What First Ladies Are Forbidden From Doing In The White House

The office of the U.S. presidency, and by extension the title of first lady, are typically associated with power. Indeed, both the president and the president's spouse have an incredible amount of influence and ability to effect change. But considering how much political power they wield, they aren't actually allowed to do that much in their personal lives.

For the Secret Service, the safety of the president and first lady are paramount. And to ensure the safety of two of the world's most powerful people, they have to prevent them from doing a whole lot of seemingly normal things. Here's what first ladies are forbidden from doing in the White House.

#President #FirstLady #Rules

Drive themselves around | 0:00
Redecorate the whole house | 1:28
Open windows | 2:41
Accept gifts from foreign governments | 3:43
Avoid personal expenses | 4:55
Use personal email accounts | 6:11
Live alone | 7:28
Get paid | 8:32
Skip White House Correspondents' Dinner | 9:36

[TheList]

Do you find any of these rules strange or outdated?

[paisley]

They should not be allowed to fly back and forth to Paris or France expecting taxpayers to fund it when taxpayers are struggling. They need to be reminded that they were not voted into any seat.

[johniii]

I would be so happy if i never had to drive again and had driver on call. Never found it fun

[briansullivan]

First Ladies shouldn’t get paid. They were technically never hired.

[sherlynparker]

I am shocked to hear that the first couple receives a bill for food, while at the white house. Personal items and dry cleaning I can some what understand but not food. I also never thought about the first lady if she received a salary or not, I kinda thought it odd she doesn't since she does have a budget for staff.

[barbaramedlock]

No problem in the 40's boomers had kids family had one car daddy worked bought a home mama stayed home, now everyone works, wanting more wont make u happy, your too busy, wish to go back to the Good Ole Days❤❤❤

[margretsims]

I find it shocking that they are not allowed to open a

[kevinhealey]

I wrote to Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush when I was in the army.

They both wrote back.

[babycakes]

I don't remember which one it was but someone was saying if they wanted to go out on the Truman balcony, they had to give the secret service detail advance notice so they could clear the national mall... We were in DC in 2012 & we were able to get really clear pictures of the Truman Balcony from the Jefferson Memorial.

[jdstep]

I can totally understand how they would miss driving. Sometimes you just want to get up and go out somewhere, solo, rather than have secret service in tow. I can see how that would be nice at first. But after a while, ugh!

[karenmcdermott]

OMG, what a world we live in, so much hate. It makes me sad

[SunRise-lrch]

Milania raised private funds to put in a sports pavilion for future families.
She repaired and updated the neglected Keneddy rose garden.
Kept the Obozo vegitible patch updated and tended for use.
Used 1/5th the staff of other Ladies yet kept the schedule

[tearl]

Too bad one of the prohibited things is not letting your Alzheimer's victim husband from making a fool of himself on a daily basis.

[RobertSJHu]

So interesting what First Ladies are forbidden to do in The White House. Great that they have a say on how they can decorate own
residential house. Robert S.J. Hu February 10, 2022.

[aariley]

I wonder if the First Husband would put up with working for free?🤔

[oliviamoore]

Maybe someone should worry about the 33, 000.deleted emails.

[saveyourbacon]

It is not surprising that there is a set of rules for the first family to follow. There is such a wide variety of situations which might have results which would be unseemly, that makes such a set of rules very necessary. This would actually be helpful to first families, enabling them to avoid all sorts of pitfalls and traps which could cause embarassment to the President or the country.

[herpiggy]

What happens if the First Lady tells them to “stuff it” and do whatever anyways ?

[christinebernazzoli]

Clinton would probably drive like Cruella Deville! Lololol

[toinimoore]

Yes Paying for your meals do you also pay for your snacks and is your water charged Good Grief quote Charlie Brown !