Role of first ladies changed since Jane Muskie's era

Thursday, December 30, 2004

With the death on Christmas morning of Jane Muskie, widow of the late Maine governor and senator Edmund S. Muskie, this state has lost three former first ladies within a span of only a few weeks.

Cora Reed, wife of former Gov. John H. Reed (1959-67), and Ella Payne, widow of Frederick G. Payne (1949-53), both died in November.

All three came from an era when the lives of first ladies were defined in the public mind almost solely in terms of their husbands. The men ran the state and the women ran the Blaine House. That was about it.

Yet each of these women had distinctive personalities, interests and talents of their own. Today, each might well have performed a far more active public role than they did -- especially Jane Muskie, who was certainly more interested in politics and public policy than the other two.

She enjoyed campaigning, for one thing, and she had numerous outside interests. In 1986, long after her husband retired from public life, she co-authored a political thriller with her long-time friend Abigail McCarthy, another political wife (of Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy) who was able to fashion a life of her own.

Interestingly, the central figure in that novel is a vice president's independent-minded wife who engages in anti-war activism embarrassing to her husband and is later pursued by mysterious forces after uncovering high-level government corruption.

It was all a long way from a time at the Blaine House when Jane Muskie was expected to fill the traditional role of stay-at-home mother, staff overseer and official hostess of countless receptions and teas.

According to H. Draper Hunt's history of the Blaine House, that's the way it had always been. Maine's first ladies worked within the lines.

Ella Payne is credited with streamlining the charity teas by charging guests a dollar apiece for "a place at one of 40 card tables distributed throughout the first-floor rooms" for a round of bridge or canasta. Previously, the teas depended upon an often-ignored contributions bowl to raise money for the first lady's charitable interests.

Cora Reed was so self-effacing she sometimes went unrecognized by visitors. Hunt tells about a woman, arriving for a tea, being met by the first lady at the front door. The guest asked "if her seams were straight and her hair looked presentable, then inquired briskly, 'Where's her Royal Highness?' "

Political writer Paul Carrier once imagined what a help-wanted ad for a first lady would look like these days:

"Wanted: Career woman with public policy experience willing to work part time as advocate, possibly while continuing her career. Must be good public speaker who likes to travel. Motherhood and living in the Blaine House optional."

The job description changed dramatically 15 years ago when Gov. John R. McKernan, a divorcee, remarried. His new bride was U.S. Rep. Olympia J. Snowe, who was easily as well known a political figure as McKernan. The two met and fell in love while both served in Congress.

Snowe, of course, maintained her own political career in Washington while serving as first lady in Augusta. Her successor was Mary Herman, wife of Gov. Angus King (1995-2003), who also helped remake the role of first lady.

Herman had been actively involved in politics as a lobbyist before King was elected. The Brunswick couple chose not to live in the Blaine House but to use it primarily for official functions.

Herman used her time as first lady openly championing various causes for women and children while also serving behind the scenes as a political adviser to her husband.

John and Karen Baldacci, along with their 13-year-old son Jack, have restored the Blaine House to its role as first family residence. To that extent, Mrs. Baldacci has revived some of the traditional functions as wife of a governor, but she is also blending in the modern approaches of her immediate predecessors.

A former dietitian and kindergarten teacher, she's been active in promoting child reading programs, fighting obesity in Maine children and advocating health regimens for pregnant women.

Jane Muskie was only 27 years old -- her husband was 40 -- when she became Maine's first lady. She later said she was "thrilled ... but more than a little frightened" by her role as the youngest governor's wife in the country.

The job has always been a lot more complex than most of us acknowledge.

Jim Brunelle of Cape Elizabeth has commented on Maine issues for more than 35 years. His e-mail address is jbrune@maine.rr.com.