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Presidential Connections

The conference was attended by former First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Betty Ford, as well as Rosalynn Carter, wife of President Jimmy Carter. These women were not the only political figures in attendance, but their position as direct connections to the president made their presence significant.

The position of First Lady, which originally consisted of being a good hostess to guests of the president, has become more politicized as women began to receive more rights and more access to power. Martha Washington, who several consider to be the first First Lady, was often referred to as Lady Washington because of her social standing and was known for being a lovely hostess to guests of the White House. Dolly Madison, wife of former president James Madison, was the first woman in this position to use her political power to push for change, thus becoming the basis for the modern day First Lady. Several First Ladies from the late 19th century aligned themselves with various political movements, such as temperance and war, but few were known for their active political involvement. It wasn't until 1932, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected into office, that the idea of a politically active First Lady began to form. Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, became an important figure of the Great Depression and the Second World War because of her dedication to her country. Although there were several First Ladies who were actively supporting the country, none of them did so with the passion and commitment of Mrs. Roosevelt, who would often appear on the radio and in press conferences and had a friendly and comforting demeanor. Roosevelt's work is remembered to this day, and she is seen as a feminist icon because of her use of political power to drive change.

Jackie Kennedy, the First Lady who preceded Lady Bird Johnson, was another well known First Lady. Kennedy was married to John F. Kennedy, and is remembered for being a glamorous companion for the president. There is little mention of her political involvement, as she is celebrated because of her and her family's celebrity status while in the office. After President Lyndon B. Johnson entered office, his wife Lady Bird began to focus on social issues of the time, rather than status or being the ideal American housewife. Johnson was a key component in her husband's political career, serving as an adviser and working to present herself in the best way possible. While in the White House, Johnson sought to link her powerful position with that as a traditional first lady. During President Johnson's second inauguration, she became the first wife to hold the Bible while her husband was sworn in. During her First Ladyship, her focus was on beautification of natural areas, which stemmed from a lifelong love of nature.

Ford took the office in 1974 following the resignation of President Richard Nixon, and would spend the rest of her term pushing for greater rights for women. She was an advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment, and tried to campaign for it whenever her schedule allowed. It was during the Ford administration that the idea for a women's conference began to surface, and many believe that Betty Ford was largely responsible for this. She would be the main voice leading the her fellow First Ladies to the conference, and would continue to use her political power to advocate for women's rights, as well as for help for anyone suffering from addiction, as she once did. She opened a rehabilitation center in 1982 and became an advocate for assistance for anyone struggling with addiction.

Rosalynn Carter, who was First Lady at the time of the conference, was a strong proponent of feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment. She was the first First Lady to use the office in the East Wing, and was a known advocate for several social issues. She attended the conference with Johnson and Ford,stating that Ford was the major force in bringing them all together. The First Ladies all delivered speeches during the opening ceremony, and accepted the torch when it arrived onstage.