Feminism in the White House

From Mark Steyn. I did not know this:

America is the only country in the Western world in which the consort of the head of government is given a semiformal role, an office and a staff.

I wonder if it’s because the presidential wives saw they could do some good and did it. And in the fine tradition of American wives, roped their husbands into helping them. You know instead of wasting time protesting they weren’t getting paid as much, treated as well, etc.