Befriend Mrs. Madison on the Book of Countenance!
Mrs. Madison is quite the favorite here in the Capitol City–and a delightful woman anywhere. Most recently, she has appeared at the James Monroe Bicentennial Inauguration, Gadsby’s Tavern’s First Ladies Winter Warmer tea, the Octagon’s Treaty of Ghent and Evening of Diversions events, and the Rising Sun Tavern Ladies Tea.
I’ve portrayed her thrice at Montpelier, once at the Department of State’s Formal Reception Rooms, and for Elderhostel/Road Scholar as part of their study on famous First Ladies.
I focus on Mrs. Madison’s less-well-known side. She is often portrayed as a warm-hearted, frivolous party girl (when she’s not presented as the server of ice cream or the purveyor of tea cakes). While her legendary charm is undeniable, I’ve chosen to emphasize her capability and her intelligence.
Harriet Martineau interviewed the Madisons in their later years at Montpelier, and wrote that she considered Mrs. Madison fully her husband’s equal. Mrs. Madison did, in fact, serve as her husband’s secretary during his illness. Also, her first husband, John Todd, left all his property in her sole control, and he wouldn’t have done that if she’d been irresponsible or frivolous.
I also consider some pivotal events in her life: her father’s business failure (arising in part from his Quaker conscience) and the death of her first husband and second child in Philadelphia’s yellow fever epidemic of 1794. The latter accounts for her life-long indulgence (if not ruination) of Payne Todd (her blind spot), and probably accounts for Madison’s tenderness (or at least forbearance) toward that young man, much against his better judgment.
I do believe she supported Madison—apparently his public social gifts were not the equal of hers, tho’ he shone in his private domestic circle. They balanced each other, and each valued the other properly.
[As an aside, ironically my best characters—Mrs. Calvert and Mrs. Madison—were not particularly close. Mrs. Calvert despised Mrs. Madison’s openness and other democratic notions; I have no information on what Mrs. Madison thought of Mrs. Calvert! She is far too tactful.]