Ann Romney is scheduled to address the Republican National Convention tonight, and her speech is expected to make big headlines.
Interestingly, the tradition of political spouses — or, in some cases, the First Ladies — speaking at party conventions was begun by Pat Nixon at the 1972 Republican National Convention in Miami. Introduced by Jimmy Stewart and escorted to the podium by Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole, the First Lady thanked the thousands of people in the audience who gave her a 10 minute standing ovation.
This earlier article recounts some more of the back story, as well as other Pat Nixon “firsts.”
Jimmy Byron is a Marketing and Communications Assistant. He is a second-year student at Chapman University.