Dolly Madison

Originally Aired: May 22, 1939 Cavalcade of America #166, "Dolly Madison," traces the remarkable life of one of America's most celebrated women from her birth as Dorothy Payne in 1772 to her role as the nation's premier hostess. After being widowed at twenty-five with a young son, Dolly hesitates when the scholarly congressman James Madison begins courting her, confiding to Martha Washington that she longs for peace rather than the scrutiny of public life. Despite her reservations about duty and living in the public eye, she marries Madison and soon finds herself at the center of American politics. When Thomas Jefferson becomes president and Madison his Secretary of State, Dolly serves as White House hostess for the widowed Jefferson. She quickly discovers that the young nation's capital is a minefield of political jealousies and international tensions. A diplomatic crisis erupts when the British ambassador's wife takes offense at a breach of protocol at a Jefferson dinner, threatening war. Dolly must use her growing diplomatic skills to navigate these treacherous waters while supporting her husband's rising political career, all while struggling with her own desire to escape the relentless demands of public service.