20 First Ladies With Some Seriously Wild Pastimes
Surely America’s First Ladies are a pretty conventional bunch, right? After all, when you're the president's wife, everyone looks to you as a symbol of grace and loyalty. But as it turns out, not every First Lady in history was all that graceful. Underneath the veneer of respectability, some presidential wives have been, well, downright weird. From having a highly paid personal astrologer on speed dial to keeping pet cows on the lawn, the habits of these First Ladies sound stranger than fiction...
20. Eleanor Roosevelt was an advertising star
Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady from 1933 until her husband's death in 1945. He was the nation’s longest-serving commander-in-chief and so Eleanor held the position of First Lady longer than any other woman. But what truly surprises us is how she was a major advertising star during her time in the White House.
A "magnet for marketers"
In 2017 The Washington Post went so far as to call Mrs. Roosevelt a “magnet for marketers.” The publication also pointed out how she endorsed a diverse range of products, including “hot dog buns, mattresses, and air travel.” This caused much controversy at the time, as people felt this was an improper pursuit for a president’s wife. But it turned out that she donated the bulk of her earnings to charity. An advertising star, indeed!
19. Florence Harding was a homeopathy fan
President Warren G. Harding entered the White House in 1921 and so his wife Florence became First Lady. She was a subscriber to a range of strange beliefs. For example, we’re told that she began each morning with an attentive reading of her horoscope. Only then would she firm up her plans for the day ahead. Sometimes, these plans involved another controversial belief.
A fatal misdiagnosis
Mrs. Harding's penchant for the controversial medical practice of homeopathy definitely turned heads back in the day. In his 1998 biography of Florence Harding, Carl Sferrazza Anthony revealed that she had a homeopath appointed to the position of White House medic. When Harding fell ill, this quack diagnosed food poisoning. Actually, it was a dangerous heart condition, and it killed Harding in 1923.
