She was often criticized for her spending habits
Mary Todd wasn't well-liked in Washington, in part because of her extravagant spending. She was used to purchasing pricey clothing for herself and residing in large, comfortable homes because she hailed from an affluent family.
A sizeable sum of money was provided to the First Lady shortly after Abraham Lincoln was elected US president for the purpose of redecorating the White House. An interesting fact about Mary Todd Lincoln is that she spent more money than she was permitted to, despite having a more than generous budget. Because of the hardships caused by the Civil War at the time, society blamed her for what she did.
Although purchasing the White House during a moment of national crisis may seem wrong to us today, historical context puts this in proper perspective. Congress gave Mary $20,000 to use to renovate the White House soon despite the threat of war. Sadly, Mary exceeded this budget by $6,000, which infuriated the President. He argued that it was improper to exceed the budget at a time when "the poor soldiers did not have blankets," and he paid the overage out of his own pocket.
Once Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) won the 1860 presidential election, word of Mary Lincoln's shopping preferences and the majority of other elements of her life began to circulate.
Mary has received harsh criticism from the press for her spending habits both then and today. She ultimately caused the President and herself a great deal of worry due to her spending, but when considered in perspective, her purchasing can be better appreciated.
