While the role of the First Spouse is an unpaid “office of honor,” it comes with several perks and privileges. These include residing in the White House, personal security details, and logistical support. Over the years, the position has evolved from a purely domestic role within the White House residence to one of significant public influence, accompanied by an increase in support staff and taxpayer dollars.
The Evolution of the First Lady’s Role and Budget
Historically, the role of the First Lady was primarily focused on organizing social events and managing the White House’s internal affairs. However, as societal norms evolved, so did the responsibilities and expectations placed on First Ladies. In recent decades, First Ladies have often used their platform to champion social causes, engage in diplomatic efforts, and take on a variety of public service initiatives.
The growth of the First Lady’s role has been paralleled by increases in allocated resources. Edith Roosevelt, wife of President Theodore Roosevelt, was the first to have a federally-employed social secretary. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, expanded the office by adding a personal secretary along with social and administrative secretaries. Jackie Kennedy further professionalized the office by hiring a press secretary, appointment secretaries, and speechwriters. By the time of President Jimmy Carter’s administration, Rosalynn Carter brought on a chief of staff to help support the expanded team.
On November 2, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 95-570. This codified and clarified the authority for hiring staff for the White House Office and the Executive Residence. It also formally authorized assistance and services to the spouse of the President “in connection with assistance provided by such spouse to the President in the discharge of the President’s duties and responsibilities.” If the President has no spouse, another family member could be designated by the President to receive the assistance and services.
Current Budget and Staffing
The Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1994 requires the President to submit an annual report to Congress each July 1 detailing the names, titles, and salaries of each individual employed in the White House Office. The table below lists the number of personnel and the combined salaries of the Office of the First Lady for the annual reports that NTUF has been able to locate.
Number of Personnel and Combined Salaries of the Office of The First Lady Since 1995 | |||
First Lady | Year | Number of Personnel | Combined Salaries |
Hillary Clinton | 10 | $768,000 | |
16 | $1,056,000 | ||
1997 | N/A | N/A | |
18 | $1,050,000 | ||
11 | $723,500 | ||
10 | $747,000 | ||
Laura Bush | 7 | $433,000 | |
2002 | N/A | N/A | |
12 | $711,380 | ||
5 | $353,825 | ||
8 | $435,300 | ||
9 | $594,100 | ||
12 | $897,800 | ||
16 | $1,266,400 | ||
Michelle Obama | 16 | $1,240,700 | |
15 | $1,198,870 | ||
14 | $1,062,800 | ||
12 | $1,048,200 | ||
9 | $750,200 | ||
10 | $891,870 | ||
10 | $887,272 | ||
12 | $986,837 | ||
Melania Trump | 4 | $486,700 | |
3 | $449,700 | ||
6 | $750,900 | ||
8 | $989,447 | ||
Jill Biden | 8 | $1,032,500 | |
6 | $763,875 | ||
20 | $1,982,414 | ||
24 | $2,398,819 | ||
This data demonstrates the growth in the Office of the First Lady over the years since Edith Roosevelt’s single-person office. This increase reflects the evolving and expanding role of the President’s spouse behind the scenes at the White House and in public life.
Travel
Security concerns necessitate that the First Spouse travels on military aircraft. For longer trips, a Boeing C-32, a military version of the 757, is often used. For fiscal year 2024, the reimbursable rate for using the C-32 is set at $13,816 per hour.
First Ladies have also used a C-40 Clipper, a military version of the Boeing 737. For fiscal year 2024, the reimbursable rate for using the C-40 Clipper is $9,427 per hour.
Other options include the C-37A or C-37B, the military versions of the Gulfstream V and Gulfstream 550. For fiscal year 2024, the reimbursement rate for using the C-37A or C-37B aircraft is $8,240 per hour.
When First Ladies use a military aircraft for unofficial trips such as campaign events, a portion of the costs of the use of the aircraft are reimbursed to the government, usually by a political party or an official campaign organization. The expenses will be reported in filings to the Federal Election Commission.
Fanfare
“Hail to the Chief” is a well-known musical introduction performed by the Marine Corps band since 1801 for public appearances of the President. According to a 2022 Washington Examiner article, the Marine Corps Band developed a similar theme song for the First Lady, “Fanfare for the First Lady,” at the request of a representative of Jill Biden; however, her press secretary denied this. The composition represents the newest perk for the First Spouse.
Post-White House Security
After a 1994 law limited Secret Service protection for former Presidents and their spouses to ten years, the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 reinstated lifetime protection. According to the Congressional Research Service, former First Spouses will lose this protection if they divorce from the former president and widows can continue to receive lifetime protection unless they remarry. Protection costs for former Presidents and their spouses or widows are not publicly disclosed for security reasons.
The Former Presidents Act authorizes the General Services Administration to provide up to $500,000 to each former First Spouse for travel and security if they are not receiving protection from the United States Secret Service.
Widow Benefits
The widow of a former President is eligible for an annual pension of $20,000, but this is optional. For example, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan waived this benefit. They are also entitled to postal franking privileges that allow for free postage for official correspondence. According to budget data from 2000 through 2015 published by the Congressional Research Service, the franked mail benefit was worth an annual average of $7,000 for each of the surviving widows.