What if OTL First Ladies became President

Hillary Clinton has been so far the only First Lady to run for the presidency, but what if others like her, even if they hadn't pursued politics IOTL, managed to enter politics and eventually go to the Presidency? Would their opinions and ideologies be different from their husbands'? Would they be a better leader than them?

For this challenge, let's say that they manage to make a career on their own, on different dates maybe than their hubsands', and let's only take the First Ladies' from the ratification of the 19th Amendment which establishes women's suffrage.

Edith Wilson
Florence Harding
Grace Coolidge
Lou Hoover
Eleanor Roosevelt
Bess Truman
Mamie Eisenhower
Jacqueline Kennedy
Lady Bird Johnson
Pat Nixon
Betty Ford
Rosalynn Carter
Nancy Reagan
Barbara Bush
Hillary Clinton
Laura Bush
Michelle Obama
 
One problem is that before the 80s or so you couldnt elect a woman, period. Then, you need someone with name recognition on her own. Libby dole is probably the first belieevable possibility.

Hilary is probably the first with a real chance.
 
Betty Ford would probably be the earliest because of all her work for those with addiction issues, but then again she had them herself. So Betty would probably be the earliest possibility -- even if not entirely realistic.

Laura Bush is doomed by her husband, but she could make her platform based a lot on education?

Other than that, if you're willing to go to nominees: (as mentioned) Liddy Dole makes the most sense.
 
Only "Baby Boomer" First Ladies would even consider running for POTUS. The only pre-boomer on the list who had the personal stature to make a credible & plausable candidate (IMO) is Eleanor Roosevelt.
 
Hillary Clinton is the only credible candidate on the list, given the cutthroat tactics of a campaign. Besides, she actually ran.
 
Jackie Kennedy? She seems to have been the most liked First Lady, has the name recognition, has a lot of money, etc... Maybe in the 1980s (Maybe 1988), she can pull of something against Bush.
 
Jackie Kennedy? She seems to have been the most liked First Lady, has the name recognition, has a lot of money, etc... Maybe in the 1980s (Maybe 1988), she can pull of something against Bush.

She detested politics even when Jack was POTUS and to be frank, her snobbishness equals THK's. Plus, she's the heir apparent's mother.
 
She detested politics even when Jack was POTUS and to be frank, her snobbishness equals THK's. Plus, she's the heir apparent's mother.

Yikes, already started a TL. I'll just do what I did with the Mussolini TL and make a personality face lift (POD will be before her husband's death, when she is more interested in politics, and after her husband's death, wants to honor him, and runs in the 1970s for Congress).
 
She didn't have the personality for it, not just because she was a snob but also because she was justifiably obsessive WRT privacy. I'm sorry to pop the bubble but the personality changes required would render her a completely different Jackie from OTL.
 
Yikes, already started a TL. I'll just do what I did with the Mussolini TL and make a personality face lift (POD will be before her husband's death, when she is more interested in politics, and after her husband's death, wants to honor him, and runs in the 1970s for Congress).

A personality transplant, not just a facelift will be required I'm afraid.:rolleyes:
 
Edith Wilson WAS President.
Eleanor was begged by Truman to be his runningmate in '48, but she was for Wallace. Acceptance and a better shot by those Puerto Ricans, and presto.
Betty Ford could have with a pod a while back, and of course Hillary.
 
Top