First Ladies | Martha Washington | 1

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 June 2024

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1757, 26-year-old Martha Dandridge Custis was the wealthiest widow in Virginia when she caught the eye of George Washington, a young military hero and landowner. Their marriage thrust Martha into a public life she never anticipated. She would follow Washington from the army camps of the Revolutionary War to the presidential mansion.

When Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. president, Martha became the first woman to serve as America’s first lady. With no precedent to follow, she navigated uncharted waters while facing intense public scrutiny.

Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wunderry Plus subscribers can binge new seasons of American history tellers early and
0:05.1	ad free right now. Join Wundery Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. Imagine it's a Friday evening in April 1794. You're a Democratic Republican Party loyalist
0:30.4	and you're in the grand state drawing room in the presidential mansion in Philadelphia.
0:34.0	The president's wife, Mrs Washington, is perched on a raised sofa
0:38.0	and you're at the front of a line of guests waiting be greeted by her.
0:41.0	You smooth your cravat as you approach her, lowering your head
0:44.8	in the customary formal bow. She acknowledges you with a respectful nod. Having greeted your
0:50.6	hostess, you retreat to the drinks table in search of a glass of lemonade.
0:54.8	That's when you spot Thomas Woodhouse, a state representative you're friendly with.
0:58.7	Good evening, Thomas. Quite the gathering, is it not? He shakes your hand with a rye grin.
1:04.6	Indeed, I've never seen the room so crowded and what about all this pomp? If you ask me the whole
1:11.4	affair seems rather out of place in a democracy.
1:15.0	Thomas takes a sip of lemonade his brow furrowed as he considers your words.
1:20.0	I hadn't thought of it in that light.
1:23.0	Mrs Washington strikes me as a perfectly amiable hostess.
1:27.0	She asked me about my wife and newborn son.
1:30.0	How she knew of his birth I have no idea. My wife will be thrilled. Of course, she's a charming lady.
1:38.0	But does it not trouble you?
1:40.0	Having to bow and scrape to a woman who holds no elected position in the government.
1:45.0	These rituals smack of monarchy.
1:49.0	I won't deny that this formality does seem rather excessive.
1:54.6	You nod encouraged by his response.
	...

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