What are the responsibilities of the President's spouse?

[sl8]

What are (or should be) the responsibilities of the President's spouse?

A recent thread about Melania's failings with regard to the current visit of Japan's Prime Minister and his wife got me to thinking
(yes, I'm aware that me thinking does not always bode well for DU readers, when it spills out into a DU post from me, but I choose to ignore all naysayers for the next few hours, including the most annoying of them all, my better judgement).

In particular, one post pointed out that it was anachronistic to expect a wife to entertain her husband's business guests. The only response to that was that "...it's not just a job". For some reason, that seemed to stick in my craw.

What do you think should be the responsibilities of the spouse of the President of the United States? Legally, morally, historically - from whatever viewpoint which you choose.

[underpants]

1. Well she could appoint a staff so the tours of the White House can resume

Yes I know it's anachronistic for THE WOMAN to be in charge of the tours and the flowers but someone has to do it.

[sl8]

6. I agree that there is a need

Should it necessarily be the spouse?

Would it make more sense to appoint a host/hostess?

I'm spitballing here. I've never given much thought to the role of the First Lady before.

[sl8]

7. Yes "she could" do this, that, or the other, but the main question is, should she or he have to?

Sorry if it seems like I'm picking on you, I don't intend it that way.



I think it would be equally anachronistic to expect a male spouse to provide the same, unpaid, unelected duties. So far, this inequity has only fallen on women, as far as i know.

[underpants]

11. I agree. Someone does have to fill the roles of Tour organizer and floral arranger

so appoint someone to oversea this. That's my point. They have Kellyanne who is just a PR person which no one else has ever had. Okay Melania doesn't want to do it - put someone in under the Chief of Staff but OPEN UP OUR HOUSE!

[sl8]

12. I agree with you about this.

You're so smart.

[JI7]

14. i don't think they want to do the white house tours

[leftstreet]

2. Mostly ceremonial, but they get tons of staff

So it's not like it's a hardship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States#Role

The position of the First Lady is not an elected one and carries only ceremonial duties. Nonetheless, first ladies have held a highly visible position in American society.[7] The role of the First Lady has evolved over the centuries. She is, first and foremost, the hostess of the White House.[7] She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the president. Lisa Burns identifies four successive main themes of the first ladyship: as public woman (1900–1929); as political celebrity (1932–1961); as political activist (1964–1977); and as political interloper (1980–2001).[8]

[Siwsan]

3. It will be interesting to see what Melania assigns her tons of staff to do.

I'm thinking if it is PERSONAL stuff, even more 'leaks' are coming our way.

[yeoman6987]

8. I heard they are cutting the first lady's staff from 30 down to 3 personnel

Heard that yesterday. No telling if true or not with all the fake news rolling around.

[OKNancy]

4. nothing really, all Melania does is keep her makeup from cracking

That's why she never smiles. It will make her get lines in her makeup, plus of course botox makes a face immobile too.

[sl8]

5. Some non-spousal first ladies:

http://www.firstladies.org/blog/first-ladies-never-married-to-presidents-the-other-women-of-the-white-house/

...

Yet there have been some two dozen First Ladies who had a variety of family relationships with Presidents other than that of spouse, being daughters, daughters-in-law, niece, sisters, cousin, and aunts.

Even when these “other women” are acknowledged as “surrogate First Ladies” or “White House hostesses,” the titles by which they are often designated, little to no consideration is given to the value their presence provided a President in private or what the nature of their uncertain status revealed about the nation’s evolving perceptions of the presidency.
...

[Sherman A1]

9. None beyond ceremonial

and I hope she stays in NYC.

[sl8]

10. At first glance, I'm inclined to agree with you.

On further reflection, I'm not sure what "purely ceremonial" means. It's not statutory, is it? Who decides what purely ceremonial functions are required of him or her?

[meadowlander]

13. None. Not even ceremonial.

If Melania was a Supreme Court Justice or a neurosurgeon or running a charity that built wells in Africa would we be expecting her to walk out of whatever she was doing to play tour guide to the Japanese Prime Minister's wife? No, of course not.

We need to wake up to the fact that women have careers too and should not be expected to drop whatever they are doing because their husband holds office.

If Hillary Clinton had won, nobody would be complaining about Bill Clinton not dropping everything to put on dinner for Abe and his wife.

[sarisataka]

15. Only the responsibilities she-

or he- wishes to assume.

[Yupster]

17. That's my answer too

Zero.

She didn't run for office. He did.

[MineralMan]

16. The wife of a President has no official duties.

Period. They don't have to do bupkes. And this one doesn't even like her husband.

Don't expect anything from her, nor much from her husband, either.

White House tours are cancelled. The President's staff is just a few people. This President wants nothing to do with the job.

Forget it. Let's, instead, do whatever we can to get the orange-haired asshole out of there. He's useless, and worse, dangerous as can be. We need to find a way to convince him that being President is not the job he wants, so he'll freaking resign.

"This is not the job you were looking for, Mr. Trump." Use The Force.

[sl8]

18. Something tells me that your response is more than half tongue-in-cheek

What would your response be if the current President was your best possible President?

[MineralMan]

19. It would be the same.

First Lady is not a job description. There is no pay, nor any requirement of performance. Most Presidents have spouses who look for ways to serve. But there are not in any way required to do so. Trump is a horrible President and a horrible human being. Why do you expect his wife to do anything at all? We have been fortunate to have First Ladies who have contributed.

In many ways, Melania Trump is a victim of her husband's ugliness. I do not know her, and have no expectations of her.

[sl8]

20. I may have misinterpreted your last post.

We have been very fortunate with our past First Ladies.

I have no particular expectations of Melania.