FIRST LADIES IN THE STATES - THE MOTIVATIONS AND POLITICAL RESOURCES OF GOVERNORS SPOUSES

Observers have long speculated about the influence of first ladies. We offer a systematic examination of the political and private roles of the women who are married to the nation's governors. Using survey resp onses from governors' spouses, we found these women to be politically active in a variety of arenas. Though most governors' spouses sought t o use the influence afforded by their position, the issues they choose to target remain within the realm of traditional women's issues. Addi tionally, the institutionalization of the political first lady as evid enced here indicates that these may be the first in a long line of pub licly active political spouses.