Dolley Madison: America's First Lady

Dolley Madison lived through two wars, knew the first twelve Presidents, and watched America evolve from a struggling young republic to the first modern democracy in the world. At a time when women could neither vote nor participate officially in politics, Dolley Madison, wife of the fourth president James Madison, became one of the most influential and best-loved figures of her day. When she died in 1849 at the age of 81 - one of the last remaining members of the founding generation - Washington City honored her with the largest state funeral the capital had ever seen.