When it comes the wives of U.S. Presidents it is more than likely names like Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt or Hillary Clinton will be the first ones to come to mind; Which isn’t surprising as the role of first lady wasn’t really looked upon with much importance similar to that of the Vice Presidency.

As such there are many first ladies whose contributions to the White House and in some cases the Presidency have often been overlooked…and today will going over some of these forgotten women and their accomplishments whilst living in America’s capital.

#10. Helen Taft (First Lady: 1909-1913)

Surrounded by politics at a young age, Helen Herron (often called “Nellie”) had aspirations of living in the White House following a trip she and her family had back in 1877; Due to the backward standards of the day, Helen’s desire to move into the Oval Office was only going to happen if she married a man who became President of the United States.

It wouldn’t take her too long to find that man when she met William Howard Taft and the two eventually became an item just around the time William’s career was about to be taken to the next level. After Theodore Roosevelt announced he wouldn’t seek another term in 1908, Teddy believed his successor should be his friend William Taft which led to both the president and Helen convincing Taft to run.

After winning the election, Helen soon became William’s top advisory during his presidency where she helped in making decisions while also trying to keep her husband focused on his duties and maintaining his image.

One of her biggest accomplishments saw the planting of Japanese Cherry Trees on the White House lawn and the West Potomac Park (which continue to bloom even today). She became the first first lady to write a memoir, smoke cigarettes, the first to attend a Supreme Court hearing as well as the nominating conventions of both the Democrats and Republicans in 1912; Helen also rode alongside her husband during a parade following his 1909 inauguration, and she became the first to drive and own a car.

Sadly a stroke that just two months into her tenure would limit the amount of things she could do, but her previously mentioned accolades have helped to cemment her place in history.

#9. Lucy Hayes (First Lady: 1877-1881)

Nicknamed “Lemonade Lucy” for her decision to ban alcohol in the White House in favor of Lemonade, Lucy Hayes also has the distinction of being the first wife of a U.S. President to be called ‘First Lady’ by the press.

As the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, Lucy would host various events and helped in modernizing the White House with a newly installed bathroom that had actual running water while also pushing for the continued construction of the Washington Monument.

Outside of perhaps Dolly Madison, Lucy got to interact with more first ladies than anyone else as she socialized with at least six different women who were either wives of a president or future first ladies themselves.

She hosted the first Easter Egg Roll on the White House Lawn and she supported Women’s Rights despite not being a part of the Suffrage Movement; She favored African Americans both before and after Civil War, and even went on an incredible fishing trip with then Vice President William Wheeler in the Adirondacks.

While her nickname is perhaps the one thing most people will know Lucy Hayes for, she did more than enough to be remembered.

#8. Frances Cleveland (First Lady: 1886-1889, 1893-1897)

Much like Lucy Hayes, Frances Flossom (later known as Frances Cleveland) managed to create history of her own during her time as she became the first woman to get married in the White House and the first to have a child born in the White House as well…also she was 21 when she became first lady (making her the youngest in U.S. History).

That said, the story surrounding their relationship is more than a little creepy; Before taking office Grover worked with Frances’ father at a law firm until his 1875 death, which opened the door for Cleveland to become her guardian of sorts (bare in mind she was only 11 years old at the time) and Frances was only a decade away from marrying her “guardian” who would’ve been 49 when they married.

Disturbing origins to their relationship aside, Frances was beloved during her time as First Lady as she socialized with the press and the general public; When Grover lost the 1888 election, Frances famously remarked to a staffer that she wanted all the furinitures and ornaments to be taken cared of as she and her husband would coming back in four years.

She was right, Grover won his old job back and Frances continued her duties as the president’s wife while also making efforts to protect her husband’s image after it was discovered he had cancer inside his mouth and needed surgery to remove it.

Frances was basically the 19th Century equivalent of Jackie Kennedy as she added grace and warm to the White House all while dealing with the responsibilities of being a mother, devoted wife and culture icon.

#7. Florence Harding (First Lady: 1921-1923)

One of the more polarizing names to make this list, Florence Harding was the wife of Ohio Senator turned U.S. President Warren G. Harding, a man often placed near the bottom of most presidential rankings due his administration being corrupt and the endless amount of womanizing he did in his lifetime.

In fact one of the reasons why Florence’s legacy is view unfavorable is the now defuncted rumor that she poisoned her husband as a result of his extra-martial affairs and she’s refused an autopsy of his body following his death.

Regardless, Florence was indeed an active first lady as she went to great lengths to ensure her and Warren’s public image was respectable and made sure to squash any scandals or negative press when it came the president. She was often seen talking with the press, movie stars and even consulted with an astrologist during her time in the White House.

She also wasn’t afraid to speak her mind on various issues and received both praise and condemnation on topics related to animal rights, women’s right’s, race, prohibition, not to mention supporting wounded veterans and immigrant children…However her decision to convince her husband to give Charles R. Forbes the position of Veterans Bureau Director would lead to some corrupt consequences in the future.

While the rumors and her activist role in the admininstration continues to be scrunitized, you can’t say see was just your run-of-the-mill housewife.

#6. Abigail Fillmore (First Lady: 1850-1853)

The wife of America’s 13th U.S. President, Abigail was a voracious learner in her youth due to being educated in mathematics, geography, literature, plus she spoke fluent French by the age of 16 when she followed in her mother’s footsteps and become a teacher for various schools such as the New Hope Academy in New York.

It was during this time in New Hope she met a student by the name of Millard Fillmore (who was a few years her junior) and the two began a relationship which eventually saw Abigail become First Lady after her husband’s ascend to the White House in 1850.

Although she felt uncomfortable with the idea of becoming first lady due to self doubt and questionably health, she would prove herself to be more than capable as she continued the usual traditions for hosting events, but also made efforts in having a kitchen stove installed in the White House.

Abigail would supervise the creation of a White House library which also served as a music room for her daughter, and she advised her husband on political matters with some crediting her with the outlawing of flogging sailors which was used as a punishment in the Navy.

Not long after leaving the White House with her husband, Abigail would succumb to a bout of pnuemonia on March 30th 1853 aged 55; Historians often rank her low when it comes to other first ladies, but her efforts in modernizing the White House and tireless work as an educator is to be commended.

#5. Lou Hoover (First Lady: 1929-1933)

The first woman to graduate with a degree in geology from Stanford University, Lou Henry would serve as first lady to her husband Herbert Hoover who was forced to deal with the fallout of the 1929 stock market crash which paved the way for the Great Depression.

Lou would oversee the creation of Rapidan Camp (a presidential retreat located in Virginia) and became the first wife of a president to frequently speak on the radio as she partially didn’t trust the media to accurately report on the coming and goings of her husband’s presidency.

Mrs. Hoover also met with Jessie De Priest (the wife of a newly elected Republican Congressmen) for an afternoon of Tea in June of 1929; This sparked outraged for a certain section of the country due to De Priest being a black woman. Despite keeping news surrounding the event hush-hush as not to anger any wives of Southern politicians, Hoover refused to let the “controversy” get to her afterwards.

Tack on her philanthropic work which also saw her privately donate to those in need and her efforts in supporting women’s rights as president of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and Lou Hoover’s legacy is one of a wealthy person using her money and influence to help the impoverish.

#4. Sarah Polk (First Lady: 1845-1849)

Born the daughter of a slave owning but well connected Tennessee family, Sarah Childress meet her future husband James Knox Polk when they were young and by 1824 the two would became a couple after Andrew Jackson convinced his protégé to find a wife.

The newly married Mrs. Polk would use her charm and abilities of persuasion to help further her husband’s political career which saw him elected to roles like Speaker of the House and Governor of Tennessee before his unexpected rise to the presidency after winning the election of 1844.

It’s widely believed that Sarah played an advisory role in the White House and was often the first person the president communicated with as both deeply enjoyed discussing politics; She also served as the president’s secretary, mediator and at times caretaker in order to reduce the pressure her workaholic husband was under at the time.

Much like James, Sarah was known for her stern personality which explains why her tenure was void of merriment when it came to White House dinners or other activities usually hosted by the first lady.

Following Polk’s death mere months after leaving office in 1849, Sarah never remarried and spent the rest of her life trying to secure her husband’s legacy…but given how little known James K. Polk is to most Americans today, it’s safe to say she was unsuccessful.

#3. Caroline Harrison (First Lady: 1889-1892)

To some Caroline Harrison is remembered for being the first lady who died towards the end of 1892 presidential election which left her husband (President Benjamin Harrison) feeling unstandably heartbroken; Prior to her passing Mrs. Harrison’s time in the White House was arguably the most transformative of all the first ladies around this time.

Like many of the first ladies on this list, Caroline focused her efforts on remodeling the White House: This included hiring a curator to oversee presidential artifacts, improving in-door plumming into the building, and became the first to have electricity brought into the White House, although many (including the president) were hesitant to switch it on.

When she wasn’t busy modernizing the White House, Caroline spent her time doing charity work, donating money to fund John Hopkins University provided they allow women to attend (which they did) and she even convinced her husband to hire a lady named Alice B. Sanger to serve as secretary before that role even existed, making her the first woman to work as part of the excutive office.

Overall, Caroline Harrison was a powerhouse in her own right and had she not died while in office her time after the White House would’ve been just as impressive.

#2. Edith Roosevelt (First Lady: 1901-1909)

Edith Carow became Theodore Roosevelt’s second wife in 1886 and just four years later she and her husband would end up moving into the White House. While Teddy’s presidency is revered today for his activist style of governing, his wife was just as active in her time as first lady.

In addition to balancing her duties as a mother and event hostess, Edith took a major role in separating the first family’s living quarters from the offices of the executive branch which led to the establishment and furbishing of the East and West Wing of the White House.

Edith also hired the first social secretary in Belle Hagner, who helped in the preservation of White House china and the creation of a gallery in which the portraits of previous and future first ladies would be hanged inside the building.

If that’s not enough, she also served as a mediator to her husband when it came to signing the end of the Russo-Japanese War (which earned Teddy a Noble Bell Peace Prize by the way), she traveled with Roosevelt to watch the construction of the Panama Canal, plus she accurately predicted her husband would regret not seeking another term in 1908.

Much like her husband, Edith Roosevelt certainly got a lot done during her time in the White House.

#1. Abigail Adams (First Lady: 1797-1801)

President Harry Truman once famous regarding Abigail Adams:

“She would have been a better President than her husband.”

And in all honesty he might be right, because Abigail was certainly a force of political nature even for her time as her support for democracy and women’s rights were only matches by her and her husband’s distain for slavery.

Throughout much of John Adams’ time in office, Abigail (like others on this list) helped in advising her husband’s decisions which led to many detractors refering to her as “Mrs. President”.

From helping to pick candidates for government jobs to hosting White House dinners to entertaining diplomats to ensuring her husband’s administration was covered positively, Abigail pretty much wrote the book on how active a first lady can be and laid the foundation for those that came later.

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