[Lexicog] First Lady

[Fritz Goerling]

Thanks for your profound thoughts, John,

I add a few of mine so that we generate some ideas to solve this important
problem.

Fritz

Hi Fritz,

> Do you think that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be referred to as First
> Lady when she becomes President?

"...WHEN she becomes President?" Do you have some inside information on 
this?

(FG)

Sorry, I should have said "if and only if." Because I think The Terminator
will stop her,

if not him, then Clint Eastwood or Jesse "The Brain" Ventura or Warren
Beatty.

(JB)
Since she was First Lady when her husband was president I don't think Hilary

Clinton would appreciate being called First Lady if she herself ever gets to

be president.

> But I am curious to know who has decided on the 'First Gentleman' as an
> alternative to 'First Lady'?

Apparently, there has been some discussion about this. The title 'First 
Gentleman', while seeming to be apposite to 'First Lady' is inappropriate 
for the context. The title of "First Lady" reflects on the social duties of 
being "Lady of the house" (i.e. the White House). The analogues to this 
position for male spouses (spice?) are "Master of the house" or "Lord of the

house", and hence the improbable "First Master" and "First Lord". Other 
suggestions are 'First Husband', 

     Yeees, "First Husband', how about that? Sounds like polyandry.

'First Lad' (from Lad(y)), 'First Dude' 
(what is a female dude? -- dudette). 

     Dudette exists in youngsters' slang.

Nevertheless, 'First Gentleman' is the 
title most commonly adopted for husband's of presidents, governors, prime 
ministers, etc.

How about President and Presidentess instead of President and First Lady? Is

the wife of Arnold Swarzenegger called the 'First Governatrix'?

    Maybe the First Governess?

In this context Cherie Blair could be titled 'First Lady'. Previously I had 
thought this couldn't happen because the queen is already the First Lady. 
Anyway, this debate could go on for a long time.

John Roberts

 

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