Mr President page 10

 Mr President page 10 by ric gustafson

First Lady Dolley Madison rescued the East Room portrait of George Washington. British troops were terrorizing the nation's capital. British troops were burning government buildings down one at a time. The sky was orange because of the flames. Citizens of Washington were fleeing the city.

It was not easy for First Lady Madison to take the painting. It was bolted to the wall. Dolley now 46 had a steward and a gardener hack away at the frame. Dolley was determined. Compared to her husband the President, Dolley had charm and social grace.

Dolley's husband President James Madison had gone out to a Maryland battlefield to watch the fighting. He had not returned yet. Dolley did not want the painting to fall into the hands of the British. Once she has the painting, she entrusts it to two visitors. One was financier Jacob Barker. The other was shipping merchant Robert De Peyster. She also gives the two the family silver and her husband's official papers. Dolley also takes a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Then Dolley flees only hours before the British troops come. Where is President James Madison?.

research help: ' Confronting the Presidents' by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric