The next book is about the siblings of the presidents, and I have been working on the first Virginia presidents for the past few months; went to Virginia and was in heaven in all the homes and museums–and the Jefferson Library. When I came out of the library into the wild freshness of a Virginia winter, I was so filled with joy I wanted to twirl around like Julie Andrews on a mountaintop.
I am continually astounded at how the presidents–and often their families, too–gave everything they had for this country, usually winding up in disastrous debt and dying in poverty. I keep thinking of George Washington’s sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Fielding Lewis. Fielding gave his entire fortune to build an ammunition and gun factory, and died just days after he learned of Cornwallis’ defeat. Betty had little after his death, but what a blessing they learned about America’s victory before he died.
Would I have been willing to give up everything for a new country? Would I have been a sunshine patriot? I don’t know. But I do know that I, too,–and we–have a sacred responsibility to this country…now, more than ever.
