4 LIVE POLLS: U.S. First Lady or First Gentleman Movie, TV & Streaming Portrayals

@Jessica​ Thanks, both corrected.

@Peter_pbn​ I would disagree it is disputed, but do agree she did not carry out the role in-person for the entire two terms. I would agree it is an over simplification at a time when the office of the first lady official did not exist and even the term "First Lady" wasn't coined until Dolley Madison, who served as White House hostess after her. Moreover, she served as hostess when he was an ambassador to France and "she was in regular correspondence with her father when they were not together. She provided emotional stability for Jefferson, which helped him weather his tumultuous political career."  

The goal is too explain that she is not the president's spouse, and that she was the one who served in the role, since he was widowed, despite tapping others to pinch hit for her a sense or going without at official functions. Both, the website you cite and the First Ladies Commission credit her years of service as from 1801 through 1809 and the only one who was labeled as such over those eight years. Furthermore, the First Lady Day Commision does not designate all the surrogates who served as first lady on their "official" First Lady list and gave the designation to only a select few outside of spouses, with Martha Jefferson Randolph as one of their few non-spouse exceptions.

Regardless, I changed the note to be less disputable: "as Martha "Patsy" Jefferson (Martha "Patsy" Randolph (née Jefferson)) * She served as surrogate hostess and confidant for her widowed father, Thomas Jefferson."

@Peter_pbn,

​ 

FYI, Intestestingly, according to dgranger, "Jefferson .... was a widower by the time he was president and ... let Dolly Madison, the wife of one of his cabinet members, fill most of that role before her husband actually became president after Jefferson."

@rubyfruit76​, I corrected both. I agree with having the singular and plural versions changed to one or the other and thus being in agreement.

I removed the "future, current, or former" because I agree it can read wrong and be confusing, even though this is an answer pool of depictions of characters who will become a U.S. first lady, are a U.S. first lady, or were a U.S. first lady. I can make my point in the individual notes.

It is meant to be clearer as the term of first ladies covers only a four to eight year period, while more often than not these example depictions cover periods that are longer and outside thier term as first lady (as well as depicting the period during their term). Plus, there are a dozen and a half answer choices that the depictions almost exclusively covers a period when they were not the first lady or first gentleman among the four poll suggestions, even though we know they will become or were first ladies, historically or as part of their fictional backstory.

For example, Sarah Michelle Gellar's biographical depiction only covers the pre-White House period as a teenage Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier in the TV mini-series,  'A Woman Named Jackie' or Patty McCormack's biographical portrayal as Thelma "Pat" Nixon, which depicts her post-White House years as a former first lady in the movie, 'Frost/Nixon'.

Likewise on the fictional side, Seth Rogen in 'Long Shot' as Fred Field (né Flarsky) aka "First Mister" depiction is almost entirely pre-White House and Shirley MacLaine's depiction in 'Guarding Tess' as Tess Carlisle, a former First Lady is 100% post-White House. 

@Jessica​ Thanks.

@Peter_pbn​ Thanks, both corrected.

@rubyfruit76​ Thanks, corrected.

@Jessica​ Thanks.

#19: Judy Ann McDowell

#25: Illeana Douglas

@Peter_pbn & ​ @Jessica​ Thanks, I corrected "American" in #2 & #3, removed "Ann" in #19, and corrected "Illeana" in #25.

@Pencho15​ Thanks.

@Pencho15​ Thanks, I did not give it much thought. In fact-checking, I found he did serve as First Gentleman for about 100 days in the series timeline. The only portion of that to be shown onscreen were any scenes he appears after Claire is sworn in as President and her phone call with Frank shortly after her first televised speech to the the nation that concludes the finale of season five, covering at most a few days on-screen.

Futhermore, according to the House of Cards Wikia,

"Francis Joseph “Frank” Underwood (November 5, 1959 - May 2017) was an American politician and statesman who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2014 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 49th Vice President of the United States under Garrett Walker from 2013 to 2014, and formerly served as the majority whip for the United States House of Representatives between 2005 and 2013, serving South Carolina's 5th district. After his presidency, Underwood served as the First Gentleman of the United States under his wife Claire Hale Underwood from March 2017 until his death in May 2017."

But, almost all of those 100 days were between episode 64 (season five finale) and episode 65 (season six premiere) and part of the "House of Cards" backstory. Frank's only appearances are (mentions) and a (photo only) during the show's final and sixth season.

Therefore, his depiction and portrayal as First Gentleman is limited to a portion of one episode, during which ... "She agrees to publicly pardon him in her upcoming televised address, but tells Frank that for their secret arrangement to work, he has to leave the White House and make it appear that they are estranged. Frank reluctantly does so."

House of Cards Wikia (from Frank Underwood page)

Post-Presidency (2017) 

As the husband of President Claire, Underwood became the First Gentleman and continued to live in the White House. Shortly after the end of his presidency, Underwood was interested in starting a foundation and turned toward Bill Shepherd and Annette Shepherd.

Death On a night in May 2017,

Underwood was drunk and came over to the Executive Residence with the intention of killing Claire.  However, realizing Underwood killing Claire would destroy his legacy, Doug gave Underwood a lethal dose of his liver medication. Underwood died in his bed in the Executive Residence that night. Instead of being buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, he was moved to South Carolina, contradicting his wish, as pointed out by Doug Stamper.

House of Cards Wikia (from Claire Hale Underwood page)

On March 15, 2017, following the resignation of President Frank Underwood, Claire Underwood became the 47th President of the United States, with Mark Usher as her Vice President. A few days into her tenure, she oversaw the US killing of Ahmed Al Ahmadi and announced a troop surge in Syria in an address from the White House. She was initially expected to announce a pardon of Frank but later changed her mind.

House of Cards Wikipedia Episodes (from "Chapter 65")

"After Frank resigns, Claire is sworn in and assumes the presidency, whereupon she leads an operation to track down Al Ahmadi. Doug is interviewed by Tom, who is continuing his investigation into Zoe's death. .... Frank asks for a public pardon from Claire for both him and Doug. She agrees to do so in her upcoming televised address, but tells Frank that for their secret arrangement to work, he has to leave the White House and make it appear that they are estranged. Frank reluctantly does so. That night, Claire gives her first televised address as the new President, informing the nation that they have killed Al Ahmadi and that the U.S. is sending troops into Syria to combat the Syrian regime. However, she gives no mention of a pardon to Frank or Doug, despite having agreed to do so. Meanwhile, Eric Rawlings, Frank's ex-personal trainer, is killed by guards after climbing over the gates at a pacifist demonstration in front of the White House. Frank, who has been watching the broadcast from his hotel room, angrily calls Claire, but she rejects the call, breaks the fourth wall, and coldly declares: "My turn." "

Plus, the question asks, Which select television and streaming series depiction of a fictional U.S. First Lady or First Gentleman is your favorite portrayal?

It covers all depictions before they served, (ie Sarah Michelle Gellar – "A Woman Named Jackie", TV Miniseries episode, "The Bouvier Years" as Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier (future First Lady)), during their service and after they served (ie. "Shirley MacLaine – 'Guarding Tess' as Tess Carlisle (former First Lady)) as First Lady or First Gentleman, even if their service is not depicted or only part of the backstory.

So, his entire "House of Cards" portrayal as Kevin Spacey – "House of Cards" counts as Francis "Frank" Underwood, as a character who will be a future, a current & a former First Gentleman (death/funeral/grave) in the "House of Cards" series timeline/story arc.

R.I.P.

@Jessica​ Thanks.