The president's right-hand partner plays a very important role not only for the country, but for the presidency as well. No, I'm not referring to the Vice President; this job gets even fewer perks!
The First Lady is typically the president's wife—but it doesn't have to be. Throughout United States history, a handful of First Ladies didn't have the wife title!
The First Lady is a non-elected position and doesn't hold any power or duties, nor does it receive any salary (bummer!). She does, however, attend official ceremonies, state functions, fundraisers, and press conferences.
Generally, the way a First Lady acts can change the public's opinion on the President, so she usually has to be on her best behavior.
The first First Lady was George Washington's wife, Martha Washington, who took the job at nearly 58 years old. The youngest woman to become the First Lady was Angelica Van Buren, Martin Van Buren's daughter-in-law. Angelica took the job in 1839 when she was just shy of 21 years old.
The oldest First Lady to take the job? William Henry Harrison's wife, Anna Harrison, at 65 years, 222 days old! She ended up living well into her 80s.
