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	Madam Second Lady Mrs. Vance
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 (also called SLOTUS or SGOTUS) is a special title. It's given to the husband or wife of the Vice President of the United States. They hold this title for as long as their spouse is the Vice President.

The term "second lady" was first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart. She was the wife of Vice President Garret Hobart in the late 1800s. The first "second gentleman" was Doug Emhoff. He is the husband of Kamala Harris, who was the Vice President from 2021 to 2025. She was also the first woman to be Vice President.

Many second ladies have later become first ladies. This happens when their husbands become president. 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. The most recent example is Jill Biden. Her husband, Joe Biden, was Vice President and then President.

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

The History of the Second Spouse's Role

The role of the Vice President's spouse has changed a lot over time. For a long time, the wife of the Vice President didn't have a very public job. The First Lady (the President's wife) was usually the main hostess at the White House.

However, there were some exceptions. For example, Floride Calhoun was the wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun. She was involved in a social disagreement called the "Petticoat Affair." This event caused problems between her husband and President Andrew Jackson.

Second Lady Pat Nixon, with Vice President Richard Nixon, visited Ghana in 1957. She helped shape this role for future spouses.

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

Sometimes, there have been periods when there was no second lady or gentleman. This happened if the Vice President was a widower or if the Vice President's position was empty. The longest time without a second spouse was 16 years. This was between Abigail Adams and Ann Gerry.

What the Second Lady or Gentleman Does

The job of the second lady or gentleman is not paid. It is also not officially written down. Traditionally, the Vice President's wife was expected to be a hostess. She would attend social events.

Jennie Tuttle Hobart is often seen as the first to call herself "Second Lady." She took on many hosting duties for First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley. This was because Mrs. McKinley had health issues.

Over time, the Vice President's spouse became more visible. This happened as the Vice President's office itself grew in importance. In 2010, Marie Claire magazine said that second ladies often chose a cause to support. They would then work on that cause.

Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, often filled in for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. She did this when Mrs. Kennedy couldn't attend public events.

Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard Nixon, really changed the role. When her husband became Vice President in 1953, the role had very few official duties. Pat Nixon decided to create her own activities. She traveled a lot, visiting schools, hospitals, and markets around the world. She traveled over 125,000 miles to six continents! Historians say she helped create the modern role of the second lady. She showed that the second spouse could be an important goodwill ambassador.

Doug Emhoff (right), the first and only second gentleman of the United States, stands with his wife, Kamala Harris (left), during her inauguration in 2021.

During the Reagan years, Second Lady Barbara Bush hosted many events. She traveled a lot and championed literacy. She continued to support this cause when she became First Lady.

Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, worked to remove content she found inappropriate from entertainment. Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, focused on education reform. She especially supported American history education. She even wrote several bestselling books for children on this topic. Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, worked as an English professor. She is believed to be the first second lady to have a paying job while her husband was Vice President. She has supported causes like breast cancer awareness.

Douglas Emhoff became the first Second Gentleman of the United States. This happened when his wife, Kamala Harris, became the first female Vice President. He is also the first lawyer and the first Jewish person to hold this role. Mr. Emhoff is a law professor. His main goals have included helping with food security, fighting antisemitism, and addressing climate change. He has traveled to many countries representing the U.S.

Current Living Second Spouses

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

Causes and Projects They Supported

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

• Joan Mondale: Art
• Barbara Bush: Literacy (helping people learn to read and write)
• 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 and military families
• Doug Emhoff: Food security, climate change, and fighting antisemitism

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 (née Abigail Smith)	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 (née Ann Thompson)	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 (née Hannah Minthorne)	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 (née Floride Bonneau Colhoun)	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 (née Letitia Christian)	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 (née Sophia Chew Nicklin)	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 (née Abigail Powers)	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 (née Mary Cyrene Burch)	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 (née Ellen Vesta Emery)	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 (née Eliza McCardle)	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 (née Ellen Maria Wade)	Colfax, Schuyler Schuyler Colfax November 18, 1868	March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873	(1836-07-26)July 26, 1836	(1911-03-04)March 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 (née Eliza Carol Morgan)	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 (née Anna Livingston Reade Street)	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 (née Letitia Green)	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 (née Esther Jane Tuttle)	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 (née Edith Kermit Carow)	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 (née Cornelia Cole)	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 (née Carrie Babcock)	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 (née Lois Irene Kimsey)	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 (née Grace Anna Goodhue)	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 (née Caro Dana Blymyer)	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 (née Mariette Elizabeth Rheiner)	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 (née Ilo Browne)	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 (née Elizabeth Virginia Wallace)	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 (née Elizabeth Jane Rucker)	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 (née Thelma Catherine Ryan)	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 (née Claudia Alta Taylor)	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 (née Muriel Fay Buck)	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 (née Elinor Isabel Judefind)	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 until Ford's confirmation under the 25th Amendment.			October 10, 1973 – December 6, 1973
	Ford, Betty Elizabeth "Betty" Ford (née Elizabeth Anne Bloomer)	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 Rockefeller's confirmation under the 25th Amendment.			August 9, 1974 – December 19, 1974
	Rockefeller, Happy Margaretta "Happy" Rockefeller (née Margaretta Large Fitler)	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 (née Joan Adams)	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 (née Barbara Pierce)	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 (née Marilyn Tucker)	Quayle, Dan Dan Quayle November 18, 1972	January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993	(1949-07-29)July 29, 1949	2025-06-21 Living 75 years, 327 days
	Gore, Tipper Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore (née Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson)	Gore, Al Al Gore May 19, 1970	January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001	(1948-08-19)August 19, 1948	2025-06-21 Living 76 years, 306 days
	Cheney, Lynne Lynne Cheney (née Lynne Ann Vincent)	Cheney, Dick Dick Cheney August 29, 1964	January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009	(1941-08-14)August 14, 1941	2025-06-21 Living 83 years, 311 days
	Biden, Jill Jill Biden (née Jill Tracy Jacobs)	Biden, Joe Joe Biden June 17, 1977	January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017	(1951-06-03)June 3, 1951	2025-06-21 Living 74 years, 18 days	2021–2025
	Pence, KarenKaren Pence (née Karen Sue Batten)	Pence, MikeMike Pence June 8, 1985	January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021	(1957-01-01)January 1, 1957	2025-06-21Living 68 years, 171 days
	Emhoff, DouglasDouglas Craig Emhoff	Harris, KamalaKamala Harris August 22, 2014	January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025	(1964-10-13)October 13, 1964	2025-06-21Living 60 years, 251 days
	Vance, UshaUsha Vance (née Usha Bala Chilukuri)	Vance, JDJD Vance 2014	January 20, 2025 – Present	(1986-01-06)January 6, 1986	2025-06-21Living 39 years, 166 days

Other Spouses of U.S. Vice Presidents

Some spouses of Vice Presidents are not called "second ladies" or "second gentlemen." This is because they were not married to the Vice President during their time in office.

Nine Vice Presidents were widowers before they became Vice President:

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

Five Vice Presidents were widowed and then remarried before becoming Vice President:

• Hannibal Hamlin was married to Sarah Emery, then to Ellen Emery.
• Schuyler Colfax was married to Evelyn Clark, then to Ellen Wade.
• Levi P. Morton was married to Lucy Young Kimball, then to Anna Livingston Reade Street.
• Theodore Roosevelt was married to Alice Hathaway Lee, then to Edith Carow.
• Joe Biden was married to Neilia Hunter, then to Jill Jacobs.

One Vice President was divorced and remarried before becoming Vice President:

• Nelson Rockefeller was married to Mary Todhunter Clark, then to Happy Fitler Murphy.

One Vice President was widowed before his term and remarried during his term:

• Alben W. Barkley was married to Dorothy Brower, then to Jane Rucker Hadley.

Three Vice Presidents remarried after their time in office:

• Aaron Burr was married to Elizabeth Bowen Jumel.
• John Tyler was married to Julia Gardiner.
• Millard Fillmore was married to Caroline Carmichael McIntosh.

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