Oak Hill’s dining room served as President’s Monroe’s office, and it was here that he penned the famous Monroe Doctrine. Monroe began construction of Oak Hill in 1820, with design assistance from Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Latrobe. James Hoban served as the principal builder.
Present owners Tom and Gayle DeLashmutt donated the use of Oak Hill for the July 14 afternoon event sponsored by the Mosby Heritage Area Association (MHAA). Proceeds from the event will benefit MHAA’s educational and scholarship programs.
Roberts is familiar face as well as a familiar voice on the national political scene, having served as a political commentator for ABC News and National Public Radio.
A native of New Orleans and the daughter of Hale and Lindy Boggs, Roberts split her time between Louisiana and Washington D.C. area. Her father, a congressman from Louisiana, served as House Majority Leader until October 1972, when the twin-engine aircraft he was on board disappeared and presumably crashed in a remote area of Alaska.
Lindy Boggs then succeeded her husband, and served in the House for many years until she was appointed Ambassador to the Vatican by then-President Bill Clinton.
Born Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs, she became known as “Cokie,” as a result of her brother’s efforts to pronounce “Corinne.”
She graduated from Stone Ridge School, and then from Wellesley College in 1964, with a degree in political science.
Cokie married a fellow journalist Steve Roberts in 1966. Together they wrote “From This Day Forward,” an account of their own 40-year marriage and other marriages. Today, they write a weekly syndicated column for United Media for newspapers. The Roberts are the parents of two children and six grandchildren.
“We Are Our Mother’s Daughters,” Roberts national bestseller, was followed by “Our Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation,” which profiles early American Revolutionary women and their contributions and sacrifices involved in establishing our country.
Roberts spoke of some of the extraordinary women profiled in her latest book, “Ladies of Liberty: the Women Who Shaped Our Nation.” Roberts tailored her remarks to Oak Hill’s mistress, President James Monroe’s wife Elizabeth Kortright Monroe.
Roberts spoke of politics then and now, political campaigns, political adversaries who were yet political friends, and offered “nothing is new in politics.” While Roberts spoke mainly about the women profiled in her book, their husbands and other political leaders also came in for examination and comment.
Roberts spent some time talking about Dolley Madison, the famous wife of president James Madison and renowned Washington hostess who preceded the Monroes as president and first lady.
When asked if she had any favorites among the women she has written about, Roberts said she did not, but offered later she would love to talk to Dolley Madison.
Roberts mentioned that Bess Truman, wife of President Harry Truman, once said, “I really feel for Elizabeth Monroe,” comparing Truman’s and Monroe’s efforts to follow in the footsteps of Dolley Madison and Eleanor Roosevelt as the nation’s first lady.
Such was format for the afternoon spent with Roberts. She spoke of letters found written by Abigail and John Adams, and letters lost or destroyed, including those written by Thomas and Martha Jefferson. Roberts mentioned the wonderful resources she found: the original letters and correspondence written by many of the women featured in the book. Roberts praised various libraries and historical societies that made those documents available. Roberts concluded her remarks with a suggestion that these women are certainly “Characters to contemplate.”
Roberts said she spent more than ten years writing “Founding Mothers” and “Ladies of Liberty” – but added, “I have a full time job.” Roberts said she was also proud to say these books about women were “written by a woman.”
Roberts described her first ever encounter with original correspondence, as “terrifying,” given the sense of history and importance, and also revealed the documents were sometimes difficult to read.
When asked to explain her name – “Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs,” Roberts replied “Southern and Catholic,” and described the importance of family names. Roberts said her next book would also be about women – Mary Custis Lee and others.
Guests were invited to arrive at Oak Hill at 4 p.m. to tour the splendid Oak Hill gardens before Roberts spoke at 5 p.m. Robert then signed copies of her book as guest enjoyed a light reception inside the home and on the portico overlooking the gardens.
The Mosby Historical Area Association (MHAA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of historical, cultural, and scenic sites in the Northern Virginia Piedmont area, encompasses Loudoun, Fauquier, Clarke, Warren and part of Prince William counties.
MHAA's offers a range of activities and events, including educational programs in public and private schools, a variety of products including narrated accounts of Civil War battles and historically accurate maps are also available. Information on MHAA and its activities is available online at www.mosbyheritagearea.org.
julia@loudouni.com
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