American First Ladies Trivia Quiz

Answer: James Madison

Dolley Payne Madison (1768 - 1849) was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the U.S. She was born into a Quaker family from North Carolina and married John Todd in 1790. Her husband and several other family members died from a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793. She was introduced to Madison by his friend Aaron Burr and wed the future president in 1794.

Dolley (often spelled as Dolly or Dollie) was a very popular first lady and invited all political party members to social events, a significant change from earlier administrations. She is often credited with saving the famous portrait of Washington when the White House was burned, although later historians credit White House servants. After Madison's death, Dolly edited many of his papers that captured the discussions that were aired at the Constitutional Convention.

Answer: Lyndon Johnson

Claudia Taylor Johnson (1912 - 2007) was nicknamed Lady Bird at the suggestion of a family nursemaid. She graduated with a degree in history from the University of Texas and married LBJ in 1934. As First Lady, she concentrated on the Head Start program, aimed at helping preschool children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

She became most closely identified with an environmental program called "beautification", that sought to encourage people to make their surroundings more attractive.

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

Edith Bolling Wilson (1872 - 1961) was left a wealthy widow after her first husband Norman Galt died in 1908. Woodrow Wilson was introduced to her after his first wife Ellen had died in 1914. After a whirlwind courtship they married in 1915 while he was president.

She accompanied her husband to the peace talks after World War I and became the first presidential wife to visit Europe. The president suffered an incapacitating stroke in October 1919, and a great deal of controversy has since arisen regarding how much presidential power Edith wielded during this period when he was seriously ill.

Answer: Warren Harding

Florence Kling Harding (1860 - 1924) was the rebellious daughter of an Ohio family. She had a child before meeting Warren Harding and became estranged from her parents. She met Harding when he owned the local newspaper and they married in 1891.

When she was first lady, Florence Harding had made the White House more accessible to the public and opened it up to public tours. She was with Harding when he died in San Francisco.

Answer: Ulysses Grant

Julia Dent Grant (1826 - 1902) was the daughter of a prosperous Missouri merchant and plantation owner. She married Grant in 1854. He resigned from the Army in 1854 and was notably unsuccessful in civilian life before rejoining the Army at the start of the Civil War.

Julia Grant was a popular First Lady, noted for her informal manner and opulent entertainment during America's Gilded Age. The Grant children were favorites of the press, one of their daughters' marriage became a national event, and magazines regularly covered life in their house. Julia Grant became the first presidential wife to write an autobiography.

Answer: John Adams

Abigail Smith Adams (1744 - 1818) received no formal education, but she was educated by her mother and developed a brilliant mind. Her correspondence of over 1000 letters with her husband gives insight into both their marriage and politics of the days, showing two brilliant minds. They had married in 1764, and traveled to Europe in 1784 to serve in embassies in Paris and London.

She was very active in the politics of the day, and political opponents called her "Mrs. President". Abigail Adams was a strong advocate for women's rights, especially married women's property rights and increased opportunities. The national capital was located in Philadelphia for most of Adams' term of office, although for the last four months the Adams' became the first occupants of the White House.

Answer: Rutherford Hayes

Lucy Webb Hayes (1831 - 1889) graduated from Wesleyan Female College in Cincinnati before marrying Hayes in 1852. She was very involved in his political career and often attended Congressional debates. Her charitable work was widely lauded by his constituents.

Her simple life style and frugality as First Lady contrasted with the more extravagant style of her predecessor Julia Grant. Some opponents called her "Lemonade Lucy" for her decision not to serve alcoholic drinks at White House functions. She was the first presidential wife to travel coast to coast, and she instituted the now-traditional Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn.

Answer: Calvin Coolidge

Grace Goodhue Coolidge (1879 - 1957) graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of arts degree. She worked with the deaf after graduation before meeting Calvin Coolidge and marrying him in 1905. In contrast to her laconic husband, Grace Coolidge was outgoing and fashionable.

At the request of her husband she stayed out of politics, although it is noteworthy that she once gave a five minute speech in sign language during her tenure. One of her notable achievements as First Lady was the addition of a sun room, very popular with later presidential families.

Answer: Herbert Hoover

Lou Henry Hoover (1874- 1944) was the wife of Herbert Hoover. Born in Iowa, she moved to California at age 10 and later graduated from Stanford with a degree in Geology. The Hoovers met in college and married in 1899. Soon afterwards they moved to China where Lou Hoover learned Mandarin and the Hoovers were temporarily trapped during the Boxer Rebellion. During World War I she was active in wartime relief efforts and later headed the American Girl Scouts.

As First Lady she often gave radio addresses to the public, often delving into feminist topics. She was very organized, and catalogued the White House holding. She risked the ire of the public by inviting the wife of an African American congressman to the traditional First Lady's reception for the wives of legislators.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln (1818 - 1872) married Lincoln in 1842 when he was still a struggling lawyer. Besides the death of her husband, she also lost three of her four children before they were 20 years old.

Her life as first lady was difficult since many of her extended family members had chosen to fight for the Confederacy and she was criticized for extravagant spending on her wardrobe. Later, when she exhibited erratic behavior, her remaining son Robert had her confined to an asylum.

Answer: Dwight Eisenhower

Mamie Doud Eisenhower (1896 - 1979) was the wife of Dwight Eisenhower. Her family had retired to Denver, but had a winter home in San Antonio where she met Eisenhower whom she married in 1916. As a military wife, she estimated that they had packed up and moved 27 times before reaching the White House.

Her term as First Lady was marked by her unaffected manner and gracious entertaining. After his presidency, the Eisenhowers moved to a home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Answer: Grover Cleveland

Frances Folsom (1864 - 1947) married Grover Cleveland in 1886. She had just just graduated from college and had been touring Europe with her mother while maintaining a long-time correspondence with Cleveland. He had been her father's law partner and executor for his estate; and is thought to have purchased her baby carriage.

The Clevelands hold many First Family distinctions. She was the youngest First Lady. Theirs was the first marriage of a sitting president in the White House. Their child was the first born to a president. And they lived away from the White House, showing up for official functions there. There is a disputed claim that the American candy bar Baby Ruth was named for the Clevelands' daughter.

Answer: Richard Nixon

Thelma Ryan was nicknamed Pat because she was born on the eve of St Patrick's day. Her parents had died by the time she was 18, forcing her to work to attend college. After receiving a degree in 1937 she taught in high school and met Richard Nixon as part of an amateur theater group. They were married in 1940 before Nixon's time in military service. Pat Nixon was very influential in his initial campaign for Congress, but soured on politics after the bitterness of the 1952 election.

While she was First Lady, Pat Nixon visited 57 countries with her husband. As First Lady she advocated an increase in volunteerism by the nation. She made special efforts to open the White House to people with difficulties, the visually or hearing impaired and the physically handicapped. She remained well-liked by the American people even as her husband's presidency plummeted.

Answer: Gerald Ford

Betty Bloomer Ford (1918 - 2011) was an outspoken First Lady who was willing to express her opinions on controversial subjects. As a young child she was very interested in dance and later danced for Martha Graham's dance troupe. Between 1942 and 1947 she was married to William Warren; and after her divorce she married Gerald Ford.

Soon after becoming First Lady Betty Ford underwent a mastectomy, and her forthright discussion of breast cancer and women's health issues won her the admiration of the American public and led to a healthier approach to the issue. She had also become addicted to pain medication and went to a treatment center in 1978. In 1982 she helped form the Betty Ford Center to help others with addiction problems.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Nancy Davis Reagan (1921 - 2016) was named Anne Frances Robbins at birth, although her mother nicknamed her Nancy. Nancy took the surname of her stepfather (Davis) after her mother remarried. She majored in drama at Smith College. There she appeared on Broadway and acted in 11 movies, meeting Ronald Reagan when both starred in "Hellcats of the Navy".

She was a trusted advisor to Reagan and influenced many of his decisions, especially in the later years of his term in office. As First Lady she attempted to convince people to avoid drugs, and after the Reagan's left office she was an advocate for stem cell research, especially to combat Alzheimer's disease. She made few appearances later in life while tending to her husband as he suffered from this disease.