totally random garbage: First Lady Hotties

#10

Not typically considered a hottie, there are definitely some pix out there (like this one) that have to make you wonder. Of course, there are also some out there that seem to argue just the opposite. I guess you could say she’s kind of a polarizing figure.

Love her or hate her, there is no arguing she is the most accomplished First Lady of all time. A Wellesley and Yale Law grad, she also practiced law, was a U.S. Senator and also Secretary of State.

There’s a chance we may soon be calling her Madame President as well. May I present to you …

... Hillary Rodham Clinton

#9

She wasn’t First Lady for very long – a mere seven months. Her husband was shot by a demented office seeker less than four months into his term. He lingered for another three, but eventually succumbed (some say to the primitive medical treatment he received).

She would survive him by 36 years, never remarrying. The two had met in college, married when they were both 26, had five children together, and were said to have a very close, loving marriage.

He was …

... James A Garfield. She was the former Lucretia Rudolph.

#8

This is one of the tougher ones. The difference between the bathing beauty in this photo and the white-haired, grandmotherly figure we know from her days in the White House is pretty much as complete as can be.

Need a hint? Well, she’s one of only two first ladies who had a son to go on to become president. And I understand there’s a possibility she might become the first First Lady to have two sons become president.

Hard to believe but, yup, it’s …

... Barbara Bush

#7

Our country’s only presidential bigamist, she married her future POTUS when she was still married to somebody else. It would become something of an issue when he subsequently ran for president.

She would actually never officially become First Lady, though, dying less than four months before her husband was inaugurated. Her death would send the president-elect into a major depression, and he would stay unmarried, until his death, almost 20 years later.

Though no actual photographs of her were ever taken, it was said that she had:

lustrous black eyes, dark glossy hair, full red lips, brunette complexion, though of brilliant coloring, [and] a sweet oval face rippling with smiles and dimples.

You’ve actually run across her hubby before, under Presidential Hotties. He was none other than …

... Andrew Jackson. And she was Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson.

#6

Between Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, our nation had ten presidents, none of whom can – or should – be remembered. This lovely lady was married to one of those guys.

His main claim to fame was his incredible whiskers. She was known for dying young, at age 42, less than two years before her husband became president. He never really fully recovered.

Two interesting facts about her:

She had an excellent (soprano) voice

She was from Virginia, and had kinfolk fighting for the Confederacy while her husband fought for the Union

He was …

... Chester Alan Arthur. She was Ellen Lewis Herndon.

#5

This lovely young thing was also married to one of those latter 19-Century ciphers. The two were, in fact, married in the White House – the first time that had ever happened.

They were a bit of an odd couple. He was an inveterate bachelor, not quite 50 years old, 260 lbs., and with a ridiculous walrus mustache. She was 21, petite, gorgeous, and his ward.

She would become a phenomenon, as would their child, Baby Ruth (whence the candy bar). She would later remarry, living until after World War II.

Him?

Grover Cleveland. Her? Frances Folsom Cleveland Perkins.

#4

Well, heck, they were both movie stars. So, I would imagine they would both rank pretty high.

The first one was wed to the president long before he became the president. They were married nine years before divorcing. She actually won an Oscar for Best Actress (in Johnny Belinda), but is probably better known as the matriarch on Falcon Crest.

The second one is the one who hung around and made First Lady. She had about a fifth of the credits of the first wife. She was very devoted to her POTUS, but was something of a controversial figure, including:

Spending incredible amounts on inaugural parties, clothes, and china

Having very strained relations with her children, step and otherwise

Employing an astrologer to help with presidential decisions

Guessed yet? You probably got the last one …

… Nancy (Davis) Reagan. The first was Jane Wyman.

#3

This is a modern re-creation, but it is based on some sophisticated age-regression analysis from the Forensic Anthropology department at a major university. And what it’s telling me is that a woman who everyone thinks of as a frumpy, plump presidential matron was – at least at one point – a pretty darn saucy, petite little hottie.

She was also a widow with enormous amounts of money, and the story is usually that her future husband (and future POTUS) married her just for that. This re-creation tells me, though, it might have been more than just that.

Give up? Well, would you believe this is the first First Lady? Yup, it’s …

... Martha Washington

#2

Another recreation, this is not, however, the result of any sophisticated software. That said, this lady was supposed to be quite the looker.

Her husband, the future president (and something of a hottie himself), was quite enamored of her. After her death, from complications of childbirth at age 33, he would faint, then not leave his room for three weeks. Though quite the lusty fellow, he would stay unmarried until his death, 43 years later.

This is a bit of a tough one. This lovely lady was married to this guy: