Henrietta Hay's Column

History books through the ages have had very little to say about strong women, or, for that matter, about any women. One gets the impression that civilization developed without any help at all from its female half.

There have, however, been many strong, influential women about whom we have heard very little. One of those was Dolley Payne Madison, wife of the fourth President of the United States. My "quick fix" American history book has this single demeaning sentence about her. " was the first president to occupy the new Executive Mansion that would later be christened the White House, which his charming and amply endowed wife Dolley decorated with $26,000 granted by Congress for the purpose."

Rita Mae Brown, one of my favorite authors, has a somewhat different view of this woman. Usually Brown writes mysteries, but this year she has moved into the historical fiction genre and has published Dolley: a Novel of Dolley Madison in Love and War. She did extensive research for this book and says, "I have done my best to comply with the facts. You will find also, much of the truth."

Dolley was raised a Quaker. She was a pacifist, but only up to a point. Her character was partially formed when, as a child, she watched her Quaker mother defiantly face a mounted British officer. After a few moments, the officer turned his horse and rode away. Years later Dolley said to her sister, "I believe Mother would have killed that Redcoat if he had tried to harm any of us. You could feel her power." During the War of 1812 the daughter showed the same kind of power as the war raged near Washington and her courage inspired everyone around her.

She was a very complex woman. She brought the social grace to the White House. She was very attractive and loved beautiful clothes. And (horrors!) she was even rumored to have used rouge. That was only the surface.

Her real power was in her relationship with her husband. It was truly a marriage of love and equality. She was his anchor during his constant battles with Congress, and later during the war itself. She did not achieve her power by manipulation, but by support and brains. President Madison was viciously attacked from all sides, and she was his one unfailing ally.

The traditional function of political wives was strictly social. To show any kind of influence publicly was unthinkable. But that did not bother Dolley. She was politically shrewd and served as Jemmy's secret adviser. She and Henry Clay were friends and, according to Brown's research, they devised a strategy that eventually defeated Daniel Webster.

It would have been hard for her to avoid political knowledge. That White House that the British burned down was not quite like the one we have today. She recorded in her diary, "The Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Army bellowed at each other at the tops of their lungs today. I heard them clear at the other end of the house. If only they evidenced as much hostility toward England."

When the British approached Washington, Dolly Madison showed her true courage. The President was with the troops in the field, in the hope that his presence would hearten them. Dolly insisted in staying in the mansion until she was finally forced to flee. At the last minute she noticed the portrait of George Washington and ordered that it be taken down. She smashed the frame and handed the canvas to two men who had come to offer assistance, telling them, "Destroy it if you are captured." Dolley's eyes blazed. "The British couldn't destroy him in life. They'll not defeat him in death." If a British soldier had appeared at that moment, that brave Quaker woman would have killed him without a thought.

When she returned, and gazed on the smoking ruins of Washington and her beloved White House, she immediately went to work finding and furnishing a temporary home and office. She would be in her glory at a State Dinner in today's White House.

Rita Mae Brown has brought Dolley Madison to life for us, and it is a very special gift. I think Dolley and Hillary would have been friends.