Dawn Leaks: Maryam Nawaz stands vindicated

LAHORE: To the sheer dismay of numerous anti-government television channels and to the utter disgust of Premier Nawaz Sharif’s political opponents, the Pakistan Army has finally withdrawn their April 29 tweet that had rejected a government notification regarding the 'Dawn Leaks,' meaning thereby that the issue stands settled after implementation of recommendations in the Inquiry Committee Report.

Following DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor’s press conference on Wednesday, a senior Pakistan Peoples’ Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan was heard saying that with the settlement of the seven-month old Dawn Leaks case, the government has succeeded in saving First Daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif from being implicated in the controversy.

Well, whatever the government’s critics say, it can be assumed that Maryam Nawaz Sharif certainly stands vindicated after the settlement of this issue.

In a bid to add conviction to their arguments about the values of true democracy, Imran Khan and various PPP leaders are often heard quoting and citing precedents from the world’s most accomplished democratic nation called the United States and the developed West.

Research reveals that while many American First Ladies, First Daughters, daughters-in-law and even orphaned nieces in US history have served as hosts and President’s escorts at formal events, it’s now customary for them in modern times to dabble in policy matters as well. These American First Ladies, First Daughters,

daughters-in-law and nieces have been meeting foreign and business leaders, suggesting they have been seen as members of the presidential teams for over two centuries now, though some heads of state were criticized by political rivals for “keeping and distributing it all in the house.”

For their eyes only, talking about Premier Nawaz Sharif’s political adversaries, this correspondent had to peek through the eventful American history, spanning over 225 years, only to find out that at least 13 First Daughters, daughters-in-law and a niece have in fact served as formal hostesses, advisers, and confidantes in the White House.

But before we talk about these women relatives, other than wives, who have served as First Ladies in some capacity in the United States of America, it is worth recalling that fairly recently, in March 2017, the White House had announced that President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka would take an official government role as an unpaid adviser to her father.

The First Daughter, whose husband Jared Kushner also works as a senior adviser to the President, does not receive a salary for her work as a federal employee. Meanwhile, her husband Kushner, a real estate developer, is also unpaid.

Ivanka has been sitting in on post-election meetings with foreign leaders and job interviewees, to the horror of the diplomatic establishment. A White House statement said: “We are pleased that Ivanka Trump has chosen to take this step in her unprecedented role as first daughter and in support of the president. Ivanka's service as an unpaid employee furthers our commitment to ethics, transparency, and compliance and affords her increased opportunities to lead initiatives driving real policy benefits for the American public that would not have been available to her previously."

The “Al-Jazeera” Television had stated: “In the couple of months since her father became president Ivanka, 35, has been a regular presence at the White House, where she already has an office.”

Now, coming to the female relatives, other than spouses, who have served as first lady in some capacity, we find that Eliza Monroe Hay had served as unofficial spokeswoman for her father, James Monroe, for example.

James Monroe (1758-1831), the Fifth US President, was an American statesman who served from 1817 to 1825.

Angelica Van Buren lived at the White House and received guests on behalf of her widower father-in-law, the Eighth US President Martin Van Buren (1782-1862).

For the first half of his Presidency, Van Buren, who had been a widower for many years, did not have a specific person fill the role of White House hostess at administration social events, but tried to assume such duties himself. When his eldest son Abraham married Angelica in 1838, he quickly acted to install his daughter-in-law as his hostess, the title later known as the “First Lady.”

Angelica Van Buren was a lady of rare accomplishments, very modest yet perfectly easy and graceful in her manners and free and vivacious in her conversation ... universally admired.

When United States endured a deep economic depression, newspaper coverage of Angelica van Buren's receiving style at receptions, President Van Buren’s political foes like Congressman Charles Ogle attacked him in parliament, asserting the US head of state was living a royal lifestyle.

Mary Scott Harrison, the only daughter of 23rd US President Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) had assumed the role of a First Lady when her mother died of Tuberculosis in the White House.

Married and with children by the time her father was elected as President, Mary and her family lived at the White House during her father's term. She assisted by serving as a hostess.

Benjamin Harrison had served from 1889 to 1893.

He was the grandson of the ninth US President, William Henry Harrison, creating the only grandfather-grandson duo to hold the office.

The 28th US President Woodrow Wilson’s eldest daughter Margaret had also assumed the role of key Presidential Adviser and social hostess after her mother had perished in the White House.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) had served as President from 1913 to 1921.

Research further shows that the term “First Lady” itself was popularized during the Presidency of the 15th US head of state, James Buchanan (1791-1868), a lifelong bachelor.

President Buchanan had enlisted his orphaned niece, Harriet Lane, to handle the duties of the First Lady.

In some cases, a first daughter assumed at least part of the first lady role even though the president was married.

When vice president John Tyler (1790-1862) was hastily called to duty as 10th President after William Henry Harrison died in office, he asked his daughter-in-law, Priscilla Tyler, to serve as hostess and escort at formal events.

Elizabeth Priscilla Cooper Tyler had served as official White House hostess and de facto First Lady from 1842 to 1844.

President Tyler’s wife, Letitia, had suffered a stroke several years earlier, and was mostly confined to her room.

Priscilla, by contrast, was an extroverted former stage actress who took to the new role naturally. She became the first woman to formally accompany the president on an official trip within the United States, escorting her father-on-law at banquets and parades.

The Third American President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was officially assisted in office by his oldest daughter, Martha Randolph,

Jefferson was a widower when he moved into the White House, and his daughter, Martha Randolph lived with him intermittently and became a close adviser.

When the press printed rumours about Jefferson’s relationship with a woman called Sally Hemings, First Daughter Martha had gone on to soften his image by quickly appearing by his side in Washington DC and accompanying him to church.