1789—1797
“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.” Americans were fortunate that Martha Washington became their first First Lady. Formal enough to retain a hint of old-world nobility, relaxed enough to suggest respect for the democratic process, she established from the outset that she would willingly accept a public role at social and ceremonial functions, standing in for her husband, George, in some instances, standing at his side in others, but always presenting herself as a visible supporter of her husband’s presidency. Had she not done so, had she chosen instead to retreat from the public eye, the role of First Lady might have evolved quite differently.
Martha’s regular Friday-night parties, which came to be known as “drawing rooms,” began in New York in…
