| Second Gentleman of the United States | |
|---|---|
| Style | Mr. Second Gentleman Mr. Emhoff |
| Abbreviation | SGOTUS |
| Residence | Number One Observatory Circle |
| Inaugural holder | Abigail Adams (as second lady) Douglas Emhoff (as second gentleman) |
| Formation | April 21, 1789 |
| Website | Official website |
The second gentleman or second lady of the United States (SGOTUS or SLOTUS) 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. The first second gentleman of the United States is Doug Emhoff, the husband of Kamala Harris, the current vice president and first female in the position, since January 20, 2021.[1]
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. Thus, Abigail was the first second lady and the second first lady. 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.
Since the 1970s, the vice presidential official residence is One Observatory Circle.
The second spouse'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.
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.
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.
12 second ladies went on to become first lady following their husbands becoming president, the first being Abigail Adams and most recent being Jill Biden.
The role of the second lady is unpaid and not formally defined.[2] The wife of the vice president of the United States was traditionally expected to serve as a hostess and appear at society functions.[3][4] Jennie Tuttle Hobart, wife of Vice President Garret Hobart (1897–1899) is often cited as the first woman to style herself as "Second Lady".[5][4] Hobart took over the hostess duties on behalf of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, who had chronic health issues including epilepsy.[4] Starting in 1917, the wife of the vice president took on the unofficial role of convener of the Red Cross Senate Wives, presiding over their lunches; the organization later became known as the Senate Spouses Club.[4] The question of the second lady's status became a topic of debate in 1929 when Dolly Curtis Gann, the sister of Vice President Charles Curtis (1929–1933), assumed the role of hostess on his behalf, since he was widowed.[6] Gann had waged a public "battle of precedence" against Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the wife of the late speaker of the House.[7]
Over time, the spouse of the vice president started to become more visible as the Office of the Vice President itself gained power and influence, and assumed additional responsibilities.[4] In 2010, Marie Claire magazine described the role of second ladies as being "relegated to roast-chicken charity dinners and sit-and-smile political functions. They cherry-pick a cause or two...and pretty much stay out of the way."[8] Presidential historian Gil Troy noted that during the Kennedy administration, one of Second Lady Lady Bird Johnson's roles was to replace First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy when she withdrew from public appearances, often at the last minute; Johnson replaced Kennedy on more than 50 occasions.[9]
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.[10] 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.[10] 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."[10] Historian Cormac O'Brien says that Pat Nixon "may have well been the most extraordinary second lady in American history" because of her role in accompanying Vice President Richard Nixon on a tour of the world as a goodwill ambassador.[3] She also traveled independently of the vice president and attended events, including campaign tours, on her own.[6][4] According to O'Brien, Second Lady Nixon proved popular "as a paragon of graciousness, composure, and elegance", and made a conscious effort to travel to locations where local women were banned, to spread a subtle message for equal rights.[3]
During the Reagan administration, Second Lady Barbara Bush hosted more than one thousand events and traveled over 1.5 million miles at home and abroad over eight years, and championed literacy, a cause she continued to support when she later became First Lady.[3]
Tipper Gore, former 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.[11] Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, worked 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.[8][12] She has been involved in various causes, including breast cancer awareness and literacy.
Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, became the first Second Gentleman of the United States when his wife was elected the first female vice president. He is the first attorney,[citation needed] the first Jewish person, and the first husband to assume this ceremonial role.[13] Emhoff is a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center;[14] he is thought to be the second person in American history to maintain a paid position while married to a serving vice president.[citation needed] His top priority in office has been to advocate for food security across the United States, fight antisemitism on the international stage, address climate change, and push for equal access to justice. He has traveled to several countries representing the United States, including: France, Germany, Poland, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia among others, having met with heads of state and attended inaugurations and state dinners.[citation needed]
Living second ladies and gentlemen as of April 2024[update] (from oldest to youngest):
| 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 22, 1744 | October 28, 1818 (73 years, 340 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 after Clinton's death. | 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 after Gerry's death. | November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817 | |||||||
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|
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 after Calhoun's resignation. | 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 | 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 after Tyler assumed presidency. | April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845 | |||||||
| Sophia Dallas (née Sophia Chew Nicklin) | George M. Dallas May 23, 1816 |
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 | June 24, 1798 | January 11, 1869 (aged 70) | ||||
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|
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 after Fillmore assumed presidency. | July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 | |||||||
| Vacant; William R. King was unmarried. | March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853 | |||||||
| Vacant; no vice president after King’s death. | 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 after Johnson assumed presidency. | 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; 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 after Arthur assumed presidency. | September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 | |||||||
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|
Eliza Hendricks (née Eliza Carol Morgan) | Thomas A. Hendricks September 26, 1845 |
March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885 | November 23, 1823 | November 3, 1903 (aged 79) | |||
| Vacant; no vice president after Hendricks's death. | November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889 | |||||||
|
Anna Morton (née Anna Livingston Reade Street) | Levi P. Morton February 12, 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 after Hobart's death. | 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 after Roosevelt assumed presidency. | September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905 | |||||||
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|
Cornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks (née Cornelia Cole) | Charles W. Fairbanks October 6, 1874 |
March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 | January 14, 1852 | October 24, 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 after Sherman's death. | 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 after Coolidge assumed presidency. | August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925 | |||||||
|
Caro Dawes (née Caro Dana Blymyer) | Charles G. Dawes January 24, 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 after Truman assumed presidency. | 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 after Johnson assumed presidency. | November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965 | |||||||
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|
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 until Ford's confirmation under the 25th Amendment. | 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 until Rockefeller's confirmation under the 25th Amendment. | 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) | |||
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|
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 74 years, 263 days |
|||
|
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson) | Al Gore May 19, 1970 |
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 | August 19, 1948 | Living 75 years, 242 days |
|||
|
|
Lynne Cheney (née Lynne Ann Vincent) | Dick Cheney August 29, 1964 |
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 | August 14, 1941 | Living 82 years, 247 days |
|||
|
Jill Biden (née Jill Tracy Jacobs) | Joe Biden June 17, 1977 |
January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017 | June 3, 1951 | Living 72 years, 319 days |
2021–present | ||
|
|
Karen Pence (née Karen Sue Batten) | Mike Pence June 8, 1985 |
January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 | January 1, 1957 | Living 67 years, 107 days |
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|
|
Douglas Craig Emhoff | Kamala Harris August 22, 2014 |
January 20, 2021 – present | October 13, 1964 | Living 59 years, 187 days |
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