Vera Wang

Before becoming one of the world’s most renowned fashion designers, Vera Wang was a competitive figure skater. She took up the sport at age 8, quickly becoming a very promising pairs skater. When she was 19, she competed with her partner at the 1968 U.S. National Championships in Philadelphia — but her efforts weren’t quite enough to gain her a dream spot on the Olympic team. 

Devastated, she decided to turn her attention to fashion, where she achieved the success that eluded her on the ice. She gained international fame for her wedding gowns, designing dresses for celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, and Kim Kardashian. But she never turned away from skating altogether. She created costumes for many Olympic skaters, including Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwan, and Nathan Chen. For her efforts both on and off the rink, Vera Wang was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Salma Hayek

When Salma Hayek was 9 years old, she watched on TV as Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. It was at that event that Comăneci became the first Olympic gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0. Hayek was inspired and began teaching herself gymnastics. 

Determined to improve, and with no classes or instructors available in her village, she begged her father to take her to a gym in Mexico City that summer. According to Hayek, she excelled and within months was “drafted for the Olympic team.” (This was presumably as a future candidate for the Olympics, as the youngest female Olympic gymnasts at the time, including Comăneci, tended to be around 14 years old.) But a stumbling block soon emerged. Her father didn’t want his young daughter — who was still only nine years old — living so far from home, engaged in a highly disciplined regime that he worried would rob her of her childhood. So, Hayek went home with her Olympic dream over — but with an A-list acting career on the horizon. 

Jason Statham

Long before he became one of Hollywood’s biggest action heroes, appearing in such movie franchises as Fast & Furious, The Expendables, and The Meg, Jason Statham was a competitive diver. His interest in the sport arose when he was in his early teens, during a family vacation. “I was on holiday in Florida with my mom and dad,” Statham recalled during a 2013 interview with Katie Couric, “and there was a guy who used to do a high dive at noon every day from one of the hotels we stayed in. And I say, ‘When we get home, I’m going to do that.’” 

A year later, he was on the British national diving team. He spent the next decade diving and represented England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. He also took part in the Olympic trials for the 1988 Games in Seoul and the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, but he didn’t quite make the cut — something he later described as “a bit of a sore point.” 

Liam Payne

When he was a young boy, Liam Payne harbored dreams of becoming an Olympic runner. He began training at 5 a.m. every day with the Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club in England, running 5 miles before school and another few miles before going home. He excelled at the sport and for three years was ranked as one of the top three 1,500-meter runners in the country in his age group. 

It was a path that could, potentially, have led him to the Olympics. But when he was 14, Payne narrowly missed out on being selected for the England national schools athletic team. It was then that he chose to pursue his other passion: singing. The rest, as they say, is history. As a member of One Direction, he became one of the world’s most beloved pop stars — a career ultimately curtailed by his untimely death in 2024. But Payne did make it to the Olympics, performing in the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Games alongside his One Direction bandmates.  

The First To Have Her Own Staff

In 1901, Edith Roosevelt, the wife of President Theodore Roosevelt, became the first U.S. first lady to hire her own staff. Recognizing the increasing demands of the White House and her own desire to manage them effectively, she appointed Isabella “Belle” Hagner as her social secretary. Hagner’s responsibilities included handling correspondence, planning events, and managing the first lady’s schedule. Before Roosevelt, the first lady’s duties were often managed informally by family members, friends, or existing White House staff, so this move established the necessity of a dedicated team to assist in the multifaceted duties of the position.

Having a staff marked an important shift in how the role of first lady was perceived and executed. In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy became the first U.S. first lady to hire a dedicated press secretary. She appointed Pamela Turnure to manage media inquiries, arrange interviews, and coordinate public appearances, professionalizing the role of first lady. In 1978, Rosalynn Carter became the first to establish a formal Office of the First Lady, which provided dedicated staffers and resources to support her initiatives. This move institutionalized the role, allowing future first ladies to operate with an official workspace and organizational support within the White House.

The First To Use Media as a Tool for Public Influence

Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, transformed the role of first lady by becoming the first to use media strategically to communicate directly with the public. She held regular press conferences — a whopping 348 over 12 years — and in 1935 launched her own syndicated newspaper column, “My Day,” which appeared six days a week. Through this platform, she became the first U.S. first lady to speak independently to millions nationwide, offering her perspectives on current events, social issues, and public policy.

Roosevelt’s example demonstrated that the first lady could extend her influence beyond ceremonial duties, using emerging technologies to connect with citizens and advocate for causes. Her pioneering use of media served as a model for future first ladies to shape public opinion and cultivate an independent public persona. In 1962, Jacqueline Kennedy became the first U.S. first lady to give a televised tour of the White House with the hour-long special A Tour of the White House With Mrs. John F. Kennedy, which was also the first documentary specifically marketed to a female audience. 

The First To Speak Openly About Health Issues

Betty Ford transformed the first lady’s role by openly discussing her breast cancer diagnosis while in office in 1974, a time when such topics were rarely mentioned publicly. By sharing her experience, she encouraged women nationwide to get screened and helped break the stigma surrounding breast cancer. Her openness had a significant impact, prompting many women to seek medical advice and screenings, a phenomenon known as the “Betty Ford blip.”

After leaving the White House, she continued her health-related advocacy, speaking candidly about addiction and founding the Betty Ford Center, further solidifying her legacy as a champion for public health and personal honesty. Ford’s willingness to address these issues became a model for future first ladies to engage with health topics in meaningful ways, influencing public discourse and policy.

The First To Advocate for a Social Cause

From the very start, first ladies have used their position to work toward the betterment of the country. Martha Washington, the first U.S. first lady, actively supported the welfare of Revolutionary War soldiers, offering assistance to veterans in need and making herself approachable to those seeking help. Her example set an early precedent for using the White House as a platform for social advocacy. 

Over time, first ladies expanded this role: Eleanor Roosevelt broke new ground by publicly championing human rights and speaking at international forums, while Lady Bird Johnson was the first to formally announce an agenda, promoting President Lyndon B. Johnson’s vision for a “Great Society,” including a war on poverty and initiatives to beautify public spaces. Together, their efforts helped define advocacy as a central expectation of the first lady.

Subsequent first ladies continued this legacy, focusing on causes that reflected both personal passions and national priorities. Nancy Reagan launched the “Just Say No” campaign to prevent drug abuse among children, and Barbara Bush championed literacy and family support initiatives. In each case, the cause reflected the first lady’s own perspective and priorities, showing how the office can shape public life in diverse and lasting ways.

Hirohito (5 Feet, 5 Inches)

As the 124th member of his family to ascend to the throne, Emperor Hirohito came of age at a time when the emperor was regarded as a divine figure by the Japanese people. However, that image of infallibility was punctured by the end of World War II, thanks to a well-publicized 1945 photo of the 5-foot-5-inch Hirohito next to the 6-foot-tall U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, which underscored Japan's powerlessness to hold off the occupying forces. Soon after, under a new constitution drafted by the Allied forces in their postwar occupation of Japan, Hirohito was forced to formally renounce the divinity of his position, setting the nation on a new path where the emperor would serve as a symbolic head of state with no political power. 

Perhaps because of his less-than-imposing stature — a 1958 profile in The New York Times described him as of "average height" — Hirohito was later embraced as a man of the people as he made frequent public appearances over the following decades. And even as the first "human" emperor, he outlasted his predecessors by reigning as Japan's longest-serving monarch, from 1926 to 1989.

James Madison (5 Feet, 4 Inches)

As one of the Founding Fathers, James Madison stands tall in the annals of America's origin story. However, the 5-foot-4-inch Madison was not only shorter than the fellow Virginians who preceded him to the presidency — George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both 6 feet, 2 inches tall — but also the shortest of any of the 45 men elected to the highest office in the land. Furthermore, Madison was said to possess a weak speaking voice and a timid demeanor, which, together with his stature, prompted opponents to refer to him as "Little Jemmy." 

Yet, Madison made up for a lack of forceful presence with intellectual gifts and powers of persuasion that clearly made an impact on the other influential figures of his era. Although his presidential tenure was a mixed bag, Madison more than secured his place in history as the primary architect of the U.S. Constitution and its vital addendum, the Bill of Rights.

Francisco Franco (5 Feet, 4 Inches)

According to Franco: A Personal and Political Biography, Spanish general and dictator Francisco Franco underwent intense hazing as one of the youngest and smallest cadets at Spain's Infantry Academy, enduring such humiliations as being tied up and having his books hidden. But despite reaching a full adult height of just under 5 feet, 4 inches, the man once derisively known as "Franquito" (little Franco) became one of the most monumental leaders in the country's history. 

In 1926, after a steady climb in the army's ranks, Franco became the youngest general in all of Europe at age 33. With the victory of his Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, he went on to enjoy an uninterrupted 36-year run (from 1939 until his death in 1975) as Spain's iron-fisted ruler. Franco's rise in spite of relatively meager physical capabilities was characterized by the ruthlessness with which he dispatched political opponents, and the cleverness he showed with Spain officially remaining nonbelligerent during World War II, before cozying up to the winning Allied forces. And if Franco harbored any lingering insecurities about his height, the dictator made clear his grandiosity in death by having himself buried in a mausoleum beneath a towering 492-foot cross just outside Madrid. 

Kim Jong Il (5 Feet, 3 Inches)

The son of North Korea's first leader and "eternal president" Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong Il lived a life enveloped in secrecy and hyperbole. According to state literature, his arrival was foretold by the appearance of a swallow in the sky, and his birth immediately prompted the winter environment to change to spring. Later in life, he was alleged to have kidnapped a South Korean film director and his actress wife to force them to remake a propaganda version of Godzilla. The leader, who ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011, also reportedly reinvented a version of the hamburger, and he supposedly recorded an array of breathtaking sporting achievements, including 11 holes-in-one in his first attempt at golf. 

The relentless mythologizing had its limits, however, as there wasn't much Kim could do to embellish a frame said to top off at around 5 feet, 3 inches. Still, Kim attempted to create the illusion of a taller presence by reportedly hiring short bodyguards, and near the end of his life he was photographed wearing platform shoes that added about 4 inches to his height.

Nikita Khrushchev (5 Feet, 3 Inches)

Given his rise to the Soviet Union's premiership in the wake of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, both of whom stood around 5 feet, 5 inches tall, there was little reason to think that limited height would impede the leadership capabilities of Nikita Khrushchev. By some accounts, he may have even benefited from being an inch or two shorter than Stalin, who supposedly harbored little reticence about eliminating the loyalists he viewed as threats to his supremacy. Regardless, Khrushchev's smaller stature — combined with a modest upbringing and lack of formal education — may have fueled a Sputnik-sized chip on his shoulder, as he became known for a confrontational style. 

This is often illustrated by an incident that may not have actually happened: his alleged shoe-banging at a 1960 United Nations conference. But Khrushchev famously did tell a 1956 gathering of Western diplomats, "We will bury you," and he later took part in a contentious meeting with U.S. President John F. Kennedy before igniting the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Ultimately, the outsized combativeness against even would-be allies such as Mao Tse Tung contributed to his downfall, as Khrushchev was forced from power in 1964.

Stay Curious

For Einstein, curiosity wasn’t just about asking questions (although he did plenty of that), but also about remaining open to change and new perspectives throughout life. “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious,” he famously said. That openness helped him question long-held assumptions about the universe, and in turn he upended ideas of absolute space and time with his theory of relativity; reimagined gravity; and engaged critically with emerging quantum theory, investigating its limits while refining his own views when needed. 

Einstein’s curiosity extended beyond science, too. He drew insights from philosophy, literature, music, and social issues, showing that learning could happen anywhere. He believed that education could — and should — be indefinite as long as we keep asking questions and embrace the unexpected.

Strive To Be More Valuable Than Successful

In a 1955 interview, Einstein cautioned against measuring life by status or titles. “Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value,” he said to Life magazine. “He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.” 

Einstein lived this principle by using his influence to advance causes beyond physics, such as speaking out against racism in the United States, advocating for peace, and guiding generations of younger scientists through his teaching. Even his scientific contributions followed this ethic: He was driven less by personal acclaim than by a desire to expand humanity’s understanding of the universe. 

“Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty,” Einstein wrote in a 1947 letter to an admirer. “It stems rather from love and devotion towards men and towards objective things.” Indeed, the famous scientist struggled with his fame, referring to it in a 1922 letter to his friend as “buffoonery.” 

Follow Your Intuition

Einstein often trusted his instincts even before he had the research to back them up. “I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am,” he told The Saturday Evening Post. Those leaps of faith, tested rigorously later, were what prompted his most famous ideas, such as the theory of relativity. 

Intuition also guided his personal choices: When a traditional academic path was difficult to navigate at first, he instead worked at the Swiss Patent Office, carving out quiet hours to get lost in his thoughts. Einstein didn’t worry about intuition’s lack of scientific proof. To him, it was an intrinsic part of the process — the spark lighting the way into unexplored territory.

Have the Courage To Question Authority

Einstein’s most radical discoveries began with doubts, a hallmark of his rebellious streak. Why should time be fixed? Why must space be absolute? Even at a young age, his independent mind clashed with the rigid expectations of school. Later, his refusal to accept conventional wisdom drove breakthroughs that overturned physics as we knew it. “Blind respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth,” he famously said. 

This same spirit shaped Einstein’s public life. He vocally condemned militarism and nationalism, often at a personal cost — he was watched closely by the FBI for years. To him, questioning authority was not about defiance for its own sake, but about choosing truth over tradition. Authority demands obedience, but progress, a hallmark of Einstein’s life, happens when someone dares to ask why.

Laozi: The Flow Master

If you think forcing things only makes them harder, Laozi (circa sixth century BCE) is your kindred spirit. The legendary author of the Tao Te Ching taught that the best way to live is in harmony with the Tao — the natural flow of the universe. He championed simplicity, patience, and noninterference, believing that strength often comes from yielding, like water wearing down stone. Laozi’s philosophy whispers that the less you cling, the more life unfolds in your favor — and that sometimes doing nothing is the wisest move of all.

You might be Laozi if:

1. You’d rather take the scenic route than fight traffic.
2. You believe in working with nature rather than against it.
3. You’ve been accused of being too chill (and you’re fine with that).

Nāgārjuna: The Master of the Middle Way

A Buddhist philosopher, Nāgārjuna (circa 150-250 CE) developed the doctrine of śūnyatā, or “emptiness,” meaning that nothing has an independent, permanent essence. This wasn’t nihilism — it was a call to let go of rigid thinking and live with compassion and balance. If you think that clinging to extremes only leads to trouble, Nāgārjuna might be your philosophical twin. He believed reality is interdependent and constantly changing, so the wisest path lies in the “Middle Way,” avoiding rigid views on either side. Nāgārjuna’s work invites you to step lightly through life, seeing everything as both real and not entirely solid, like walking across a bridge made of mist and knowing it can still carry you.

You might be Nāgārjuna if:

1. You think labels and categories oversimplify reality.
2. You’re comfortable with paradox.
3. You seek liberation from suffering — not just for yourself, but for others too.

Socrates: The Questioner

If you’re the kind of person who answers every question with another question, you might relate to Socrates (470-399 BCE). This Athenian thinker believed that true wisdom came from recognizing your own ignorance, and he used relentless questioning — the “Socratic method” — to help others uncover their own beliefs and assumptions. To him, conversation was a tool for transformation, not just chitchat.

You might be Socrates if:

1. You ask “why?” at least five times in every conversation.
2. You’d rather debate than make small talk.
3. You suspect certainty is overrated.

Plato: The Idealist

If you often find yourself wondering about the perfect version of everything — justice, love, even chairs — you might feel an affinity for Plato (427-347 BCE). A student of Socrates, he believed that the world we see is just a shadow of a higher reality filled with perfect “Forms.” For him, philosophy was about turning away from illusions and seeking the truth behind appearances. Plato’s ideas encourage you to look beyond what’s in front of you and strive toward the ideal, even if you never quite get there, because the pursuit itself can be transformative.

You might be Plato if:

1. You’re always searching for deeper meaning.
2. You love talking about abstract concepts such as justice, beauty, or the nature of the soul.
3. You can’t stop wondering if our world is just a shadow of a better one.

Aristotle: The Realist

If you like your life advice to come with a detailed plan and a few charts, you’re probably most like Aristotle (384-322 BCE). A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great, Aristotle was all about studying the natural world, human behavior, and logic to figure out how to live well. He believed in the “golden mean” — a balanced life between excess and deficiency — as the path to virtue. Aristotle’s work suggests that if you want to flourish, you need to think practically, observe carefully, and keep your moral compass calibrated.

You might be Aristotle if:

1. You like practical wisdom more than lofty ideals.
2. You think virtue is a habit you build, not a state you magically achieve.
3. You enjoy classifying things — whether it’s plants, moral virtues, or pizza toppings.

Boston’s Leading Citizen 

Although he took a step back from politics following the partial repeal of the Townshend Acts in 1770, Hancock again found himself at the center of a growing storm with the passage of the Tea Act in May 1773. After moderating committees that sought to block the latest unpopular tax, he endorsed — and may even have been a primary instigator of — the December 1773 destruction of cargo that became known as the Boston Tea Party.

After Parliament responded in early 1774 with the punitive Coercive Acts, which led to the shutdown of the port of Boston and elimination of the state assembly, the assembly members reorganized in October as the Provincial Congress, the first autonomous government in the colonies. Hancock was subsequently elected its president, making him the most powerful colonist in Massachusetts.

This also made him a target of increasingly agitated British authorities. As part of his famous midnight ride on April 18, 1775, Paul Revere made a beeline to Lexington, Massachusetts, which was hosting the Provincial Congress, to warn Hancock and Sam Adams that they were in danger of being captured. The two men slipped out of town, hours before the opening shots of the American Revolution.

President of the Continental Congress

A few weeks later, Hancock led a procession of carriages to Philadelphia as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, receiving a rousing reception from colonists along the way. He was also warmly welcomed by the other delegates; after Continental Congress President Peyton Randolph was recalled to the Virginia Assembly, Hancock was deemed a suitable replacement by both the conservatives who valued his business acumen and the radicals who admired his track record of resistance. According to John Adams, Hancock also sought the position of commander in chief of the Continental Army, and was distressed when the job instead went to George Washington.

As president, Hancock mainly moderated congressional meetings and occasionally joined in the debates. His moderate stances infuriated John Adams and Samuel Adams, who pushed for independence from Britain, although Hancock found it harder to advocate for compromise after Parliament passed the Prohibitory Act in December 1775, cutting off all British trade with the colonies. By the summer of 1776, Hancock was on board with the momentum that was carrying the delegates toward declaring independence. 

As president of the Continental Congress, Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. According to popular legend, after he applied his famous signature to the engrossed copy of the document, he said something along the lines of, "Let King George read that without spectacles!" While that story is apocryphal, it is true that Hancock and Continental Congress Secretary Charles Thomson were the only two people to have their names affixed to the original printed version of the document, initially leaving them as the two people liable for treason had the quest for independence been squashed by the British. Hancock's large and bold signature was likely deliberate — a signal of his courage and resolve in affixing his name to the rebellious document. 

Although Hancock gamely pored through the voluminous congressional paperwork and worked to raise money and troops for the Revolution, he eventually tired of the long hours required of the job, worn down by his recurring battles with gout, and he requested a leave of absence in October 1777. He briefly returned to the Continental Congress the following summer, but left again after it became clear that the new president, Henry Laurens of South Carolina, had no intention of relinquishing the job.

Massachusetts Governor and U.S. Constitution Proponent

In 1780, Hancock easily defeated fellow merchant James Bowdoin to become the first nonroyal governor of Massachusetts. A beloved figure throughout the state for his years of service and acts of charity, the governor nevertheless saw his popularity tested as citizens struggled to pay the high taxes to settle the Revolutionary War debts. A sympathetic Hancock neglected to crack down on tax collecting and dragged his feet on signing bills that would add to the financial burden of the people. The stresses of the job again taking a toll on his health, he stepped down from the position in 1785. 

After Bowdoin took over as governor in 1786 and the discord fomented into Shay's Rebellion, Hancock refused to join the group of wealthy merchants who funded an army to put down the uprising. Instead, after being reelected governor in 1787, he accepted a salary cut and pardoned all but two of the most egregious participants in the rebellion.

Hancock enjoyed one more moment in the limelight as the states weighed in on whether to approve the U.S. Constitution. Named president of the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention in January 1788, Hancock missed the first three weeks due to his poor health before making a dramatic entrance, carried by servants, to deliver a speech in favor of ratifying the Constitution with amendments. He delivered another stirring speech a few days later, urging unity no matter the outcome, before a final vote gave the pro-ratification side a narrow victory.

Said to have been interested in either the presidency or the vice presidency, Hancock lost out to Washington for the former role and to fellow Massachusettsan John Adams for the latter. Regardless, he remained an esteemed figure in his home state, and even found common ground with ally-turned-critic-turned-ally Samuel Adams over their shared distrust of federal government overreach. Holding office until his death on October 8, 1793, Hancock was honored with a funeral procession that drew a massive turnout of mourners and shut down his adopted home city of Boston for the day.

Ultimately, Hancock never logged the military service that made Washington a national hero and the first president, and he also lacked the intellectual gifts and ideological passions that enabled John Adams and Jefferson to succeed Washington and cement their legacies. Nevertheless, he was an accomplished businessman and battle-tested leader who left his fingerprints all over Revolution-era Massachusetts, making it fitting that he's uniquely remembered for another deft touch of finger work.

Dolley Madison

Raised a Quaker, Dolley Madison was expelled by religious leaders following the death of her first husband for remarrying outside the faith to Episcopalian James Madison.

Elizabeth Monroe

Said to be skilled at playing the pianoforte, Elizabeth Monroe brought one back to the United States after husband James Monroe completed a diplomatic tour of England. The instrument accompanied them to both the White House and their retirement home at the Oak Hill plantation in Virginia.

Louisa Adams

As the first foreign-born first lady, London native Louisa Adams was a target for opponents of President John Quincy Adams' administration. She subsequently became the first first lady to deliver a rebuttal to her critics in print, by way of a June 1827 piece in Mrs. A.S. Colvin’s Weekly Messenger.

Rachel Jackson

Raised on the western frontier of Virginia, Rachel Jackson was among the first European settlers of modern-day Nashville, Tennessee. Though she is often included in complete lists of first ladies, she never officially served in the role, as she died about two months before her then-husband, Andrew Jackson, was inaugurated as president.

Emily Donelson

Andrew Jackson's niece Emily Donelson was just 21 years old when she was asked to serve as White House hostess. Despite her youth, Donelson refused to heed the president's demand to socially accept the scandalized wife of a Cabinet member during the "Petticoat Affair," resulting in an extended hiatus from her position.

Sarah Jackson

Sarah Jackson occasionally served as co-hostess alongside Emily Donelson during her father-in-law Andrew Jackson's presidency, and later handled the role herself. However, she primarily aided "Old Hickory," as the president was known, by helping to manage his Tennessee plantation, known as the Hermitage, during and after his administration.

Angelica Van Buren

Angelica Van Buren was related by marriage to Dolley Madison, who introduced the younger socialite to President Martin Van Buren's son Abraham. Angelica took on the role of White House hostess at the beginning of 1839, after it was left vacant by the widower president for more than a year.

Anna Harrison

After President William Henry Harrison died from pneumonia following just one month in office, First Lady Anna Harrison became the first presidential widow to be awarded a pension.

Jane Harrison

With an ailing Anna Harrison unable to travel to Washington, D.C., before her husband's death, it was the couple's daughter-in-law Jane Harrison who served as acting first lady to President William Henry Harrison. Due to the short tenure of her position, she hosted just two official receptions.

Letitia Tyler

Disabled by a stroke and felled by a second one, Letitia Tyler attended only one White House social event — the marriage of her daughter Elizabeth — during her 17 months as first lady to President John Tyler.

Priscilla Cooper Tyler

Priscilla Cooper Tyler was a professional actress prior to marrying the son of President John Tyler. Her ability to command attention translated well to the role of White House hostess as she aided the ailing Letitia Tyler, and when she eventually took over the role of first lady.

Julia Tyler

Celebrated as an elegant and vivacious White House hostess, President John Tyler's second wife, Julia Tyler, also boasted notable musical talents, including the ability to sing and play guitar.

Sarah Polk

A contrast to her festive predecessor, the devoutly Presbyterian Sarah Polk banned hard liquor and dancing in the White House during her time as first lady to President James K. Polk.

Margaret Taylor

The wife of President Zachary Taylor, Margaret Taylor, was also mother-in-law to future Confederate President Jefferson Davis until the early death of her daughter and Davis' bride, Sarah Knox Taylor.

Mary "Betty" Bliss

President Zachary Taylor's youngest surviving daughter, Mary "Betty" Bliss, stepped in as White House hostess in place of her mother, who preferred privacy. Bliss earned praise for her handling of the role during her father's 16-month administration, inspiring the creation of a dance song in her honor.

Abigail Fillmore

A teacher in her pre-first lady days — her future husband, President Millard Fillmore, was among her students — Abigail Fillmore helped establish the first White House library.

Jane Pierce

A staunch abolitionist in defiance of President Franklin Pierce's compromises on the matter, First Lady Jane Pierce helped secure the release of the imprisoned Free State leader Charles Robinson.

Harriet Lane

The niece and acting first lady to the lone bachelor president, James Buchanan, Harriet Lane later endowed the formation of the Harriet Lane Home for Invalid Children at Johns Hopkins University.

Mary Todd Lincoln

After enduring the deaths of three children and her husband President Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln was committed to a psychiatric hospital at the instigation of her sole surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Eliza Johnson

Prior to Andrew Johnson's rise to the presidency, his family was endangered by their loyalty to the Union during the Civil War. Future First Lady Eliza Johnson was forced to leave their home in Greenville, Tennessee, and briefly lived as a refugee before finding sanctuary in Nashville.

Martha Johnson Patterson

Assuming the role of acting first lady from her bedridden mother, Martha Johnson Patterson spent more than $135,000 (well over $2 million today) to refurbish the White House during President Andrew Johnson's administration.

Julia Dent Grant

The wife of President Ulysses S. Grant, Julia Dent Grant was the first first lady to write a memoir, although it went unpublished for more than 70 years after her death.

Lucy Hayes

A graduate of Cincinnati Wesleyan Female College, Lucy Hayes entered the White House alongside President Rutherford B. Hayes, and is notable for being the first first lady with a college degree.

Lucretia Garfield

Widowed by the assassination of President James A. Garfield, First Lady Lucretia Garfield later founded the first presidential memorial library.

Ellen Arthur

Though she succumbed to pneumonia shortly before her husband Chester A. Arthur's presidency, Ellen Arthur is often counted among the list of first ladies. She was known for her beautiful singing voice; she joined a church choir as a child, and later reportedly performed with the famed Mendelssohn Glee Club.

Mary Arthur McElroy

Filling in as first lady for her older brother, President Chester A. Arthur, Mary Arthur McElroy, the younger sister of President Chester A. Arthur, was a strong proponent of equal rights for Black citizens. Her progressive views did not extend to women's voting rights, however, fueling her membership in the Albany Association Opposed to Suffrage.

Rose Cleveland

Rose Cleveland served as White House hostess for 14 months until her brother, President Grover Cleveland, was married. She later forged an intimate relationship with a woman named Evangeline Simpson Whipple, making her the first known LGBTQ+ first lady.

Frances Cleveland

President Grover Cleveland's wife Frances Cleveland was the first first lady to both get married and give birth in the White House.

Caroline Harrison

Known for her artistic sensibilities, Caroline Harrison established the celebrated White House china collection during her three and a half years as first lady to President Benjamin Harrison.

Mary McKee

Mary McKee stepped into the role of acting first lady following the death of her mother, Caroline Harrison. Her young son, named after her father, President Benjamin Harrison, but commonly known as "Baby McKee," was a popular public figure during the family's time in the White House.

Ida McKinley

Her mobility limited by fragile health, First Lady Ida McKinley crocheted slippers to be auctioned for charity during President William McKinley's administration, altogether crocheting more than 3,000 slippers over the course of her lifetime.

Edith Roosevelt

A childhood friend of her future husband, President Theodore Roosevelt, Edith Roosevelt was the first first lady to hire a social secretary.

Helen Taft

The wife of President William Howard Taft, Helen Taft oversaw the development of the capital's Potomac Park, including the planting of the famed Japanese cherry trees, as part of the first public project spearheaded by a first lady.

Ellen Wilson

A gifted artist, Ellen Wilson won a bronze medal for freehand drawing at the 1878 Paris International Exposition, and later saw her paintings exhibited during her brief time as first lady to President Woodrow Wilson.

Margaret Wilson

Following the death of her mother from Bright's disease, Margaret Wilson served as acting first lady to her father, President Woodrow Wilson, for about 16 months. Later, after discovering the writings of mystic Sri Aurobindo, she spent the final four years of her life at an ashram in Pondicherry, India.

Edith Wilson

The second wife of President Woodrow Wilson, and his constant companion after he suffered a debilitating stroke, Edith Wilson controlled the flow of information to and from her husband over the final year and a half of his second term, in what she called her "stewardship" of the presidency.

Florence Harding

An active adviser to her husband, President Warren G. Harding, Florence Harding was the first first lady to spontaneously deliver speeches while traveling.

Grace Coolidge

Grace Coolidge was a teacher at the Clarke School for the Deaf in Massachusetts when she met and married future President Calvin Coolidge. She later donated $2 million to the school at the close of her husband's administration, and went on to head the school's board of trustees.

Lou Hoover

The first woman to graduate from Stanford University with a geology degree, Lou Hoover assisted husband Herbert Hoover in his pre-presidential career as a mining engineer.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Among her many accomplishments, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a syndicated column titled "My Day" six days a week between 1935 and 1962. The only interruption to that schedule came after her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, died in April 1945.

Bess Truman

A childhood friend of her future husband, President Harry S. Truman, Bess Truman went on to enjoy the longest life of any first lady before her death at age 97 in 1982.

Mamie Eisenhower

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower's love for pink, and her insistence on surrounding herself with clothing, decor, and accessories of that color, led to President Dwight D. Eisenhower's White House being dubbed the "Pink Palace."

Jacqueline Kennedy

Prior to marrying President John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy interviewed and photographed subjects as the "Inquiring Camera Girl" for the Washington Times-Herald newspaper. Later in life, she worked as a book editor at Viking Press and Doubleday. 

Lady Bird Johnson

An ardent conservationist, Lady Bird Johnson spurred the passage of many of the 200 laws related to the environment that were enacted during Lyndon B. Johnson's administration. After leaving the White House, she founded the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas.

Pat Nixon

Pat Nixon became the first first lady to visit a combat zone when she joined President Richard Nixon on a trip to South Vietnam in 1969.

Betty Ford

Before her marriage to Gerald Ford set her on a path to becoming first lady, Betty Ford appeared headed toward a career in dance. She attended Vermont's Bennington School of Dance in the 1930s, and afterward joined a troupe headed by acclaimed choreographer Martha Graham.

Rosalynn Carter

Taking the traditional advisership of her role to a new level, First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as President Jimmy Carter's official envoy for a two-week goodwill tour of seven Latin American countries in 1977.

Nancy Reagan

Following a 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan relied on the advice of an astrologer to schedule trips and news conferences for her husband.

Barbara Bush

Prior to dropping out of Smith College in anticipation of her marriage to future President George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush served as captain of the school's freshman soccer team.

Hillary Clinton

The first lady to President Bill Clinton and the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, Hillary Clinton demonstrated different political leanings earlier in life. She was a "Goldwater Girl" in support of conservative candidate Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign in 1964, and went on to serve as president of Wellesley College's Young Republicans Club.

Laura Bush

Laura Bush became the first first lady to deliver a presidential radio address when she took over for President George W. Bush on November 17, 2001, to call attention to the plight of women under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Michelle Obama 

A junior associate at Chicago's Sidney Austin law firm, Michelle Obama met her future husband, President Barack Obama, when he became her intern during the summer of 1989.

Melania Trump

An architecture student before pursuing a full-time modeling career, First Lady Melania Trump relied on her training to design a White House tennis pavilion before the end of President Donald Trump's term. 

Dr. Jill Biden

Among the most physically active first ladies, Dr. Jill Biden completed a marathon in 1998, and at one point was running 5five miles five days per week. President Joe Biden's wife still wakes up at 5:45 a.m. most mornings to fit exercise into her schedule.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Rover

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suspected her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, might have had something to do with choosing her Secret Service code name. She was known as “Rover,” and those who accompanied her were called “Rover’s Rangers.” She was assigned the name during World War II, when she traveled to England to visit American servicemen and observe women’s roles in the war effort. However, there is no record of the Secret Service having an official code name for FDR.

Bess Truman: Sunnyside

First Lady Bess Truman’s code name was “Sunnyside,” thought to be a reflection of her warmhearted personality (rather than her egg preference). Her husband Harry S. Truman, who chose the code name “General” for himself, despite never achieving that rank during his military service, was also assigned the code name “Supervise.” He was possibly given this alternative name because “General” could refer to someone of that rank accompanying the president.

Jacqueline Kennedy: Lace

Traditionally, the code names given to a presidential family all start with the same letter. Once someone is assigned Secret Service protection, they choose their code name from an approved list of names kept by the White House Communications Agency. The Kennedy administration’s comparison to Camelot is highlighted by President John F. Kennedy’s choice of code name, “Lancer,” presumably a nod to Sir Lancelot, while his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was aptly known as “Lace,” reflecting her elegance. During JFK’s brief presidency, the White House code name was “Crown.”

Rosalynn Carter: Dancer

Jimmy Carter’s code name, “Deacon,” reflected his strong religious faith, while his wife Rosalynn’s code name, “Dancer,” echoed her love for dancing. Before their White House years, the Carters lived in Hawaii during Jimmy’s time in the Navy, where Rosalynn became, according to her grandson Josh Carter, “a champion hula dancer.” Rosalynn’s passion for dance extended beyond hula, though. She wrote in her autobiography that she and Jimmy loved to dance together, and she enjoyed choosing entertainment for White House events, which featured performers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater over the years.

Nancy Reagan: Rainbow

Before Ronald Reagan entered politics, his acting career included a number of roles in Western films, making his code name “Rawhide” a fitting choice. First Lady Nancy Reagan’s name, “Rainbow,” isn’t as obvious, though one biography suggests it referred to the many colors of her personality.

Hillary Clinton: Evergreen

Although the Secret Service claims that code names aren’t tied to the personalities of those assigned, some designations do reflect aspects of the people they represent. Bill Clinton’s “Eagle” (possibly a reference to his time as an Eagle Scout) and Hillary’s “Evergreen” seem well matched, while their daughter Chelsea’s “Energy” captured the youthful vibe of a teenager in the White House. Hillary continued to use “Evergreen” during her 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns, making the name particularly fitting for the former first lady.

Laura Bush: Tempo

Laura Bush, wife of former President George W. Bush, was assigned the code name “Tempo” to go along with the president’s code name, “Trailblazer.” The president, however, had a different code name when his father, George H.W. Bush, known as “Timberwolf,” was president: “Tumbler.”

Michelle Obama: Renaissance

When presented with a list of code names beginning with the letter “R” during his presidential campaign, former President Barack Obama chose “Renegade,” and First Lady Michelle Obama selected “Renaissance.” Some believe that Michelle’s name reflected her goal to rejuvenate and redefine the traditional role of first lady.

Melania Trump: Muse

While her husband Donald Trump chose the code name “Mogul” as an homage to his time as a real estate magnate, Melania reportedly selected “Muse” in reference to her own previous career as a model. The word “muse” can be defined as a person that inspires creativity, something Melania frequently did as a fashion model earlier in her life.

Jill Biden: Capri

First Lady Jill Biden’s code name, “Capri,” remains the same as when she was second lady and is likely a nod to her Italian heritage. President Joe Biden also kept his Irish-inspired code name, “Celtic,” from his time as vice president.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Despite the success of Venus and Adonis, a single popular work wasn’t enough to make Shakespeare a household name. In reality, he was likely known among London’s theater set, and not far beyond. His reputation within this circle would have been bolstered by his role in the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as the King’s Men under James I. This acting company was the most important and successful troupe of players in England’s Elizabethan era (Queen Elizabeth I’s reign from 1558 to 1603) and Jacobean era (King James I’s reign from 1603 to 1625). The troupe played almost continuously in London from 1594 to 1603, including performances at the royal court. Shakespeare wrote many of his plays during this period, producing an average of two a year, and these works formed the bulk of the company’s repertory. He also acted with them.

The Limits of Fame in Shakespeare’s Time

Venues such as the Globe Theatre in London — built by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men — could hold up to 3,000 people. Shakespeare’s plays, therefore, certainly drew large crowds during his time, and were popular with audiences across social classes. The success of his plays, however, didn’t necessarily translate into fame. In Shakespeare’s time, there was no mass media, and the concept of celebrity was not the same as we know it today. What’s more, even if he was well-known in London, Shakespeare wouldn’t have been a national celebrity — and certainly not an international celebrity — because back then there wasn’t nearly as much communication between cities, or even a city and its surrounding region, as there is today. 

Other Prominent Playwrights of the Day

Shakespeare also wasn’t the only popular dramatist writing in the late 16th century, and he had significant competition — and in some cases rivalries — with various writers. Critics and theatergoers didn’t necessarily consider him superior to his contemporaries. He was respected in literary circles, but no more so than other prominent playwrights of the time, such as Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, and Thomas Kyd. So, while Shakespeare was certainly well known and respected in the theatrical world of his time, he was far from the only act in town — and his contemporary fame was not comparable to his posthumous legacy.

A Legacy Like No Other

Shakespeare’s enduring reputation owes much to developments that took place after his death in 1616, perhaps most notably the publication of the First Folio in 1623. This lavish book was the first published collection of Shakespeare’s plays. At the time, about half of Shakespeare’s plays had never previously appeared in print, including As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and The Tempest. Were it not for the First Folio, 18 of his plays might well have been lost forever. Not only did the collection preserve much of Shakespeare’s work, but it also helped ensure that Shakespeare became the universally revered cultural and literary icon — and household name — that he is today. As Ben Jonson wrote in his introduction to the First Folio, “The applause! Delight! The wonder of our Stage... He was not of an age, but for all time!”

Unsure of what to make of this peasant girl who was rumored to be the prophesied virgin who would save France, Charles devised a test in which he disguised himself and blended in with the 300 courtiers gathered at his castle. Not fooled, Joan quickly picked him out from the crowd, and allegedly relayed surprising knowledge of private information about the dauphin. Following further questioning by trusted church authorities, Charles agreed to make use of her passion for his military campaigns.

In late April 1429, Joan traveled with a French army to the city of Orléans, which had been under siege by Anglo-Burgundian forces since the previous October. After successfully attacking surrounding forts, the French side turned to the besieged city, with Joan a conspicuous presence in her white armor. Although she never actually took up arms, Joan outlined strategies and served as a motivational figure by standing near the fighting, exhorting the men as she waved her banner. Recovering from an arrow to the shoulder, she claimed triumph when the siege was lifted on May 8.

While Charles' advisors urged him to take the fighting to Normandy, Joan instead convinced the dauphin to travel to Reims, the traditional site for the investiture of French royalty. That meant clearing a path through the heavily fortified Anglo-Burgundian Loire Valley, where Joan continued to turn the tide of the war by pushing French forces through skirmishes at Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire, and Beaugency.

On July 17, 1429, Joan saw her mission fulfilled when the dauphin was crowned King Charles VII at Reims. However, Charles neglected to immediately take up Joan's advice that they seize the momentum and march on Paris, which gave the city’s pro-Henry forces time to fortify their position. By the time Charles finally sent Joan and his army to Paris in September, they were unable to penetrate the city’s defenses.

Following the end of a temporary truce for territories north of the river Seine, Joan led efforts to dismantle a Burgundian siege of Compiègne in May 1430. However, she was thrown from her horse amid the fighting and stranded as the town gates closed. Her attempts to escape confinement failed, and she was sold to the English for 10,000 francs, with Charles VII making little effort to intervene.

The highly publicized trial of Joan of Arc began in Rouen, Normandy, on January 9, 1431. Over the course of six public and nine private examinations, she deftly answered questions from the ecclesiastic interrogators about her divine guiding voices, her obedience to the church, and her penchant for wearing men's clothing. Although most of the original 70 articles of accusation were dropped, the judges ultimately settled on 12 charges of heresy.

Faced with the prospect of execution, Joan initially abjured her claims to earn a reduced sentence of life imprisonment. However, she recanted her abjuration after being found wearing men's clothes again a few days later, and was declared a relapsed heretic. On May 30, 1431, Joan was led to the Rouen town square and tied to a pyre, where she gazed at a crucifix held high as flames engulfed her body.

After Rouen fell into French hands in 1449, Charles VII ordered an examination of the records that documented Joan's legal proceedings. The investigation eventually reached Rome, with Pope Callixtus III consenting to a rehabilitation trial for the deceased Joan. On July 7, 1456, after it was found that the original trial had violated church law, Joan's sentence was formally annulled.

While the exoneration made Joan a martyr, it would be another four centuries before the Maid of Orléans, as she became known, underwent another round of rehabilitation that propelled her to mythical status. Following the call for her canonization by Bishop Dupanloup of Orléans, Joan of Arc was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1909, and declared a saint by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. Meanwhile, she became a symbol of French nationalism during the Franco-Prussian War, an image that carried through the country's involvement in both world wars of the 20th century.

Today, along with her place among the holy figures of the Catholic Church, Joan of Arc is recognized as a patron saint of France, soldiers, prisoners, and those ridiculed for their faith. She is honored with celebrations such as the St. Joan of Arc Feast Day, and continues to be memorialized in art, literature, and music. 

Given the magnitude of her accomplishments before reaching adulthood, and her devotion to her ideals until the very end, it’s easy to see why Joan of Arc remains a source of inspiration more than 600 years after she first swore allegiance to the uncrowned king of a fractured land.