And now, dear sister, I must leave this house or the retreating army will make me a prisoner in it by filling up the road I am directed to take.

Several magazines of that time also used the "Dolly" spelling such as The Knickerbocker February 1837 p. They stretched to take a large house as Dolley believed entertaining would be important in the capital. During this time Dolley Madison organized and copied her husband's papers.

Her success as a hostess contributed to increasing the popularity of Madison as president. During the previous administration of Thomas Jefferson a widower and their friend Dolley Madison occasionally acted as First Lady for him to fulfill the ceremonial functions more usually associated with the President's wife. She also aided in the completion and furnishing the interior of the newly constructed White House.