Although women could not vote and supposedly left politics to men, the female relatives of Washington politicians took on several overtly political functions that greased the wheels of the affairs of state. They networked through dinners, balls, receptions, and the intricate custom of “calling,” in which men and women paid brief visits at each other’s homes. Webs of friendship and influence in turn facilitated female political lobbying. It was not uncommon for women in this social set to write letters of recommendation for men seeking government work.
When James Madison became president, Dolley Madison, called by some the “presidentress,” struck a balance between queenliness and republican openness. She dressed the part in resplendent clothes, and she opened three elegant rooms in the executive mansion for a weekly open-house party called “Mrs. Madison’s crush” or “squeeze.” In contrast to George and Martha Washington’s stiff, brief
CHAPTER LOCATOR
How did Jefferson attempt to undo the Federalist innovations of earlier administrations?
What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase for the United States?
Why did Congress declare war on Great Britain in 1812?
How did the civil status of American women and men differ in the early Republic?
Why did partisan conflict increase during the administrations of Monroe and Adams?
Conclusion: How did republican simplicity become complex?
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In 1810–1811, the Madisons’ house acquired its present name, the White House. The many guests simultaneously experienced both the splendor of the executive mansion and the atmosphere of republicanism that made it accessible to so many. Dolley Madison, ever an enormous political asset to her rather shy husband, understood well the symbolic function of the White House to enhance the power and legitimacy of the presidency.
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