Year(s) Discussed: 1817-1858
James and Dolley Madison left Washington, DC in 1817 anticipating a peaceful retirement in Montpelier. Little did they know what life had in store for them or that Dolley would end up returnin…
Year(s) Discussed: 1768-1849
We continue our examination of the life and legacy of Dolley Madison with a discussion with Hilarie Hicks, Senior Research Historian at James Madison's Montpelier. In this episode, we talk abo…
Year(s) Discussed: 1768-1809
Born in a Southern log cabin, the woman who would go on to be the center of social life in the nation's capital developed her skills of charm and entertainment through formative years filled w…
Content Note: This episode mentions the topic of suicide.
Year(s) Discussed: 1807-1810
The Madison administration experienced numerous setbacks and embarrassments in the latter part of 1809. The President's private sec…
Year(s) Discussed: 1808-1809
The arrival of the new British Minister to the US, Francis James Jackson, was not necessarily seen as a good omen by the Madison administration for the prospect of healing the rift between the…
Year(s) Discussed: 1809
When the British government learned of the Erskine Agreement, it was not best pleased. In the summer of 1809, the Madison administration scrambled to deal with the ramifications of the British resp…
Year(s) Discussed: 1808-1809
A new congressional session provided an opportunity for the President and his wife to make their mark on the Washington political and social scene as they invited guests into the refurbished …
Year(s) Discussed: 1808-1809
In the first couple of months of his presidency, Madison not only dealt with a domestic political dispute but also managed to negotiate an agreement with the British Minister to the US to res…
Year(s) Discussed: 1809
Though James Madison was seen as being Thomas Jefferson’s successor, it became clear starting with his inauguration that his presidency would be different from his predecessor’s, for better or wor…
Year(s) Discussed: 1785-1809
After scoring some key political victories in Virginia, Madison decided to lead an effort to reform the government of the United States. However, he would find that getting the Constitutional…
Year(s) Discussed: 1653-1785
As part of a family that had been on a steady rise in society since its earliest days in the Virginia colony, James Madison, Jr. was expected to do great things from the time of his birth, bu…
