Which First Ladies Have Resembled-Mary Lincoln ?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Liz, as you said, times were different, and I wonder whether she could have been more actively engaged in politics than she was. When she met A.L. for the first time, she had already been a Whig. D. Donald, in his "Lincoln" biography, says that "At a time when women were not supposed to profess an interest in politics, she openly supported Harrison for President in 1840", and, for sure, she had a share in her husband's way to presidency. And didn't she also try to exercise influence in White House politics at the beginning? She begged for patronage seekers until Stanton stopped her, and according to Sumner, "Mary Lincoln meddled in nearly all patronage affairs of influence and matters of politics". I wouldn't speculate whether her intentions were selfish or if she truly believed to act for the benefit of her husband or the nation, but at least she obviously was willing to influence politics and to be more than just a hostess.