A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation

 

Summary (from the publisher): When the roar of the Revolution had finally died down, a new generation of politicians was summoned to the Potomac to assemble the nation's capital. Into that unsteady atmosphere—which would soon enough erupt into another conflict with Britain—Dolley Madison arrived, alongside her husband, James. Within a few years, she had mastered both the social and political intricacies of the city, and by her death in 1849 was the most celebrated person in Washington. And yet, to most Americans, she's best known for saving a portrait from the burning White House.

Why did her contemporaries so admire a lady so little known today? In A Perfect Union, acclaimed historian Catherine Allgor reveals how Dolley manipulated the contstraints of her gender to construct an American democratic ruling style and to achieve her husband's political goals. By emphasizing cooperation over coercion—building bridges instead of bunkers—she left us with not only an important story about our past but a model for a modern form of politics. 

Review: Dolley Payne Todd Madison was born into a Quaker family from Virginia in 1768. She married young and promptly gave birth to two small sons before her husband and newborn son were both killed by fever. This inextricably changed the course of her life and that of the nation, for she remarried to one James Madison, who was to become the President of the fledgling United States from 1809-1817. In a world before the role of 'First Lady' was established, Dolley masterfully charmed Washington D.C. and in many ways was the better politician than her quiet and reserved husband. Known for her weekly open houses that helped facilitate political progress and thus the work of the nation's government, Dolley devoted the whole of her life to her husband and later to his legacy. 

In a time when women had very little authority or power on there own, it was fascinating to see how Dolley was able to capitalize on her husband's position to indirectly sway the course of history. Of course this was only possible because of the strong partnership and mutual respect between Dolley and James: "James Madison had always treated his wife seriously as a political partner. As early as 1794, she served as his secretary; she went on doing so through James's presidency, as he dictated letter drafts to her and conducted presidential business freely with her when his official secretary was ill" (145). 

Some of the most fascinating sections of this book were not the political detail but the sections that focused on Dolley's oversight of the decoration of the White House and the description of her wardrobe and social functions that proved so critical to the work being down in the capitol. Dolley understood that the appearance of both herself and the White House held significant symbolic importance for the country and did an excellent job of appearing stately and distinctive without too aristocratic. It was also interesting to read about her close relationships with her sisters and nieces, who frequently took on surrogate daughter roles in the absence of Dolley having any daughters herself. 

After her husband's presidency, Dolley retired with James to his family home of Montpelier. He was much older than his wife and in ill health and she was too devoted to ever leave his side. Yet she seems to have chafed over country life and miss the society of a larger city and quickly was back in the spotlight championing her husband's memory and serving as almost a living monument in the final years of her life after James's death. 

This was a lovely portrayal of Dolley that conveys her charisma, influence, and place in our country's history. I do wish more detail had been given about her childhood and family background, her son's life, and James Madison himself. Of course James was much more reserved than his wife, but he fully recedes into the background of this book and his voice is not really present, which is surprising given what a large portion of her lie he occupied. All in all a well researched and thorough biography of a great First Lady.

Stars: 4

Related Titles: 

• James Madison: A Life Considered by Lynne Cheney 
• The Founders at Home: The Building of America, 1735-1817 by Myron Magnet