Famous politicalwire, Celebrity Birthdays

Michelle Obama is the wife of U.S. President <a title='Barack Obama' href='/famous/barack-obama.htm'>Barack Obama</a> and the first African-American First Lady of the United States. A lawyer by training, she is the 44th First Lady and the third First Lady with a postgraduate degree. As an educated, intelligent, and independent minded woman, she has become a role model for women not just in America, but all over the world. Born as Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, she grew up in a middle-class family and had a conventional upbringing. She learned the values of hard work and perseverance from her father who despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at a young age, never let the disease overcome his ambitions. Her home-maker mother instilled in her a reverence for family values. She was a bright girl who performed well at school and went on to graduate from the Harvard Law School. She was a successful lawyer when she met and married another lawyer, <a title='Barack Obama' href='/famous/barack-obama.htm'>Barack Obama</a>, and was soon juggling the roles of being a wife and mother along with being a professional. She played a major role in her husband's presidential campaigns and her responsibilities increased manifold after becoming the First Lady. In this role she has focused on issues relating to women empowerment, children's health and education, organic food movement, and national service

Melania Trump is the First Lady of the United States of America. Her husband, <a title='Donald Trump' href='/famous/donald-trump.htm'>Donald Trump</a>, became the 45th President of the country in 2017. Melania married <a title='Donald Trump' href='/famous/donald-trump.htm'>Donald Trump</a> in 2005 to become his third wife. She is the first naturalized US citizen and the second foreign-born US First lady after Louisa Adams, wife of the sixth president, John Quincy Adams. Melania attained US citizenship in 2006. She was born in Slovenia to an Austrian father and a Slovenian mother. Prior to her wedding with <a title='Donald Trump' href='/famous/donald-trump.htm'>Donald Trump</a>, Melania was a professional model and actress in New York. She has worked with renowned photographers from Milan, Paris, and New York. Though Melania avoided the limelight during her husband's presidential campaign, she was targeted by the media several times on account of her modelling career, immigrant origin, plagiarized speech at the Republican National Convention, and false claims of a degree from the University of Ljubljana. Melania strongly believes in women equality and stands for it.

Known for being <a title='Alexander Hamilton' href='/famous/alexander-hamilton.htm'>Alexander Hamilton</a>'s wife, she fiercely defended her husband's reputation. Her family, the Rensseleaers, were one of the richest and most politically powerful families in the state of New York.

Barbara Bush was the wife of the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, and the mother of the 43rd President, <a title='George W. Bush' href='/famous/george-w-bush.htm'>George W. Bush</a>. She served as the First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, and was the Second Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. She is one of the only two women to be both a wife and a mother to a president of the United States, the other one being Abigail Adams. Born into a well-to-do family in New York City, she grew up to be an athletic and smart young girl with a keen interest in reading. She met her future husband, George Herbert Walker Bush, when she was just 16 and married him a few years later while he was serving as a naval officer in World War II. She fully supported her husband's career when he eventually moved into politics and became involved in advancing social causes like universal literacy. While serving as the First Lady she founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and continued promoting this cause even after leaving the White House. Along with her involvement in the foundation, she also served on the Boards of AmeriCares and the Mayo Clinic.

Former First Lady of the United States and widow of President <a title='John F. Kennedy' href='/famous/john-f-kennedy.htm'>John F. Kennedy</a>, who was seen throughout the world as a symbol of American style, elegance, and grace. The image of her in a pink Chanel suit and matching pillbox hat in the aftermath of her husband's assassination is one of the most iconic images in American history.

Abigail Adams was the First Lady of the United States from 1797 to 1801; she was the wife of the second President of the United States, <a title='John Adams' href='/famous/john-adams.htm'>John Adams</a>. She was also the mother of <a title='John Quincy Adams' href='/famous/john-quincy-adams.htm'>John Quincy Adams</a>, the sixth president. An intelligent and independent-minded woman, she was known for being an unofficial advisor to her husband. The couple primarily corresponded through letters when <a title='John Adams' href='/famous/john-adams.htm'>John Adams</a> was away from home due to his political duties. The letters which they exchanged, when John stayed at Philadelphia during the Continental Congress serve as the firsthand account of the American Revolutionary War. These letters reveal how influential she was as <a title='John Adams' href='/famous/john-adams.htm'>John Adams</a> used to seek her advice on varied issues, which even included his presidential aspirations. She provided strong emotional support and was a close confidante to her husband while he served as the President of United States; she was often called ˜Mrs. President'. She used to take the responsibility of her entire family and farm when her husband remained busy in his profession. Though Abigail Adams was not formally educated, she was a woman with immense self-belief. She was one of the most learned women ever to serve as the First Lady. The large library in her house enabled her to read as much as possible and remain a well-informed woman.

Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of former American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. After the death of President Roosevelt, Eleanor rose to fame with her work related to women's empowerment, New Deal coalition and as a writer, public speaker and political activist. She was a keen political figure who had chaired the John F. Kennedy administration's path breaking committee that brought the start of second-wave feminism. Her role as the chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women from 1961 to 1962 made her rank in the top ten of the ˜Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century'. Eleanor Roosevelt was a powerful figure who played a significant role in co-founding the NGO, ˜Freedom House' and supporting the formation of the United Nations. She worked hard to bring positive changes in statuses of working women. She was a woman of various roles. She was invited by President Harry S. Truman and confirmed by the United States Senate to become a delegate to the UN General Assembly from 1945 and 1952. Eleanor Roosevelt rose much higher than being just the wife of President Roosevelt as she not only supported her husband's New Deal policies but also became a prominent advocate of America's civil rights.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of <a title='George Washington' href='/famous/george-washington.htm'>George Washington</a>, the first president of the United States. Even though she was technically the first First Lady of the United States, this title was not coined until after her death. Known as Lady Washington during her lifetime, she was a gracious hostess who entertained the many high profile guests of the president. She was also known for her generosity towards the Revolutionary war veterans to whom she provided financial help or assistance of any other kind. She was a wealthy young widow with children when she first met and married <a title='George Washington' href='/famous/george-washington.htm'>George Washington</a> who was then a Colonel. She was a hard working and dutiful wife who became her husband's caretaker after he was made General of the American Army by the Continental Congress. She skillfully enlisted the assistance of the women of the colonies to make financial contributions and gather supplies for the Continental Army. The presidential couple shared a marriage based on mutual respect and affection. Even though Martha found life as the First Lady to be stifling, she considered it her duty towards her husband to fulfill her responsibilities wholeheartedly. Along with her husband she continued receiving guests and socializing long after Washington's Administration was over.

Founded by Craig Groeschel in 1996, Life Church now has locations all around the country as well as an active online community. It is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church, which upholds core evangelical Christian beliefs. The church's free Bible app has been downloaded more than 200 million times.

Nancy Reagan was an actress and the wife of the 40th president of United States, <a title='Ronald Reagan' href='/famous/ronald-reagan.htm'>Ronald Reagan</a>. She was the first lady of America for the eight years during her husband's presidency from 1981 to 1989. Nancy had a great career in acting before she met <a title='Ronald Reagan' href='/famous/ronald-reagan.htm'>Ronald Reagan</a>. Her mother was an actress and she started acting even before completing her college. She had a bad childhood after her parents separated. But she found comfort from her stepfather who was one of the famous neurosurgeons of his time. Nancy got small roles as actress before signing a contract with MGM. Later, she got some important roles in movies. As a first lady, she played an active role in fighting drugs. She continued her fight on drugs even after the completion of her husband's presidency. Promotion of Stem Cell Research was another cause that she took up in her last years. Nancy Reagan was one of the most famous and best loved first ladies in the history of the USA.

Eva Braun is popularly known in the pages of history as <a title='Adolf Hitler' href='/famous/adolf-hitler.htm'>Adolf Hitler</a>'s mistress and later wife. Born in a middle-class family, she took to studying at the Catholic Institute. It was after completing her education that young Braun worked as a sales woman and later as a photographer for Heinrich Hoffman, who was the official photographer of Hitler, the popular Nazi leader. It was while working for Hoffman that Braun was first introduced to Hitler. Though the two shared a romantic relationship that lasted for more than twelve years, the relationship was not known to the public as Hitler never allowed her to be seen with him in public. Furthermore, despite being his love interest, Braun had no political influence on him whatsoever. Regardless of sharing a desolated life, as Hitler was engrossed in his political ambitions, her loyalty for him never flagged, instead, she promised to be by his side even at the time of death.

Wife of Emperor Augustus of Rome and great-grandmother of infamous Roman Emperor Nero. She often went by the name of Julia Augusta.

First Lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952. She became a hero in her country for fighting for labor rights and women's suffrage. She became an international pop culture icon after she was the subject of Evita, a 1976 <a title='Andrew Lloyd Webber' href='/famous/andrew-lloyd-webber.htm'>Andrew Lloyd Webber</a> musical.

Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of America's 16th president, <a title='Abraham Lincoln' href='/famous/abraham-lincoln.htm'>Abraham Lincoln</a>. She became the White House's most criticized and misunderstood first lady who led a controversial and tragic life to the end. Her mother died when she was six years old after which her father re-married. Though he ensured she had the best of education, she did not get along with her stepmother. She was courted by Stephen Douglas of the Democratic Party, but she chose to marry <a title='Abraham Lincoln' href='/famous/abraham-lincoln.htm'>Abraham Lincoln</a>, a Republican. When her husband got elected as the President of America, she had to make a concerted effort to blend her ˜Westerner' upbringing with the predominantly ˜Eastern' culture of Washington DC. This was all the more difficult because her relatives were fighting for the Confederacy. She had four sons of whom only one outlived her. Her husband was assassinated in her presence while they were witnessing a play in Ford's Theatre. Though she was granted a pension and had an inheritance that was more than adequate, she had a phobia of being poor and behaved erratically. Her son ultimately confined her to an asylum from where she had to gain her freedom with the help of a lawyer. During her last days she lived with her sister in Springfield, where she died and was buried beside her husband.

Laura Lane Welch Bush, popularly known as Laura Bush, is the wife of the 43rd U. S. President <a title='George W. Bush' href='/famous/george-w-bush.htm'>George W. Bush</a> and was the First Lady of the country from 2001-2009. She grew up in a religious and educated business-class family, in a household that placed more than usual importance on reading and education. She graduated from the University of Texas and worked as a teacher and librarian for many years. But getting married to <a title='George W. Bush' href='/famous/george-w-bush.htm'>George W. Bush</a> in the late ˜70s changed her life forever as she was suddenly brought into the public limelight and expected to make a difference to the country in the role of the First Lady. Laura was reluctant about making her life public in the beginning but steadily started using her powerful status in working towards the concerns that were close to her heart, like, development of children, spreading literacy, spreading awareness about the matters that concerned women's health like breast cancer, etc. She did not only raise these matters in America but took these concerns to other countries as well, like, Middle East, Africa, etc. She started many literacy programmes, help built libraries and founded educational institutes. Bush's stabilizing effect on her husband's private life is quite openly known - she helped him in consolidating his public image by working hand in hand with him.

Claudia Alta Taylor famously known as Lady Bird Johnson was the First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969. Her husband <a title='Lyndon B. Johnson' href='/famous/lyndon-b-johnson.htm'>Lyndon B. Johnson</a> was the thirty sixth President of the United States. She was an environmentalist and actively participated in several projects to beautify Washington, D.C., other cities and national highways. She was a well educated lady of her time and an able manager and investor. She tactfully utilized a moderate inheritance during the congressional campaign of her husband <a title='Lyndon B. Johnson' href='/famous/lyndon-b-johnson.htm'>Lyndon B. Johnson</a>. She managed her husband's office while he enlisted in the navy during the Second World War. Lady Bird Johnson owned a radio station and a TV station which ran successfully helping the Johnsons become millionaires. As a First Lady, she made cutting-edge moves including recruiting her press secretary, employing staff exclusively in the East wing to work on projects of First Lady, communicating directly with the Congress and touring alone for electioneering. She received two of the highest civilian honours of the United States - the ˜Congressional Gold Medal' and the ˜Presidential Gold Medal'. Her book, ˜A White House Diary' contains record of her activities as the First Lady.

Dolley Madison was one of the most important women of her time in the social circles of America. Born in a strict disciplinarian Quaker family as Dolley Payne, she was one of the eight children in the family. Ever since a young age, she was known for her stunning good looks, gracious mannerism and happy personality. Due to this, she gained a lot of attention in the society. The early tragedies in her life did not hamper as she eventually got married to <a title='James Madison' href='/famous/james-madison.htm'>James Madison</a> who went on to first serve as the Secretary of State under Jefferson's Presidency and later as the President of United States. During her time at the White House, she was noted for her social gifts, which boosted her husband's popularity as President, thus making her the first First Lady to play a dominant and defining role. She established the idea that the First Lady should serve as the Mother of the Nation, a notion which she believed into and worked upon till date. She served as hostess of the White House by hosting social functions and establishing the chief role of the First Lady. However, in the aftermath of her husband Madison's death, she lived a life of poverty which was partially relieved by the sale of her late husband's papers.

American socialite for whom <a title='Edward VIII' href='/famous/edward-viii.htm'>Edward VIII</a> gave up the British crown in 1936. The marriage was opposed by the governments of the United Kingdom because she was still pursuing a divorce from her second husband at the time.

Wife of Malaysia's sixth prime minister <a title='Najib Razak' href='/famous/najib-razak.htm'>Najib Razak</a>, who assumed office in 2007. She is also known for her work on humanitarian issues around the world.

Wife of <a title='Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller' href='/famous/nelson-rockefeller.htm'>Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller</a>, the 41st Vice President of the United States of America. She was also a public delegate to the United Nations during the early 1990's.

Sonia Gandhi is an Italian born Indian politician who has held the position of President of the Indian National Congress party since 1998. She was re-elected to this position for the fourth time in 2010, thus becoming the longest serving president in the 125-year history of the Congress party. She is also the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha, a position she is serving in since 2004. Sonia Gandhi is the first foreign born person to become President of the Congress Party since India's independence in 1947. Born in Italy, she came to India upon marrying <a title='Rajiv Gandhi' href='/famous/rajiv-gandhi.htm'>Rajiv Gandhi</a>, a scion of the politically powerful Nehru“Gandhi family, which had long been associated with the Indian National Congress. She kept away from politics during the initial years of her marriage and vehemently refused to enter politics even after the tragic assassination of her husband in 1991. But the dwindling fortunes of the Congress in the ensuing years motivated her to join the party as a primary member and since then she has played a very significant role in Indian politics and is considered a powerful figure in the world political scenario as well. She was named among the ˜Time 100 most influential people' in the world in 2007 and 2008

The wife of former Indonesian President <a title='Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono' href='/famous/susilo-bambang-yudhoyono.htm'>Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono</a>, she served as the First Lady of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014.

Ethel Kennedy is an American human rights campaigner. Also recognized as the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, she is a longtime matriarch of the Kennedy family. She is also one of the two surviving Skakel siblings. She was a doting wife while married to Robert F. Kennedy. The couple had ten children and she was pregnant with their 11th child at the time of her husband's assassination. Ethel Kennedy was widowed on June 6, 1968 when her husband was shot to death by a Palestinian named Sirhan Sirhan. After being widowed, she became deeply involved in fighting for human rights causes. Shortly after her husband's death, she founded Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, a charity organization that works to realize her husband's dream of a just and peaceful world. Till date, the campaigner has received various awards, recognitions, and honors. In 2014, then-President Barack Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The same year, a bridge over the Anacostia River was renamed Ethel Kennedy Bridge in order to honor Kennedy for her advocacy for social and environmentalism causes in the District of Columbia.

President <a title='Gerald Ford' href='/famous/gerald-r-ford.htm'>Gerald Ford</a>'s wife who was the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. She was known for her candidness and for founding the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction.