First Daughters in the White House
First lady, who?
Jan. 23, 2013 -- First lady, who? If Monday's inauguration activity was any indication, Sasha and Malia Obama will experience more than enough media attention and scrutiny as they go into the most important adolescent years of their lives. It will be difficult--but at least they've already had four years of practice to prepare them for what's ahead. Here's a look at the other first daughters who preceded the current White House darlings. Some have jumped out to embrace the spotlight while others have retreated back to normal life following their fathers' presidencies.
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quicklist: 1title: Chelsea Clinton Thentext: We watched her progression on national television in the mid-90's from a gangly teen to precocious Stanford college student. Clinton, 32, was pushed into the limelight at a young age during her father's presidency, but is now a wife and current NBC News special correspondent. Clinton also headlined last weekend's National Day of Service, kicking off the 2013 presidential inauguration events.
"When I was growing up, both my parents and grandparents instilled a commitment to service in me," Clinton said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. "They taught me that helping our neighbors and serving our community were essential parts of being a good citizen and a good person."
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quicklist: 2title: Chelsea Clinton Nowtext: When mother Hilary was hospitalized late last year for a blood clot, Chelsea was the one who spoke up and represented her family, choosing which information to reveal to the public regarding the situation.
"Presidential children often serve as advisers to other presidents," said Doug Wead, a presidential historian and author of the book "All The Presidents' Children." "In a direct way I've noticed that presidential children think more strategically than the rest of us do."
Is she following her parents' footsteps and heading to the political stage? She has already supported most of her parents' initiatives, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Her political endeavors speak volumes, but only time will tell.
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quicklist: 3title: Jenna Bush and Barbara Bush Thentext: The fraternal Bush twins have lived through two presidencies, the first of their grandfather and then their father. Both have previously spoken out on their father's term, even asking him not to run in 2000. They later had a change of heart when they gave a speech at the Republican National Convention with Barbara saying, "Jenna and I are really not very political, but we love our dad too much to stand back and watch from the sidelines."
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quicklist: 4title: Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush Nowtext:The twins were both arrested for alcohol-related charges while undergraduates in college, but have since grown up. Jenna is married and pregnant with her first child while Barbara is the founder of a non-profit, Global Health Corps, and has come out in support of gay marriage equality.
Clinton also may have taken a page out of Jenna Bush's book, as the younger of the two Bush twins was hired as an NBC special correspondent in 2009.
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quicklist: 5title: Amy Carter Thentext: The long-haired, bespectacled young Carter gained much media attention during her stay in the White House. After all, she was the first young child to live in the house since the Kennedy children in the 1960s.
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quicklist: 6title: Amy Carter Nowtext:In the years following her father's presidency, the youngest of three was later known for her political activism, participating in sit-ins and protests regarding U.S. foreign policy on issues such as the South African apartheid. She was arrested in 1986 for protesting CIA recruitment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst but was later acquitted of all charges.
Though she has maintained a relatively low profile in the last decade, she appeared on the NBC White House Christmas Special in December 2012 to share her memories of the holiday season as a first daughter.
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quicklist: 7title:Sasha and Malia Obama Thentext: The current White House first daughters are growing up fast and are being watched by families around the country. Judging from their appearances at Monday's inauguration, the Obama girls have serious style and sass to match, which will only continue during their father's second term.
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quicklist: 8title: Sasha and Malia Obama Nowtext: Sasha, 11, consistently makes headlines for her cute and endearing remarks - including during the private presidential inauguration ceremony Sunday when she congratulated her father on not "messing up." Fourteen-year-old Malia, on the other hand has matured since she first entered the White House at age 10. She has even been compared to her mother in her stature and poise. Both girls will be going through the normal high school girl experience over the next four years and will have to establish themselves amidst political events and celebrity encounters.
"Most parents are too busy and too indulgent," Wead said. "This president makes time for daughters ... he doesn't spoil them and has rules and structure."
There is also no question that they will continue to deal with situations such as the NRA ad released this month - which criticized President Obama for opposing a proposal to put armed guards in school though his children have the privilege of Secret Service protection. The president has also received flack for sending his daughters to Sidwell Friends School, although past presidents including Theodore Roosevelt, Richard Nixon have sent their children to the school. Chelsea Clinton also attended the school.
But Wead said Sasha and Malia will be establishing their identities.
"The real issue for these children will be...how they establish a separate identity from their mom and dad," Wead said.
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