By Tom Morrow

When we think of grand First Ladies of the White House, Jackie Kennedy is probably the first image that comes to mind. Nancy Reagan leads a short list of other First Ladies, but when the White House was finally completed in the very early 19th century, it was President James Madison’s wife, Dolley, who set the standard most chief executives’ wives have followed since.
Dolley and James Madison occupied the White from 1809 to 1817. She was noted for her social gifts, which boosted her husband’s popularity. She did much to define the role of the President’s wife, but ironically, it wasn’t only for her husband, but for the widowed President Thomas Jefferson before the Madisons moved in.
Born Dolley Payne on May 20, 1768, in New Garden, North Carolina, it was after the War of 1812, she re-furnished the reconstructed White House. The executive mansion was first occupied by President John and Abigail Adams, but the interior was unfinished and unfurnished until Jefferson moved in. Work continued on the White House through the Jefferson administration.
Dolley Payne Todd and James Madison, a congressman from Virginia, probably met at social events in Philadelphia. Reportedly, Aaron Burr, a longtime friend of Madison’s since their student days at Princeton University, stayed at a rooming house where Dolley, a widow, lived. In May 1794, Burr made the formal introduction between the young widow and Madison, who was 17 years her senior. After a brief courtship, they were married on Sept. 15, 1794.
It was during the War of 1812, Dolley became a heroine. In 1814, as the enemy approached the city, Dolley is credited with saving the classic portrait of George Washington, along with a number of other national household treasures. However, in recent years that claim has been challenged. Popular accounts during and after the war years tended to portray Dolley Madison as the one who removed the painting. Early 20th century historians note that Jean Pierre Sioussat, a Frenchman, had directed the servants to remove the painting.
In 1815, after the war, Congress allowed “Madame Dolley Madison a refurbishing allowance of $14,000 to purchase new furniture for the Executive Mansion.”
While James Madison is the leading architect of the U.S. Constitution, like Jefferson, their legacies are tainted because they were slave holders.
After James’ death on June 28 1836, Dolley remained at their Montpelier plantation for a year. During that time, she organized and copied her husband’s papers. Congress authorized $55,000 as payment for seven volumes, including his notes on the Constitutional Convention.
In the fall of 1837, Dolley Madison returned to Washington. She moved into a house, on Lafayette Square. Dolley took her slave butler Paul Jennings with her, forcing him to leave his family in Virginia.
While living in Washington, Dolley tried to raise money by selling the rest of Madison’s papers. She also agreed to sell Jennings to Daniel Webster, who allowed Jennings to gain his freedom by paying Webster through work.
Unable to find a buyer for the remaining Madison papers, she sold Montpelier, the remaining slaves, and the furnishings to pay off outstanding debts.
In the last days of her life, Dolley was in absolute poverty. Webster often sent Jennings to visit Dolley with food and telling the slave whenever he saw anything she needed to take it to her. In some cases, Jennings would give her money out of his own pocket. In 1848, Congress agreed to buy the rest of James Madison’s papers for around $25,000.
On July 12, 1849, Dolley Madison died at age 81, in her Washington D.C., home. She was first buried in the Congressional Cemetery, Washington, but later moved to a grave at Montpelier plantation next to her husband.

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