And she wasn’t theonlyperson to feel cooped up in the White House.
Here’s a look at some of the most remarkable FLOTUS tragedies and triumphs through the years.
John Tyler’s wife Julia wasreportedly called"Mrs. Presidentress" in 1844.
Later, a journalist forFrank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspapercalled her “First Lady of the Land.”
Instead,people called her"Lady Washington" or “our Lady Presidentress” instead.
This meant she had to be inoculated against smallpox,not an easy thing then.
She even described herself as a"state prisoner"when it came to that presidential life.
She first had experience in the role of First Lady before her husband was elected president.
When she became the official First Lady in 1809, she held thefirst inaugural ball.
But Dolley’s most memorable moment was during the War of 1812.
The night before the vote, Louisainvited 67 House membersto her house for one of her tea parties.
But this"corrupt bargain,“as it was called, haunted her husband.
But things got better after Adamslost the presidencyin 1828.
She grew closer to him andhelped with his abolitionist work.
When she died in 1852, both houses of Congress adjourned for her funeral.
Word quickly leaked about her behavior and her"hellcat"temper.
She was so grief-stricken that many people, including Lincoln himself,worried about her mental health.
By 1864, she had run up the equivalent of $400,000 in debt.
One year later, Mary would suffer the ultimate tragedy whenLincoln was assassinatedin front of her.
She twice tried to kill herself there.
But they facednumerous personal tragedies.
Their two children died young, and she suffered from depression.
Andshe was even featuredon campaign materials.
After he was elected, the McKinleys stilltried to actas if everything was normal with her health.
President McKinley wasassassinated in 1901, and succumbed to his injuries with Ida by his side.
Wilsonentrusted his wifewith war codes and top-secret information, assignments beyond the role of a traditional First Lady.
She alsoscreened correspondence and guestsand sat in on his meetings.
While Edith claimed it was merely a “stewardship,” historianDr.
She was devastated todiscover in 1918that Roosevelt was having an affair with Lucy Mercer, her social secretary.
She offered to divorce Roosevelt, but his wealthy mother Sara threatened to cut him off financially.
For the next 27 years, the two had a political partnership only.
Eleanor also had avery close friendshipwith reporter Lorena Hickok in the 1930s, that appeared to contain romantic elements.
When Rooseveltdied in Warm Springs, GAin 1945, Eleanor learned that Mercerwas with Franklin.
Apparently hehad never really endedthe relationship.
Eleanor later forgave her daughter.
She had also had atroubled marriage, due in part to Kennedy’s womanizing.
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born prematurely on August 7, 1963.
The baby hadrespiratory distress syndrome, something he mostly likely would have survived, today.
Helived just two days.
The tragedy did bring the couple closer together.
He responded, “I know…I know.”
Three months later,Kennedy was assassinated.
Theymarried and had four childrenas he pursued his political career.
In 1973, Richard Nixon named Ford as vice president.
Then, in 1974, as Nixon resigned, Ford became the only president not elected to office.
Betty Ford was outspoken on abortion, women’s rights, and divorce.
She even slept in thesame White House bedas her husband, which was shocking at the time.
Shortly after becoming First Lady, she found out she had breast cancer and had a mastectomy.
Instead of keeping it quiet, as many women did back then, shewent public with her struggle.
Things spiraled out of control when he lost in 1976.
By 1978, her familyheld an interventionon her behalf.
Betty got treatment and later foundedthe rehabilitation centerthat bears her name.
America is under attack” on September 11, 2001.
But what is less well-remembered is where Laura was that day when she heard the news.
She met up with Senator Ted Kennedy.
Michelle’s"Let’s Move!"
anti-childhood obesity programencouraged kids to eat better and exercise.
But this was a muchmore ambitious endeavor.
Michelle’s garden has supplied food for both the Obamas and for visitors of the White House.
This legacy will live on: Melania Trumpis going to keepMichelle’s garden.
But even adults may not be familiar with the fact that three First Ladies died in office as well.
But William Henry Harrison’s death just a month into his term elevated Tyler to the presidency.
Letitia had a second stroke in 1842 and died at the age of 51.
Tyler would remarry while in office,to 21-year-old Julia Gardiner.
Caroline Harrison, wife of Benjamin Harrison,died of tuberculosis in 1892at the age of 60.
She reportedly told her physician when she was dying, to tell Wilson she would like him to remarry.
He did, in 1915, to Edith Galt.
What will Melania Trump do as First Lady?
Each First Lady puts her own stamp on the White House, and on the position of First Lady.
Andmany of the First Ladieshave been incredibly popular sometimes even more than their husbands.
It is unclear where Melania Trump will fall in that spectrum.
But she has several years ahead, for make a real splash.
But as we’ve learned, only FLOTUS knows what truly goes on just past the White House lawn.
