents of the United States are not considered as second ladies of the United States because their marriages were not during the vice presidential terms of their husbands.

Nine U.S. vice presidents were widowed prior to their vice presidencies:

• Thomas Jefferson was married to Martha Wayles from 1772 until her death in 1782.
• Aaron Burr was married to Theodosia Bartow Prevost from 1782 until her death in 1794.
• George Clinton was married to Sarah Tappen from 1770 until her death in 1800.
• Martin Van Buren was married to Hannah Hoes from 1807 until her death in 1819.
• Richard Mentor Johnson was married to Julia Chinn until her death in 1830.
• Henry Wilson was married to Harriet Howe from 1840 until her death in 1870.
• William A. Wheeler was married to Mary King from 1845 until her death in 1876.
• Chester A. Arthur was married to Ellen Lewis Herndon from 1859 until her death in 1880.
• Charles Curtis was married to Annie Baird from 1884 until her death in 1924. Curtis's half-sister Dolly Gann acted as his official hostess for social events during his vice presidency.

One U.S. vice president was divorced and remarried prior to his vice presidency:

• Nelson Rockefeller was married to Mary Todhunter Clark from 1930 until 1962. He was subsequently married to Happy Fitler from 1963 until his death in 1979.

Three U.S. vice presidents remarried after their vice presidencies:

• Aaron Burr was married to Elizabeth Bowen Jumel from 1833 until their divorce in 1836.
• John Tyler was married to Julia Gardiner from 1844 until his death in 1862.
• Millard Fillmore was married to Caroline Carmichael McIntosh from 1858 until his death in 1874.

Five U.S. vice presidents were widowed and remarried prior to their vice presidencies:

• Hannibal Hamlin was married to Sarah Emery from 1833 until her death in 1855. He was subsequently married to Ellen Emery from 1856 to his death in 1891.
• Schuyler Colfax was married to Evelyn Clark from 1844 until her death in 1863. He was subsequently married to Ellen Wade from 1868 to his death in 1885.
• Levi P. Morton was married to Lucy Young Kimball from 1856 until her death in 1871. He was subsequently married to Anna Livingston Reade Street from 1873 to her death in 1918.
• Theodore Roosevelt was married to Alice Hathaway Lee from 1880 until her death in 1884. He was subsequently married to Edith Carow from 1886 to his death in 1919.
• Joe Biden was married to Neilia Hunter from 1966 until her death in 1972. He has subsequently been married to Jill Jacobs since 1977.

One U.S. vice president was widowed before his vice presidency and remarried during his vice presidency:

• Alben W. Barkley was married to Dorothy Brower from 1903 until her death in 1947. He was subsequently married to Jane Rucker Hadley from 1949 to his death in 1956.

Living second ladies

As of February 2021, there are five living former second ladies, as identified below.

• 
  Marilyn Quayle
  served 1989–93
  born 1949 (age 71)
  wife of Dan Quayle
• 
  Tipper Gore
  served 1993–2001
  born 1948 (age 72)
  estranged wife of Al Gore
• 
  Lynne Cheney
  served 2001–09
  born 1941 (age 79)
  wife of Dick Cheney
• 
  Jill Biden
  served 2009–17
  born 1951 (age 69)
  wife of Joe Biden
• 
  Karen Pence
  served 2017−21
  born 1957 (age 64)
  wife of Mike Pence

The most recent second lady to die, and most recent serving (1981–89) who died, was Barbara Bush on April 17, 2018.

See also

• First Lady of the United States
• List of First Ladies of the United States
• Vice President of the United States
• List of vice presidents of the United States
• United States order of precedence

References

1. Johnson, Ted (15 January 2021). "Twitter Will Offer @SecondGentleman Account For Doug Emhoff; Outlines Plans For Transfer To Joe Biden's Administration". Deadline.
2. Purcell, Edward (2010). Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary. InfoBase. p. 237. ISBN 978-1438130712.
3. Safire, William (2008). Safire's Political Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-0195343342.
4. "Mrs. Karen Pence". whitehouse.gov. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
5. Brower, Kate Andersen (June 24, 2018). "Remembering Pat Nixon: A fearless first and second lady". The Hill. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
6. "Mrs. Lynne Cheney". whitehouse.gov. The White House. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
7. Abcarian, Robin Abcarian (2 February 2009). "Hi, I'm Jill. Jill Biden. But please, call me Dr. Biden". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
8. Hannity & Colmes (16 September 2008). "Second Lady Lynne Cheney on Her New Book, Media's Treatment of Sarah Palin". Fox News. Retrieved 9 February 2017.

External links

• "Douglas Emhoff". Retrieved January 21, 2021. – The Official White House site for the Second Gentleman
• "Wives of Vice Presidents". Vice Presidents.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005. – List of the wives of Vice Presidents