National Museum of American History

A 2004 USA Today-MacNeil/Lehrer Productions-Gallup poll found that 54 percent of voters consider the candidate’s spouse when deciding which presidential candidate to support. This consideration is not new. Political enemies of Andrew Jackson raised his wife Rachel’s first marriage and divorce as a scandal. Supporters of Grover Cleveland capitalized on the popularity of his young wife Frances by using her image on campaign posters. Modern presidential campaigns ask voters to consider the personality, public experience, potential influence, and even recipes of first lady “candidates.”