Jackie

[L Verge]

(02-12-2017 12:53 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  

(02-12-2017 12:27 PM)JMadonna Wrote:  Mamie Eisenhower had 1 aide paid for by her husband.
Jackie's aide was paid for by the taxpayers. The rest of the first ladies followed this tradition until Hillary needed 4. Laura Bush had 1 and then Michelle needed 23.

According to Snopes, Michelle Obama's staff size was about the same number as her predecessors.

"A look at some first ladies and their staff sizes:

Laura Bush: Between 24 and 26 by end of President George W. Bush’s term in 2009, according to Anita McBride, Mrs. Bush’s chief of staff.

Lady Bird Johnson, whose signature issue was beautifying roadways, had a staff of 30, said Stacy A. Cordery, a history professor at Montmouth [sic] College in Illinois who studies first ladies.

Betty Ford had almost the same number.

Jacqueline Kennedy, who made renovating the White House her cause, had about 40 people on staff, Cordery said."

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/firstlady.asp

I had seen the same type of article concerning the accurate number of aides to First Ladies over the past fifty years. Although I don't trust snopes.com after I read background on it, the article I read was very similar.

I will admit to being of the generation that was totally smitten with Jackie Kennedy because of her style and glamour and education. I also thought that, at the time of her redecorating the White House, she brought back many pieces that the U.S. already owned from prior White House furnishings - instead of procuring newer and more expensive pieces?? I also remember watching her tour of the White House with dozens of other students in our one-TV recreation room in my college dorm.