Why Are Presidential Candidates’ Wives All the Same?

[seabeyond]

She humanizes, softens, and grounds.

The political wife is repeatedly described as a kind of human emery board, trotted out to smooth the candidate’s rough edges and make him more accessible to voters. During Bob Dole’s creaky 1996 run, the Austin-American Statesman called Elizabeth a “softening agent,” praising her charm and her accent (“like sorghum syrup on grits”). Tipper Gore was seen in the same terms—so much so that when the New York Times’ Frank Bruni found her “tense” in a 1999 interview about her depression, he seemed mystified. Tipper “is supposed to be earthy, unguarded effervescent,” serving “as the essential antidote to Al, the unlabored warmth to his unyielding chill.” Bruni wrote.


She hates politics!

There are a few reasons for wannabe first ladies to avoid saying anything that suggests personal ambition. There’s the lesson of Hillary you’ll-get-no-cookies-from-me Clinton in 1992. In vastly different ways, both she and Nancy Reagan were seen as power-hungry when their husbands first entered office, and both had to remake themselves. Americans still seem to prefer their first ladies, no matter how professionally accomplished, as wives and mothers first (Michelle Obama’s self-proclaimed title: Mom-in-Chief). Also, it is far easier for the political spouse to connect with voters if she, too, evinces slight disdain and wonder at the political process. (The husbands say this, too, but no one believes them.) She must always stress how reluctant she is to campaign, and how “shaky” she gets doing a big speech, as Ann Romney recently confessed to Diane Sawyer.


She’s become his “secret weapon.”

This phrase is one of the most overused in descriptions of candidates’ wives. It is often (though not always) an exaggeration, juxtaposed with tales of how her baking Welsh cakes for reporters (Ann Romney), or appearing in a very special episode of iCarly (Michelle Obama), is just the charm offensive her husband needs. In fact, inflating the power of the wife in the political process tends to underscore how little power she actually has, how narrow the parameters for her permitted discourse really are. Which is why, after Michelle Obama’s impassioned, tearful convention address, political scientist Larry Sabato tweeted out a reminder: “Spouses please voters but don’t change votes.” And why, at the GOP convention, Ann Romney stuck to giving a speech about the grand policy debate of our time: “love.”


She has a quiet toughness.

So long as the show of steel is on behalf of family or country, and tempered by ladylike reserve, a measure of fire tends to be praised by profile writers. Thus, Elizabeth Dole was said to be soft except when she was a “steel magnolia.” George magazine reflected that “Laura Bush may not have much to say on her own behalf, but when it comes to defending her husband ... she'll brave any crowd.” During George Sr.’s ’88 presidential race, Barbara Bush was described in almost identical language in a Los Angeles Times piece that called her “reserved” but fiercely loyal, “George Bush's most stalwart defender.”


http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/09/first_wives_club_why_are_presidential_candidates_spouses_all_the_same_.single.html


i have nothing but good to say about michelle obama. that simple. i love her voice and what she has to say. but i thought this was interesting from a womens perspective and role conditions.

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. Wait until we have a 'first husband' . . .

does anyone think they will make such vapid comments about him?

[seabeyond]

2. it really will be interesting to contrast and compare. good point.

i like the idea and to see the difference. we had a little of bill clinton and you certainly didnt see that. but then, he has his own power as Xpres.

thank you. i like

[CrispyQ]

3. A few years back, there was a TV show, "Commander in Chief" I think it was called.

Geena Davis played the first female prez of the states. They touched on the topic in a few episode. For the life of me I cannot recall what they called the First Husband. First Gentleman? Ugh.

[seabeyond]

4. was that any good. i wanted to watch that, but forget to turn on my tv. nt

[CrispyQ]

7. Good & bad.

I thought they handled the gender/sexist issues very well - the types of problems she encounters being a woman. OTOH, every conflict, even if it had some SNFU's in the execution, always came off perfectly.

[VWolf]

5. I only hope

I live to see the day.

[ismnotwasm]

6. And any accomplishments of the first Lady

Such a successful law practice, excellent business acumen, whatever it is is also softened down to "feminine" edges or the First Lady is accused of being a Lesbian, as happened with Hillary Clinton, when she dared to us her skills and sweat to come up with a healthcare plan for America.