I have to go with Jackie.... why? Because she was Jackie.. elegant, sophisticated and somewhat mysterious.. oh... and beautiful.
Gotta agree with Sheldon. Both Nancy and Laura had a level of class missing from the white house for near 8 years now.
I like Michelle Obama too... She's elegant and very intelligent... a Harvard Educated lawyer in fact. She has stayed home though to raise her children and be a support system to her husband. I have never heard her do or say anything that was inappropriate.. She is definately a roll model for all young girls.. both Black and White.
I like Michelle Obama. She seems to have a nice personality, and seems to be totally devoted to the cause of childhood obesity. She strikes a good balance between being seen but not heard like Laura Bush, and overly assertive like Hillary Clinton. Jackie Kennedy was beautiful and glamorous and all that, but all she really did in the White House other than raise her children was to spend money on fashion and decorating, as far as I can tell. Lord knows who our next first "person" is going to be.
Betty Ford. Before I go into detail, I will mention that I was somewhat "rowdy" in my youth. Disruptive, negative, and rowdy. I have 27 years of sobriety now, and while I look more at my "now," I find it essential to remember my "then." So I was in a facility I was not allowed to leave for a while, and while there, I had a teacher who, among other things, brought guest speakers in to inspire us to straighten up. Among those guests were Phyllis Diller, Happy Harriston, and Vidal Sassoon. The last guest for the school year was Betty Ford. I had come up with several things I was going to say to heckle her, as heckling was what my "friends" expected of me. So we all sat there -- me in the front row, ready with the comments -- and she stepped to the podium and said, "My name is Betty, and if I weren't married to the President, I would be sitting where you are sitting today." I never uttered a negative word to or about her. After it was over, she hugged each of us -- there were about 15 of us, ranging from about 18 to 48 -- and stuck around awhile to just shoot the breeze. While I can't say she was elegant or a great hostess, but I must say she was honest, down to earth, and knew who she was. She also cared about people in trouble.
It is said that Thomas, overcome by grief at her death, destroyed all of her pictures in a fit of anger. It is also notable that Sally Hemings, the slave with whom he allegedly had a long-term affair after Martha's death, was Martha's half-sister, having the same father. It has been written that she had a close resemblance to Martha, which I've always thought may have influenced Thomas in some way.
I did not know about Thomas destroying all her pictures in his grief and I find that very interesting and also understandable at a time of grief when we often can't think straight. There were many slaves that were half siblings to their owner's children...and some owner's did even acknowledge this...although legally it did not make much difference. Since I am a romantic at heart, I am glad that Thomas found love again, I don't believe it was legal for them to marry...but if it would have been he probably would have married Sally.
I liked Laura Bush, Machele Obama, and Jacqueline Kennedy. I really felt sorry for Mrs. Nixon and her family.
Both of the Bush first ladies are ny favorites.If your ever in Texas try and go see the George Bush library and museum...it is awesome and has a large area dedicated to all the first ladies.