ot;a man on his way to a funeral" began appearing more often in public, and seemed to take great pleasure in socializing (Boller p38). When James Madison was appointed as Jefferson's Secretary of State in 1801, he and Dolley lived for a short time in the White House. Because Jefferson was a widower, Dolley became the nation's hostess. Eight years later, Dolley began her tenure as First Lady. The couple worked as a team: James could handle the problems of his office in peace, knowing that Dolley could handle any prickly personality problems, for she more than made up for his lack of sociability (Healy p21). Though James' first term had not been easy, he looked forward to the possibility of a second. Dolley fully understood the importance of keeping discontented congressmen in line so that they did not vote against her husband. She gave dinners for the congressmen and their wives in order to gain their favors. She is credited with a large share in her husband's 1812 victory. In 1814, when the British advanced through Maryland, James left his wife in charge of the white house . She was forced to flee the mansion, but managed to save the original draft of the constitution, the Declaration of Independence, several important cabinet papers, and a portrait of George Washington. The house was nearly burned to the ground, and the Madisons never again inhabited it. Later Dolley was responsible for launching a campaign for rebuilding the capital. After eight years in the white house, the Madisons retired to Virginia, where Dolley continued to entertain. Once James had passed away, Dolley once again moved to Washington. She served as a sort of advisor to the white house hostesses for the next several years, and was a beloved figure until her death in 1849.
             Lucy Webb Hayes was born in small-town Ohio. After her father died, Lucy's mother dedicated herself to the education of her children, often movi...