In 1960, the wife of President Richard Nixon campaigned for her husband to win the female vote with buttons that read “Pat for First Lady,” according to the National First Ladies’ Library.

Pat Nixon also nominated her husband for presidential candidacy at the Republican National Convention in 1972.

Continuing the tradition developed since then, both first lady Michelle Obama and Ann Romney spoke on behalf of their husbands at their party’s National Conventions over the past two weeks.

Louisiana State U. political communication professor Bob Mann said American voters are as accustomed to seeing and hearing the first lady as much as the president.

“Sometimes she can have greater popularity than the president himself,” Mann said. “That popularity can be helpful to the presidential nominee in humanizing him or her.”

Both Ann Romney and Michelle Obama used their speeches to articulate how important core family values are to each presidential candidate, talking about their parents’ work ethic and wanting to give their children a good life.

Michelle Obama mentioned the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act her husband signed, promoting equal pay for women and men.
She also cited his cutting taxes for “working families and small businesses.”

Ann Romney quoted a Bible verse and talked about the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship awards her husband started for the top 25 percent of Massachusetts high school graduates.

“I think a first lady can hurt more than help,” Mann said.

Mann cited Marilyn Quayle’s speech at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, calling it “harsh.” Marilyn Quayle was the wife of that year’s vice presidential candidate, Dan Quayle.

“In the long run, I don’t think [the spouses’ speeches] will have much impact,” Mann said. “People are voting for a president.”

Speeches weren’t the only aspect on which first lady voters and the media focused.

Much media hype revolved around each wife’s clothing choice, evidenced in a Yahoo article pitting Romney and Obama’s dresses against one another.