Dolley Madison

Born

May 20, 1768

Died

July 12, 1849 (aged 81)

Known as

writer

Dolley Todd Madison was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was known for holding Washington social functions to which she invited members of both political parties, essentially spearheading the concept of bipartisan cooperation. Previous founders such as Thomas Jefferson would only meet with members of one party at a time, and politics could often be a violent affair resulting in physical altercations and even duels. Madison helped to create the idea that members of each party could amicably socialize, network, and negotiate with each other without violence. Through these innovations, Dolley Madison did much to define the role of the president's spouse, known only much later by the title First Lady—a function she had sometimes performed earlier for the widowed Thomas Jefferson.

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