ENLARGE Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to a gathering of Irish-American supporters while her husband, former President Bill Clinton, listens in New York in April. Photo: Mike Segar/REUTERS By Carol E. Lee July 25, 2016 7:50 p.m. ET 8 COMMENTS PHILADELPHIA—As the first man with the chance to step into the role of presidential spouse, former President Bill Clinton has the potential to reshape the office. First ladies have typically set aside their careers while their husbands were in the White House. Mr. Clinton would enter the role with an expansive and lucrative post-presidential career. Determining how he would manage his global foundation and his high-paid speeches would be a challenge requiring extensive legal considerations. The first lady role was formed in 1789, though the term wasn’t used until the 19th century, and nearly four dozen women have served in the position—from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama . Only several of them have earned money while in the White House, and those who did donated almost all of the money to charity. Hillary Clinton and Mrs. Obama, for instance, each donated proceeds from their book sales while living in the White House. First spouses have no official government duties, only expectations—that they organize social events, choose china patterns and help preserve the White House as a public museum. In recent decades, they have made a habit of focusing on a cause. Mr. Clinton isn’t likely to follow that pattern. “I really don’t think that you’re going to see the former president … arranging the flowers or working on the state dinner,” said Melanne Verveer, who was chief of staff to Mrs. Clinton when she was first lady. ENLARGE “We will see that certain things that heretofore have been done by the person in that role shift to other White House personnel,” Ms. Verveer said, adding that Mr. Clinton would be “involved in things that are appropriate” for a former president to make the most worthwhile contributions to the administration. Mrs. Clinton has said she would have her husband work on economic revitalization, and she has talked about deploying him for “special missions” overseas. Like many working women, the Democratic candidate has also said she would take care of household duties on top of her day job. “I am probably still going to pick the flowers and the china for state dinners and stuff like that,” Mrs. Clinton said at a December debate. Many first ladies, including Mrs. Clinton, have had their own careers before their husbands won the White House. Mrs. Obama was the breadwinner in her family. Eleanor Roosevelt was a syndicated columnist and radio show host, including while in the White House. And Lady Bird Johnson owned a radio station in Texas, though she was not involved with it while her husband served in the White House. Mr. Clinton has suggested he wouldn’t put his work entirely on hold, including delivering speeches “on the subjects I’m interested in.” “But you have to be careful to avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg in June. “There’ll clearly be some changes in what the Clinton Foundation does and how we do it.” ENLARGE An aide pointed out he hasn’t given a paid speech since campaigning for his wife. Anita McBride, former chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush, said lawyers would have to determine how Mr. Clinton could balance being back in the White House with his work. “How does he reconcile his day-to-day business life, because he is essentially running a business?” Ms. McBride said. “We would have a presidential spouse who has a full-time job. And the White House does put constraints on you.” In many ways, regardless of who wins the November election, the new president’s spouse would bring a different dynamic to the role. Republican nominee Donald Trump ’s wife, Melania, would be the first immigrant since Louisa Adams to serve in the first lady role. She spoke about her childhood in Slovenia in her address at the GOP convention, describing her pride in becoming a U.S. citizen in 2006. It’s a different kind of American story than those told by previous first ladies. Mrs. Trump said in her speech she would focus on helping women and children if her husband is elected. Mr. Clinton as first spouse immediately raises a basic question the White House has not yet had to contend with: What would he be called? Some have suggested first gentleman. Mr. Clinton has joked that he would use “first laddie,” while Mrs. Clinton has said she’s partial to “first dude.” It’s not clear that Mr. Clinton would occupy the East Wing office of the first lady, adjacent to the White House calligrapher. But certainly the Office of the First Lady of the United States, as it is officially called, would cease to exist. ENLARGE Rep….
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