2016 has, without a doubt, been a year of political surprises. The UK’s decision to leave the European Union sent shock-waves across the globe, but even this unexpected move did not prepare the global community for the result of the US presidential election. Donald Trump – billionaire, successful business tycoon and perhaps the most controversial Republican candidate ever – is set to become the next President of the United States. His policies are controversial, to say the least, but I am choosing to focus not on what Trump’s impact on the USA will be, but on the role of his wife, Melania Trump. Firstly, however, let’s have a look at some of the former First Ladies and their legacies.
Perhaps one of the more iconic First Ladies is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, wife of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Becoming First Lady at the age of just 31, Jackie became a global fashion icon famed for her chic outfits. However, there was much more to her than just her fashion sense. Long before John F. Kennedy considered applying for office, Jackie was working as the ‘Inquiring Camera Girl’ for the Washington Times-Herald newspaper, with Richard M. Nixon being among those she interviewed for her column. Once John had won the office, Jackie continued to exercise her independence, taking it upon herself to restore and preserve the White House: she even earned an honorary Emmy award for the televised tour of the house that took place once the work was complete. Jackie remained an inspiration for women, especially when, after suffering the loss of both a child and her husband in the same year, she forged a new, successful career for herself in the publishing business.
Another inspiring example of a First Lady is Hillary Clinton, who served as First Lady long before she began her own presidential campaign. Even before she became First Lady, Hillary was a success in her own right, graduating with honours from Yale Law School – she was even twice named on the list of ‘The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America’. As First Lady, Hillary took an active part in trying to make the USA a better place. Two of her initiatives were the ‘Children’s Health Insurance Program’ in 1997 and ‘Vital Voices’, which aimed to promote the participation of international women in their nation’s political process, which she implemented whilst heading the President’s Task Force on Health Care Reform. Even after her husband’s time in office had finished, Hillary continued to carve out a successful political career for herself, becoming the US Secretary of State in 2009 and running for President in the recent 2016 presidential election.
Michelle Obama, the incumbent First Lady, has also used her time to encourage and inspire others. Like Hillary, Michelle was a successful lawyer long before her husband became president. Michelle has become a role model for women everywhere through her work, which includes the ‘Let Girls Learn’ campaign, aspiring to help girls across the globe to attend and remain in school. Other initiatives Michelle has taken part in include the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign, which addresses the devastating obesity-epidemic faced by the USA and plans to enable parents to make healthier choices for their children. Michelle has also set up the ‘Reach Higher’ Initiative, which encourages young people to pursue education past high school.
The next First Lady of the United States will be former model Melania Trump. Born in Slovenia, Mrs Trump has a very different background to the First Ladies we have seen before, and has faced criticism throughout Donald Trump’s campaign. This criticism has centred around Melania taking a more backseat role in her husband’s Presidential campaign than is usually expected of candidate’s wives, and awkward mishaps such as the alleged plagiarising of Michelle Obama’s speech. These instances aside, only time will tell what kind of First Lady Melania will be. Many may be surprised to know that Melania is fluent in five languages – Slovenian, English, French, Serbian and German – and is set to become only the second First Lady ever to be born outside of the United States. Mrs Trump has stated that she will work to combat cyber bullying, which she believes has become far too common a problem, especially amongst young people. Many are sceptical of Mrs Trump, although public opinion regarding Melania is not quite so heated as that regarding her husband, but all Americans can do now is wait and hope that Mrs Trump chooses to follow the excellent example set by some of the previous First Ladies.
Edited by: Tia Ralhan
Sources:
https://www.pinterest.com/1955jrd/~jackie-kennedy~/
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2008/03/link_roundup_2.html
http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-obama-307592
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a13529/melania-trump-interview-0216/
Information sources:
https://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/Life-of-Jacqueline-B-Kennedy.aspx