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Preface
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Preface The immediate opportunity and impulse for writing this book come from the spectacular restoration of the Montpelier mansion to its appearance as it was during the years of the Madisons’ retirement there, 1817–36. In the hands of several owners from the time of Dolley Madison’s sale of Montpelier in 1844 through the long DuPont ownership of 1901–84, the mansion underwent drastic remodeling and substantial enlargement. The Madison house, though, remained essentially there under the changes and enlargement, so it was possible to remove the additions and restore the mansion as it had been in the 1820s. Originally built by President Madison’s father in the early 1760s and enlarged by his son in two stages in 1797 and 1809, it was, by the time of Madison’s retirement from the presidency, an elegant home for the nation’s most famous and respected couple. James Madison was revered as the preeminent founder of the nation’s political institutions and its fourth president, while Dolley was the widely beloved creator of the “office” of First Lady, suited to the republican political culture her husband had helped found. The completed restoration of their home was celebrated on Constitution Day 2008. Irving Brant, Drew McCoy, Catherine Allgor, and others have written fully and with insight about this before, and I have depended as well in this account on the last chapter of my biography of Madison, first published thirty-seven years ago and republished by the University of Virginia Press in 1990. I hope now, though, that what we have learned about the Madisons and their era in the meantime and the vivid setting now furnished by the restored mansion and the enlarged understanding we have of its free and enslaved occupants will make possible a fuller and more compelling account of those retirement years. I am grateful for the help and support of many people at Montpelier: John Jeannes for his knowledge of the mansion itself, Matt Reeves for his xii preface archaeological discoveries in the house and on the grounds, Tom Chapman for his genealogical research, and Beth Taylor, the educational director , for her historical understanding of the house and its occupants. I am especially grateful for her careful and exceedingly helpful reading of an early draft of the manuscript. Many others on the Montpelier staff and board of directors—Mike Quinn, Joe Grills, Bill Lewis, Bill Remington, Peggy Boeker, Hunter Rawlings, Lee Langston-Harrison, Pat Mahanes, Allison Deeds, Susan Borchardt, Will Harris, Andy Washburn, Michael Taylor, and others—have helped and supported in many ways. Ann Miller was an invaluable source of information about Orange County history, as she has been for decades. Penny Kaiserlain, Dick Holway, Ellen Satrom, and Raennah Mitchell at the University of Virginia Press have been expertly and congenially helpful. Fran Bockus has, as usual, provided efficient and cordial word-processing help. Erik Chaput’s work in producing the index has been prompt, skillful, learned, and cheerful. My wife Julia has been a highly skilled editor and virtual coauthor for the entire project; in fact, it would not exist without her deep and loving participation. I record in the dedication the joy and stimulus that comes from my two grandchildren (and twins to come, probably before this book arrives!). [44.221.46.132] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 00:53 GMT) The Madisons at Montpelier This page intentionally left blank ...