After 16 years of service to the government, Dolley and James finally get to leave Washington and retire to Montpelier for good.

Portraits and transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-13/

Music by Matt Dull

The book I mention toward the end of this episode, Madison's Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention by Mary Sarah Bilder, can be found here.

We finally wrap up the War of 1812 this week, but not without plenty of drama.

Note: at one point, I say that James sent instructions to the peace commissioners on October 4, 1815, but I meant to say 1814. By October 1815, the war was long over. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all these dates!

Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-12/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover two more years of war, 1813 and 1814, including the dramatic burning of Washington and the President's House in August 1814.

Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-11/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we finally get to the War of 1812! Also, Dolley's sister gets married in the first-ever White House wedding (even though we're still not calling it the White House). And James Madison wins reelection.

Transcript and further reading available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-10/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover the early part of James's first term as President, including Dolley's work redecorating the President's House and throwing parties left and right.

Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-9/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover James's second term as Secretary of State, the election of 1808, and more background on the run-up to the War of 1812.

Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-8/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we learn more about Dolley's role as Jefferson's presidential hostess, and cover a couple of important events that took place during Jefferson's first term; namely, the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark expedition.

Maps, portraits, and transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-7/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover the four short years that the Madisons spent at Montpelier before James was dragged back into government service, and we get our first look at Dolley's new role as presidential hostess.

Transcript and links available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-6/

Music by Matt Dull

Link to S.193

Link to H.R. 630

After taking a brisk review of the ratification of the new U.S. Constitution, we finally get Dolley and James together this week, covering their courtship, wedding, and early years of marriage in Philadelphia.

Transcript and portaits available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-5/

Music by Matt Dull

This week we do a deep dive into the Constitutional Convention - think of it as getting to see how the sausage is made, with the sausage being the legal document that still rules our lives today.

Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-4/

Music by Matt Dull