#10: Edith Roosevelt

Edith Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt’s second wife, reshaped the role of First Lady. Pioneering new practices, she became the first to employ a full-time social secretary and unofficially advise her husband. Edith also formalized her responsibilities, a groundbreaking move. Some critics found her approach controlling, particularly when she convened regular meetings of cabinet ministers’ wives to discuss moral standards and party spending limits.

Although perceived as less of a leader, she strategically kept a low profile during her husband’s presidential campaigns and avoided reporters. Nevertheless, her consistently high rankings among First Ladies attest to her significance. Edith’s legacy endures through major White House renovations, expanding family rooms, and preserving portraits and china sets of her predecessors.