Scandalous Son: The Elusive Search for Dolley Madison's Son, John Payne Todd

by Philip Bigler

John Payne Todd, Dolley Madison s only surviving offspring from her brief first marriage, would always be a privileged and spoiled child. His doting mother appeared oblivious to her son s many faults and may have even been guilty of enabling and encouraging them. In 1794, the recently widowed Dolley married James Madison. The 43-year old Virginia Congressman willingly served as a surrogate father to the boy and together they would forever refer to Payne as our son. It soon became apparent, though, that Todd could never live up to the Madison s high expectations and aspirations for him. Indeed, Payne was forced to bear the incredible burden of being the only direct heir of two of the seminal figures of the early American republic. It is small wonder that he was destined to disappoint. For too long, countless numbers of historians and Madison biographers have hastily dismissed Payne Todd as a pathetic alcoholic, a petulant ingrate, and a greedy opportunist. Although such assessments are not without a degree of merit, historian and National Teacher of the Year, Philip Bigler, persuasively argues that Payne Todd s entire life was instead a futile struggle to establish his own personal identity. Unfortunately, he was never able to escape the weighty shadow cast by the Madison s. Like many of the children of other great people, Payne would not fare well nor would he be afforded the luxury of private failure or personal anonymity. Compounding his difficulties was the fact that he had no brothers and sisters to help ameliorate his burden. He would die without redemption, acknowledging in the end that, I have always been my own worst enemy. Philip Bigler, who served as the director of the James Madison Center for nine years, brings his historical expertise and skill to Scandalous Son. The book is a fascinating parable about the dark side of the American dream an allegory of the rags-to-riches-to-rags phenomenon that has all too often plagued the heirs of the republic.

330 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2015

Reviews

[Jerry Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though naturally short on details at points due in no part to the author but rather to the lack of sources, this book nonetheless reveals much about a largely forgotten figure in the annals of history who was known by so many of his contemporaries and is such an important figure in the lives of James and Dolley Madison.

[Chazzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philip Bigler, the author, was the director of the James Madison Center for nine years. During that time he has had access to papers and other memorabilia from the lives of Dolley and James Madison. At the beginning of each chapter he presents a bit of a history lesson for the period of the chapter. It is as if you are not just getting a story, you are also getting a taste of the times and events. It makes the book a little more deeper and richer.

I received this book as a gift. The giver is big on history and had heard the author speak. I expressed interest and voilà, she sent me a copy. I was intrigued by the story of Dolley Madison and that she had a son. I had never heard or read about any children in the James and Dolley Madison marriage. After reading this I think I can understand why. He was not the best of children even into adulthood.

Given all the chances and connections to be a success, John Payne Todd made a mess out of his life. Selfish and self-centered, he moved through life doing things his way and having to deal with the results. James Madison did a lot of mopping up for his step-son.

John Payne Todd was from Dolley Madison's first marriage. Dolley lost her other offspring and so doted on John Payne Todd to the extreme. When she married Madison he took on the responsibility of raising JPT and gave him every advantage to be a success, but JPT preferred the social life.

The sad part is that John Payne Todd was the only direct heir of these two very important historical figures, and he did not carry it off well.

The book gives a good picture of the life and times and I found that it was not an easy life. Travel was difficult. Buildings were not even close to the luxuriousness of today. And many of the major figures of the era were not quite the ladies and gentlemen we may think they were. They were ordinary people doing a extra-ordinary job of building a republic.

If you are into history, this is a good read.