Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Second Lady of the United States
Incumbent Usha Vance since January 20, 2025
Style	Mrs. Vance Madam Second Lady
Abbreviation	SLOTUS
Residence	Number One Observatory Circle
Inaugural holder	Abigail Adams (as second lady) Douglas Emhoff (as second gentleman)
Formation	April 21, 1789 (236 years ago) (1789-04-21)

The second lady of the United States or second gentleman is the informal title for the husband or wife of the Vice President of the United States. This title is used while the Vice President is in office. It's similar to the "First Lady" title, but not as commonly known.

The term "second lady" was first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart. She was the wife of Garret Hobart, who was Vice President from 1897 to 1899. The first "second gentleman" was Doug Emhoff. He is the husband of Kamala Harris, who was the first woman Vice President from 2021 to 2025.

Many second ladies have later become first ladies when their husbands became president. For example, Abigail Adams was the first to do this. She was married to John Adams, who was the first Vice President and then the second President. More recently, Jill Biden was second lady from 2009 to 2017. She became first lady in 2021 when her husband, Joe Biden, became president.

Since the 1970s, the official home for the Vice President's family has been Number One Observatory Circle in Washington, D.C..

The Role of the Second Spouse

The job of the Vice President's spouse has changed a lot over time. For a long time, the First Lady was expected to host events at the White House. But the Vice President's wife usually didn't have a big public role until the late 1900s and early 2000s.

One interesting exception was Floride Calhoun. She was the wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun. She was involved in a social scandal called the Petticoat Affair. This event caused problems between her husband and President Andrew Jackson.

Second Lady Pat Nixon (right), with Vice President Richard Nixon, visited Ghana in 1957. She helped shape the role for future second ladies.

In 1978, Muriel Humphrey became the only former second lady to hold a public office. After her husband, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, passed away, she was appointed to take his place in the U.S. Senate.

There have been times when there was no second lady or gentleman. This usually happened when the Vice President was a widower or when the Vice President's job was empty. The longest time without a second spouse was 16 years.

What the Second Spouse Does

The role of the second lady or gentleman is not a paid job, and it doesn't have a formal description. Historically, the Vice President's wife was expected to be a hostess and attend social events.

Jennie Tuttle Hobart was one of the first to take on more duties. She helped First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley with hosting because Mrs. McKinley had health issues. Later, starting in 1917, the Vice President's wife also led a group called the Red Cross Senate Wives. This group later became the Senate Spouses Club.

Over time, as the Vice President's office became more important, the spouse's role also grew. In 2010, Marie Claire magazine said that second ladies often chose one or two causes to support.

Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard Nixon, really changed the role. When her husband became Vice President in 1953, the job mostly involved one annual luncheon. But Mrs. Nixon started her own projects. She traveled more than 125,000 miles around the world by herself. She visited schools, orphanages, hospitals, and markets instead of just attending formal parties. Many historians say she created the modern role of the second lady. She was seen as a kind and elegant person. She even visited places where women were not usually allowed, sending a subtle message about equal rights.

During the Reagan years, Second Lady Barbara Bush hosted over a thousand events. She traveled a lot and became a champion for literacy (the ability to read and write). She continued this work when she became First Lady.

Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, worked to remove content she found inappropriate from movies, TV shows, and music. She often debated with critics about song lyrics. Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, focused on improving education. She was a strong supporter of American history education and wrote many books for children on the topic.

Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, worked as an English professor while her husband was Vice President. She was the first second lady to hold a paying job during her husband's term. She supported causes like breast cancer awareness and literacy.

Doug Emhoff became the first second gentleman in 2021. He is also the first Jewish person to hold this role. He is a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center. His main goals included helping with food security, fighting antisemitism, addressing climate change, and working for equal access to justice. He traveled to many countries, meeting with leaders and attending important events.

In 2025, Usha Vance became the first Asian American second lady. Her husband, JD Vance, became Vice President.

Current Living Second Spouses

Here are the living second ladies and gentlemen, from oldest to youngest:

Causes and Initiatives

Many second ladies and gentlemen have used their platform to support important causes:

• Joan Mondale: Art
• Barbara Bush: Literacy
• Marilyn Quayle: Early diagnosis of breast cancer
• Tipper Gore: Removing objectionable materials in popular American entertainment
• Lynne Cheney: History of the United States education
• Jill Biden: "Joining Forces" (supporting military families)
• Karen Pence: Art therapy; military families
• Doug Emhoff: Food security; climate change; fighting antisemitism
• Usha Vance: Childhood Literacy

List of Second Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States

Image	Second Lady or Gentleman	Vice President Marriage date	Tenure	Date of birth	Date of death (age)	Tenure as First Lady
	Adams, Abigail Abigail Adams	Adams, John John Adams October 25, 1764	April 21, 1789 – March 4, 1797	(1744-11-22)November 22, 1744	(1818-10-28)(1818-10-28)October 28, 1818 (73 years, 340 days)	1797–1801
01.1 Vacant; Jefferson, Thomas Thomas Jefferson was a widower.			March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801
01.2 Vacant; Aaron Burr was a widower.			March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1805
01.3 Vacant; George Clinton was a widower.			March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812
01.4 Vacant; no vice president after Clinton's death.			April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813
	Gerry, Ann Ann Gerry	Gerry, Elbridge Elbridge Gerry January 12, 1786	March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814	(1763-08-12)August 12, 1763	(1849-03-17)March 17, 1849(1849-03-17) (aged 85)
02.1 Vacant; no vice president after Gerry's death.			November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817
	Tompkins, Hannah Hannah Tompkins	Tompkins, Daniel D Daniel D Tompkins February 20, 1798	March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825	(1781-08-28)August 28, 1781	(1829-02-18)February 18, 1829(1829-02-18) (aged 47)
	Calhoun, Floride Floride Bonneau Calhoun	Calhoun, John C. John C. Calhoun January 8, 1811	March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832	(1792-02-15)February 15, 1792	(1866-07-25)July 25, 1866(1866-07-25) (aged 74)
04.1 Vacant; no vice president after Calhoun's resignation.			December 28, 1832 – March 4, 1833
04.2 Vacant; Buren, Martin Van Martin Van Buren was a widower.			March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837
04.3 Vacant; Johnson, Richard Mentor Richard M. Johnson was a widower			March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841
	Tyler, Letitia Christian Letitia Tyler	Tyler, John John Tyler March 29, 1813	March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841	(1790-11-12)November 12, 1790	(1842-09-12)September 12, 1842(1842-09-12) (aged 51)	1841–1842
05.1 Vacant; no vice president after Tyler assumed presidency.			April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845
	Dallas, Sophia Sophia Dallas	Dallas, George M. George M. Dallas May 23, 1816	March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849	(1798-06-24)June 24, 1798	(1869-01-11)January 11, 1869(1869-01-11) (aged 70)
	Fillmore, Abigail Abigail Fillmore	Fillmore, Millard Millard Fillmore February 5, 1826	March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850	(1798-03-13)March 13, 1798	(1853-03-30)March 30, 1853(1853-03-30) (aged 55)	1850–1853
07.1 Vacant; no vice president after Fillmore assumed presidency.			July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
Vacant; William R. King was unmarried.			March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853
02.1 Vacant; no vice president after King’s death.			April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857
	Breckinridge, Mary Cyrene Burch Mary Cyrene Burch Breckinridge	Breckinridge, John C. John C. Breckinridge December 12, 1843	March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861	(1826-08-16)August 16, 1826	(1907-10-08)October 8, 1907(1907-10-08) (aged 81)
	Hamlin, Ellen Ellen Hamlin	Hamlin, Hannibal Hannibal Hamlin September 25, 1856	March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865	(1835-09-14)September 14, 1835	(1925-02-01)February 1, 1925(1925-02-01) (aged 89)
	Johnson, Eliza Eliza McCardle Johnson	Johnson, Andrew Andrew Johnson May 17, 1827	March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865	(1810-10-04)October 4, 1810	(1876-01-15)January 15, 1876(1876-01-15) (aged 65)	1865–1869
10.1 Vacant; no vice president after Johnson assumed presidency.			April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
	Colfax, Ellen Maria Ellen Maria Colfax	Colfax, Schuyler Schuyler Colfax November 18, 1868	March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873	(1836-07-26)July 26, 1836	1911-03-04March 4, 1911(1911-03-04) (aged 74)
Vacant; Henry Wilson was a widower.			March 4, 1873 – November 22, 1875
11.3 Vacant; Wheeler, William A. William A. Wheeler was a widower.			March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
11.4 Vacant; Arthur, Chester A. Chester A. Arthur was a widower.			March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
11.5 Vacant; no vice president after Arthur assumed presidency.			September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885
	Hendricks, Eliza Eliza Hendricks	Hendricks, Thomas A. Thomas A. Hendricks September 26, 1845	March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885	(1823-11-23)November 23, 1823	(1903-01-03)November 3, 1903(1903-11-03) (aged 79)
12.1 Vacant; no vice president after Hendricks's death.			November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889
	Morton, Anna Anna Morton	Morton, Levi P. Levi P. Morton February 12, 1873	March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893	(1846-05-18)May 18, 1846	(1918-08-14)August 14, 1918(1918-08-14) (aged 72)
	Stevenson, Letitia Letitia Stevenson	Stevenson, Adlai I Adlai Stevenson I December 22, 1866	March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897	(1843-01-08)January 8, 1843	(1913-12-25)December 25, 1913(1913-12-25) (aged 70)
	Hobart, Jennie Esther Jane "Jennie" Tuttle Hobart	Hobart, Garret Garret Hobart July 21, 1869	March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899	(1849-04-30)April 30, 1849	(1941-01-08)January 8, 1941(1941-01-08) (aged 91)
15.1 Vacant; no vice president after Hobart's death.			November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901
	Roosevelt, Edith Edith Roosevelt	Roosevelt, Theodore Theodore Roosevelt December 2, 1886	March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901	(1861-08-06)August 6, 1861	(1948-09-30)September 30, 1948(1948-09-30) (aged 87)	1901–1909
16.1 Vacant; no vice president after Roosevelt assumed presidency.			September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905
	Fairbanks, Cornelia Cornelia "Nellie" Cole Fairbanks	Fairbanks, Charles W. Charles W. Fairbanks October 6, 1874	March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909	(1852-01-14)January 14, 1852	(1913-10-24)October 24, 1913(1913-10-24) (aged 61)
	Sherman, Carrie Carrie Babcock Sherman	Sherman, James S. James S. Sherman January 26, 1881	March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912	(1856-11-16)November 16, 1856	(1931-10-06)October 6, 1931(1931-10-06) (aged 74)
18.1 Vacant; no vice president after Sherman's death.			October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913
	Marshall, Lois Irene Lois Irene Marshall	Marshall, Thomas R. Thomas R. Marshall October 2, 1895	March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921	(1873-05-09)May 9, 1873	(1958-01-06)January 6, 1958(1958-01-06) (aged 84)
	Coolidge, Grace Grace Coolidge	Coolidge, Calvin Calvin Coolidge October 4, 1905	March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923	(1879-01-03)January 3, 1879	(1957-07-08)July 8, 1957(1957-07-08) (aged 78)	1923–1929
20.1 Vacant; no vice president after Coolidge assumed presidency.			August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925
	Dawes, Caro Caro Dawes	Dawes, Charles G. Charles G. Dawes January 24, 1889	March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929	(1866-01-06)January 6, 1866	(1957-10-03)October 3, 1957(1957-10-03) (aged 91)
21.1 Vacant; Curtis, Charles Charles Curtis was a widower.			March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
	Garner, Mariette Mariette Elizabeth "Ettie" Garner	Garner, John Nance John Nance Garner November 25, 1895	March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941	(1869-07-17)July 17, 1869	(1948-08-17)August 17, 1948(1948-08-17) (aged 79)
	Wallace, Ilo Ilo Wallace	Wallace, Henry A. Henry A. Wallace May 20, 1914	January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945	(1888-03-10)March 10, 1888	(1981-02-22)February 22, 1981(1981-02-22) (aged 92)
	Truman, Bess Bess Truman	Truman, Harry S. Harry S. Truman June 28, 1919	January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945	(1885-02-13)February 13, 1885	(1982-10-18)October 18, 1982(1982-10-18) (aged 97)	1945–1953
24.1 Vacant; no vice president after Truman assumed presidency.			April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949
24.2 Vacant; Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley was a widower.			January 20, 1949 – November 18, 1949
	Barkley, Jane Hadley Jane Hadley Barkley	Barkley, Alben W. Alben W. Barkley November 18, 1949	November 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953	(1911-09-23)September 23, 1911	(1964-09-06)September 6, 1964(1964-09-06) (aged 52)
	Nixon, Pat Pat Nixon	Nixon, Richard Richard Nixon June 21, 1940	January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961	(1912-03-16)March 16, 1912	(1993-06-22)June 22, 1993(1993-06-22) (aged 81)	1969–1974
	Johnson, Lady Bird Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson	Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson November 17, 1934	January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963	(1912-12-22)December 22, 1912	(2007-07-11)July 11, 2007(2007-07-11) (aged 94)	1963–1969
27.1 Vacant; no vice president after Johnson assumed presidency.			November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965
	Humphrey, Muriel Muriel Humphrey Brown	Humphrey, Hubert Hubert Humphrey September 3, 1936	January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969	(1912-02-20)February 20, 1912	(1998-09-20)September 20, 1998(1998-09-20) (aged 86)
	Agnew, Judy Elinor "Judy" Agnew	Agnew, Spiro Spiro Agnew May 27, 1942	January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973	(1921-04-23)April 23, 1921	(2012-06-20)June 20, 2012(2012-06-20) (aged 91)
30.1 Vacant; no vice president between Agnew's resignation and Ford's confirmation under the 25th Amendment.			October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973
	Ford, Betty Elizabeth "Betty" Ford	Ford, Gerald Gerald Ford October 15, 1948	December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974	(1918-04-08)April 8, 1918	(2011-07-08)July 8, 2011(2011-07-08) (aged 93)	1974–1977
30.1 Vacant; no vice president until between Ford assuming the presidency and Rockefeller's confirmation under the 25th Amendment.			August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974
	Rockefeller, Happy Margaretta "Happy" Rockefeller	Rockefeller, Nelson Nelson Rockefeller May 4, 1963	December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977	(1926-06-09)June 9, 1926	(2015-05-19)May 19, 2015(2015-05-19) (aged 88)
	Mondale, Joan Joan Mondale	Mondale, Walter Walter Mondale December 27, 1955	January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981	(1930-08-08)August 8, 1930	(2014-02-03)February 3, 2014(2014-02-03) (aged 83)
	Bush, Barbara Barbara Bush	Bush, George H. W. George H. W. Bush January 6, 1945	January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989	(1925-06-08)June 8, 1925	(2018-04-17)April 17, 2018(2018-04-17) (aged 92)	1989–1993
	Quayle, Marilyn Marilyn Quayle	Quayle, Dan Dan Quayle November 18, 1972	January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993	(1949-07-29)July 29, 1949	2025-07-22 Living 75 years, 358 days
	Gore, Tipper Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore	Gore, Al Al Gore May 19, 1970	January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001	(1948-08-19)August 19, 1948	2025-07-22 Living 76 years, 337 days
	Cheney, Lynne Lynne Cheney	Cheney, Dick Dick Cheney August 29, 1964	January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009	(1941-08-14)August 14, 1941	2025-07-22 Living 83 years, 342 days
	Biden, Jill Jill Biden	Biden, Joe Joe Biden June 17, 1977	January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017	(1951-06-03)June 3, 1951	2025-07-22 Living 74 years, 49 days	2021–2025
	Pence, KarenKaren Pence	Pence, MikeMike Pence June 8, 1985	January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021	(1957-01-01)January 1, 1957	2025-07-22Living 68 years, 202 days
	Emhoff, DouglasDouglas Craig Emhoff	Harris, KamalaKamala Harris August 22, 2014	January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025	(1964-10-13)October 13, 1964	2025-07-22Living 60 years, 282 days
	Vance, UshaUsha Vance	Vance, JDJD Vance June 14, 2014	January 20, 2025 – present	(1986-01-06)January 6, 1986	2025-07-22Living 39 years, 197 days

Other Spouses of U.S. Vice Presidents

Some spouses of Vice Presidents are not considered "second ladies" because their marriages happened before or after the Vice President's term.

Nine U.S. Vice Presidents were widowers before they became Vice President:

• Thomas Jefferson was married to Martha Wayles until she passed away in 1782.
• Aaron Burr was married to Theodosia Bartow Prevost until she passed away in 1794.
• George Clinton was married to Sarah Tappen until she passed away in 1800.
• Martin Van Buren was married to Hannah Hoes until she passed away in 1819.
• Richard Mentor Johnson considered Julia Chinn his common-law wife until she passed away in 1830.
• Henry Wilson was married to Harriet Howe until she passed away in 1870.
• William A. Wheeler was married to Mary King until she passed away in 1876.
• Chester A. Arthur was married to Ellen Lewis Herndon until she passed away in 1880.
• Charles Curtis was married to Annie Baird until she passed away in 1924. His half-sister, Dolly Gann, acted as his official hostess.

Five U.S. Vice Presidents were widowers and remarried before their vice presidencies:

• Hannibal Hamlin was married to Sarah Emery until 1855. He then married Ellen Emery in 1856.
• Schuyler Colfax was married to Evelyn Clark until 1863. He then married Ellen Wade in 1868.
• Levi P. Morton was married to Lucy Young Kimball until 1871. He then married Anna Livingston Reade Street in 1873.
• Theodore Roosevelt was married to Alice Hathaway Lee until 1884. He then married Edith Carow in 1886.
• Joe Biden was married to Neilia Hunter until 1972. He has been married to Jill Jacobs since 1977.

One U.S. Vice President was divorced and remarried before his vice presidency:

• Nelson Rockefeller was married to Mary Todhunter Clark until 1962. He then married Happy Fitler Murphy in 1963.

One U.S. Vice President was a widower before his vice presidency and remarried during his vice presidency:

• Alben W. Barkley was married to Dorothy Brower until 1947. He then married Jane Rucker Hadley in 1949, while he was Vice President.

Three U.S. Vice Presidents remarried after their vice presidencies:

• Aaron Burr married Elizabeth Bowen Jumel in 1833.
• John Tyler married Julia Gardiner in 1844.
• Millard Fillmore married Caroline Carmichael McIntosh in 1858.

See also

In Spanish: Segunda dama o segundo caballero de los Estados Unidos para niños

• First Lady of the United States (list)
• Vice President of the United States (list)
• United States order of precedence