Source: Catherine Allgor. A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the
Creation of the American Nation (2006).
Dolley Madison is remembered in history by most for securing a portrait of George Washington as thousands of British soldiers advanced on "Washington's City" during the War of 1812 (and sadly, she's remembered by some for snack cakes). In addition to being the "First" First Lady, Dolley Madison should be remembered for introducing the "process" of politics via the "Unofficial Sphere" in the U.S. Government. James Madison was one of the key figures that created political parties, but Dolley Madison was the person that figured out how the political parties could actually conduct the business of government. She, more so than her husband, was the one that created a place with an atmosphere in which politicians of different parties actually talked to each other, and the government was able to function.
Creation of the American Nation (2006).
Dolley Madison is remembered in history by most for securing a portrait of George Washington as thousands of British soldiers advanced on "Washington's City" during the War of 1812 (and sadly, she's remembered by some for snack cakes). In addition to being the "First" First Lady, Dolley Madison should be remembered for introducing the "process" of politics via the "Unofficial Sphere" in the U.S. Government. James Madison was one of the key figures that created political parties, but Dolley Madison was the person that figured out how the political parties could actually conduct the business of government. She, more so than her husband, was the one that created a place with an atmosphere in which politicians of different parties actually talked to each other, and the government was able to function.
Dolley would have never felt comfortable combining politics and social events creating the "Unofficial Sphere" if she wasn't an extrovert. The definition I like for an extrovert is an individual that is "recharged" by being with other, even many, people. If Dolley was an introvert (one's energy is "drained away" by being with other people) like her husband, then she would not have been able to "re-invent" American politics.
In history, timing is crucial. James Cameron wanted to release "Titanic" in the summer of 1997, but editing delayed the release, and it reached theaters in late-1997. I'm convinced that if "Titanic" had been released in the summer, it would not have become such a mega-hit; it was much-better suited for a "winter release". Other famous examples of excellent timing (whether on purpose or by accident) would include the Beatles in 1964, and "Star Wars" in 1977. Dolley entered Washington at the best-possible time, in terms of politics. As the wife of the Secretary of State in 1801, Dolley was in a unique position to diffuse the tension in America's "Honor Culture."
In history, timing is crucial. James Cameron wanted to release "Titanic" in the summer of 1997, but editing delayed the release, and it reached theaters in late-1997. I'm convinced that if "Titanic" had been released in the summer, it would not have become such a mega-hit; it was much-better suited for a "winter release". Other famous examples of excellent timing (whether on purpose or by accident) would include the Beatles in 1964, and "Star Wars" in 1977. Dolley entered Washington at the best-possible time, in terms of politics. As the wife of the Secretary of State in 1801, Dolley was in a unique position to diffuse the tension in America's "Honor Culture."
With the development of the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists as rival political parties, a "zero-sum game" had been established in American politics, in that if one party gained, the other party thought it experienced a corresponding loss. Every politician had to play the "Virtue Game"; which in the end meant opposing political opinions / philosophies were viewed as a threat to the well-being of the nation. I'm often amused with the mass media when, perhaps a network news anchor, states that American politics have never been more contentious. I have started to, for my own benefit, imagine a crawler below the screen which has words to the effect of "please understand as you are listening to this broadcast that he/she may not know the history of our nation . . ." For those that think our current political climate is contentious, I wish they would be able to go back to the late-1790's / early-1800's, when the "rules of behavior" that are institutionalized today were being created, and the catalyst of those "rules" was Dolley Madison. What Dolley was able to do with her "Drawing Room", among other venues, was to find other avenues to diffuse this political tension. In these social/political gatherings that Dolley started hosting during Jefferson's presidency, the first steps of networking occurred, allowing an atmosphere to develop of "political intimacy", even among some Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. I liked Allgor's comparison of Jefferson's and Dolley's social events. She compared Jefferson's dinner parties to a "protective tariff", while Dolley's were like "the free market."
While Jefferson's dinner parties were remarked upon very favorably in correspondence by its participants in terms of food, drink, and company, it was a tightly-controlled affair in which Jefferson could listen to the dinner party's gossip to gain political advantage, especially against the Federalists. Dolley's "Drawing Room", on the other hand, featured far more guests, due to the fact that she, in essence, put out at open invitation to anyone that wanted to attend. In Jefferson's dinner parties, there wasn't a realistic expectation for a private conversation, while with Dolley, larger crowds meant more private political conversations. The language of the "Unofficial Sphere" was gossip, and whether one was a politician or the wife of one, the end-result of private gossip at Dolley's "Drawing Room" was that political tension had "avenues of escape." Now, political discussions and/or decisions could be made, in a public setting, as required by Republicanism, with a veil of privacy. Not only was Dolley the star attraction with her "Wednesday Nights" in the Drawing Room, but it was the only "guaranteed" time that President James Madison would be available in public space.
For James Madison, these "Wednesday Nights" presented a "win-win" situation for
his introverted personality. Dolley was able to institutionalize what progressive reformers decades later would call "Association". Instead of the middle class and working class "mixing" together at an amusement park, which reformers hoped would reduce class conflict, Dolley mixed political parties and genders, and succeeded in reducing political tension and conflict. Dolley knew from the beginning that women needed to be involved in this "Association"; women were key in the "Unofficial Sphere." In this setting (and also with correspondence), women were able to exert their influence in the political arena, without being seen as leaving the private sphere. Dolley positioned herself perfectly, in that she was able to influence politics, and was seen (by most, anyway) as a lady that remained in "her sphere" - Aaron Burr wasn't so lucky. Burr's motives weren't the same as Dolley's, but he also wanted bipartisanship, and was one of the very few politicians in his era that could-and-would work with the other party (John Quincy Adams was another of the few politicians that also worked with the other party). But, Burr was labeled a "traitor to his class", in particular by Jefferson, and, in the East anyway, became a political persona-non-grata. Dolley was not seen as a "traitor to her class", or as a "trespasser in the public sphere." She was able, through great effort, ability, and skill, to conduct a balancing act between aristocracy and democracy.
For James Madison, these "Wednesday Nights" presented a "win-win" situation for
his introverted personality. Dolley was able to institutionalize what progressive reformers decades later would call "Association". Instead of the middle class and working class "mixing" together at an amusement park, which reformers hoped would reduce class conflict, Dolley mixed political parties and genders, and succeeded in reducing political tension and conflict. Dolley knew from the beginning that women needed to be involved in this "Association"; women were key in the "Unofficial Sphere." In this setting (and also with correspondence), women were able to exert their influence in the political arena, without being seen as leaving the private sphere. Dolley positioned herself perfectly, in that she was able to influence politics, and was seen (by most, anyway) as a lady that remained in "her sphere" - Aaron Burr wasn't so lucky. Burr's motives weren't the same as Dolley's, but he also wanted bipartisanship, and was one of the very few politicians in his era that could-and-would work with the other party (John Quincy Adams was another of the few politicians that also worked with the other party). But, Burr was labeled a "traitor to his class", in particular by Jefferson, and, in the East anyway, became a political persona-non-grata. Dolley was not seen as a "traitor to her class", or as a "trespasser in the public sphere." She was able, through great effort, ability, and skill, to conduct a balancing act between aristocracy and democracy.
One of her methods in doing so was to feature "extremes" in her social gatherings. Dolley dressed very well for social events, knowing that clothing was the "vocabulary for power"; but also, she would feature some food items that some people, then-and-now, would refer to as "low-brow". I think P.T. Barnum would have appreciated this kind of combination, as someone that specialized in presenting extremes to attract paying customers. Dolley used her charm to disarm, so to speak, which was a similar charismatic trait shared by other prominent historical figures such as FDR. The difference between Dolley and FDR in this regard is that once FDR was done "turning on the charm", he may not have any need for that person, and was moving on to something else. Dolley was creating a permanent network for information and influence, which meant that very few, if anyone, were dismissed as irrelevant or inconsequential.
The importance of Dolley Madison's "Unofficial Sphere" was seen when it ceased to exist for a time during the "Eaton Affair." The "ruling class" feared the rise of democracy, which they perceived as a threat to their power and status, and Margaret Eaton became the "Lighting Rod of Hate." Her social bona fides were not near the equal of these "ladies of quality", and, in essence, Margaret and her husband, Jackson's 1st Secretary of War, were "shunned" from the social events. And, when the Eatons hosted, there were many no-shows, adding insult-to-insult. The result of these actions was that the business of Washington, D.C. ground to a halt; discussions and decisions were not being conducted or made because the "Unofficial Sphere" of government was temporarily absent. Something, or rather, someone else was absent as well - Dolley Madison. It would be hard to fathom how the "Eaton Affair" would have reached this critical point had Dolley, or someone similar, been "running point" in the "Unofficial Sphere" of government.
(Below: a daguerreotype of Dolley Madison (seated) late in her life in the 1840s)
The importance of Dolley Madison's "Unofficial Sphere" was seen when it ceased to exist for a time during the "Eaton Affair." The "ruling class" feared the rise of democracy, which they perceived as a threat to their power and status, and Margaret Eaton became the "Lighting Rod of Hate." Her social bona fides were not near the equal of these "ladies of quality", and, in essence, Margaret and her husband, Jackson's 1st Secretary of War, were "shunned" from the social events. And, when the Eatons hosted, there were many no-shows, adding insult-to-insult. The result of these actions was that the business of Washington, D.C. ground to a halt; discussions and decisions were not being conducted or made because the "Unofficial Sphere" of government was temporarily absent. Something, or rather, someone else was absent as well - Dolley Madison. It would be hard to fathom how the "Eaton Affair" would have reached this critical point had Dolley, or someone similar, been "running point" in the "Unofficial Sphere" of government.
(Below: a daguerreotype of Dolley Madison (seated) late in her life in the 1840s)
James Madison was the last of the Founding Fathers that signed the Constitution to die (in 1836); Dolley Madison (who died in 1849) was the first in a long list of First Ladies that found a way to influence politics and exert political power as well - Dolley Madison proved to be the right First Lady at the right time in American History.