First Ladies For Dummies - Marcus A. Stadelmann, PhD

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one of her favorite parts of the job she was very good at it and after retirement, she and George continued to host hundreds of people at Mount Vernon.

Photo depicts the portrait of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.

      Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Reproduction number LC-DIG-bellcm-25569 (digital file from original)

      FIGURE 3-2: Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.

      

“I never go to the publick place — indeed I think I am more like a state prisoner than anything else, there is certain bounds set for me I must not depart from.”

      In a letter, Martha wrote that she had expected that she and George would be left to grow old in solitude and tranquility together at Mount Vernon and called the change of course a disappointment. In fact, it was not until George was 65 and Martha 66 that they were able to go back into retirement.

When Martha Washington first arrived in New York City, the nation’s first capital, people didn’t know how to refer to her. Some called her Lady Washington, while others referred to her as The Presidentress.

      

The term First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is held by the hostess in the White House, usually the president’s spouse. This was not always the case. After George Washington became president in 1789, people did not know what to call his wife. Should it be Marquise Washington, Mrs. President, or just Presidentress. All of these titles sounded aristocratic and with the country just having won a war of independence against Great Britain nobody wanted to sound aristocratic or British. A title needed to be created that was plain and democratic. So, people just called her Lady Washington. The official title of First Lady was then coined at Dolley Madison’s funeral by President Zachary Taylor in 1849. By the late 1850’s the title became more commonly used and Harriet Lane was called the First Lady in the Land and Julia Grant and Lucy Hayes later received the same title. This helped to make the title more popular, and today the term has been fully accepted and its use is widespread.

      Learning her way

      In 1789, Martha undertook an 11-day trip to New York City from her home in Virginia, to meet up with newly elected President George Washington. When she arrived, she was celebrated like a queen. There were fireworks, a 13-gun salute, and people shouting, “Long Live Lady Washington!” At this point, she knew that the presidential spouse had a public role to play in American society. On their way to their rented house on Cherry Street in New York City, people even lined the streets and chanted her name.

      

George Washington had printed in the local newspaper in New York City when his calling hours would be. In other words, he told the public when to come and visit him. If people just wanted to come to pay their respects, they could do so Tuesday and Friday afternoons between 2 and 3 p.m.

      As First Lady, Martha hosted formal dinners for Members of Congress, foreign diplomats, and members of the wealthy elites in New York City every Thursday and then public receptions for the common people each Friday. Anyone of good standing, meaning that they had to be decently dressed, could attend. This included not only politicians and the wealthy but also the average American.

      Starting traditions

      In 1790, the capital was moved to Philadelphia. Martha was happier there, making more friends, but she still missed Mount Vernon.

      Other functions were to represent the president at public events when the president wasn’t available or to accept gifts on his behalf. For example, on several occasions when President Washington was ill, Martha attended church on his behalf, and when the City of New York wanted to give him a fancy carriage as a gift, he didn’t accept it but Martha did.

      Martha soon realized that in the role of First Lady, she could participate in the president’s role as Head of State. In this function, she could represent the United States both domestically and also internationally, by hosting foreign diplomats in the White House.

      Taking sides

      George Washington’s second term turned out to be a major disappointment for Martha. Their good friends James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson started political infighting within the administration, and the two-party system developed as a result. She started to dislike Jefferson for his attacks on Washington’s policies and was afraid that the stress of the presidency would kill her husband.

      

The infighting between her friends and George brought Martha closer to John and Abigail Adams, and soon Abigail became a good friend. In fact, Abigail became such a good friend to Martha that she always sat to the right of her at the dinner table. Whenever someone else tried to sit in Abigail’s chair, Martha would ask them to choose another chair.

Photo depicts the portrait of Martha Washington in retirement.

      Source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Reproduction number LC-DIG-pga-01370 (digital file from original print)

      FIGURE 3-3: Martha Washington in retirement.

      

Mount Vernon became almost a second presidential mansion after Washington left office. Thousands of people, including diplomats from all over Europe, flocked to it to see George and Martha.

      George Washington died two years later, and Martha was once again a widow. Martha burned all their correspondence. She didn’t want anyone else to know about her husband’s feelings, fears, and

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