There was no model for Douglas Emhoff, the “second gentleman of the United States,” when he followed Vice President Kamala Harris into office.
She is the first woman in that job, but the chores are unisex — fill in for the president when needed. But as the first man in the second lady’s post, it’s taken a while for the lawyer to get into a groove.
“I’m just getting into public service, but I love it. I wish I had done it earlier,” he said.
This week, Emhoff looked comfortable in his role while gardening at the Marvin Gaye Greening Center in Washington. He showed up with his muck boots, put on some gloves, and dug in.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in NE DC at a communal garden today. He picked some kale, turned to the press and said “We did it Joe.” pic.twitter.com/aApzs6wRyE
— Eugene Daniels (@EugeneDaniels2) March 15, 2022
At one point, while shoveling dirt, a worker was corrected for putting the wrong kind of soil into a hole reserved for a blueberry bush. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but I had a feeling,” Emhoff said with a knowing laugh.
Emhoff, who this week tested positive for COVID-19, said his wife is the family member with the green thumb and has a working garden at their residence and back home in California.
“She won’t believe I’m doing this,” he said, according to White House pool reports.
Before leaving, he picked some samples and said, “The VP is going to eat that kale and the bok choy.”
