America’s first ‘second gentleman’

When Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman and first Black US vice president, her husband Doug Emhoff will break his own new ground: as the original "second husband." 

Harris and Emhoff, who married in 2014 -- she for the first time, he for the second -- will also be the first mixed-race couple to occupy their positions. He is white while she is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. Both are 56.

The contours of Emhoff's new role as the nation's "second husband" -- some prefer "second gentleman" -- have yet to be determined; he has been vague about his plans so far.

Traditionally, the spouses of presidents and vice presidents have been expected to forge a careful balance of supportiveness and independence. Many pick a charitable cause to promote.

Emhoff is an accomplished lawyer specializing in media, sports and entertainment law.

He took leave in August from the multinational DLA Piper, which has lobbying offices in Washington. That could raise prickly conflicts of interest with Harris's work.

Emhoff marks another milestone: he would be the first Jew to be part of America's first or second families.

When Emhoff met Harris on a blind date arranged by friends, it was "love at first sight," he later said.

His children by his first marriage -- Cole, named after John Coltrane, and Ella, named after Ella Fitzgerald -- have embraced their stepmother as "Momala."

The "second husband-elect," incidentally, shares one thing with Donald Trump: both are avid golfers.