there's something, a congressman write letters home talking about meeting mrs. monroe. other women in washington recorded in their diaries meeting her. >> so there's a fair amount about her but we don't have really anything from her point of view which is very maddening. >> and what do we know from what we have about her relationship with her husband? >> they were absolutely devoted. they were apart for a couple of months here and there throughout their 44-year marriage, but usually they were together. >> there's a wonderful letter speaking of congressman samuel mitchell from new york wrote his wife that he had been at a dinner at the white house or at the president's house when jefferson was president and it was right before monroe left to go to france to negotiate what became the louisiana purchase. and mitchell wrote to his wife saying monroe has a fine conjugal feeling, he can't stand to be separated from his wife so he's taking her with him to go to europe. >> and that was pretty much their attitude. he was devoted to family as well and as i said before that's real

james monroe was here. henry clay. margaret smith. once while mrs. madison was serving at the head of the table the vice president offered to do the honors for her and she responded oh no, watch with what ease i do it. and he had to admit she did it with unparalleled ease. >> and looking at their life when they returned there, how was it compared to when they lived in the white house? >> i think they were besieged by people who wanted to associate themselves with the mad sons. many visitors in addition to -- political visitors in addition to family and friend. sort of like the washingtons and the jeffersons. everybody wanted to meet the great percentages. so they had people in the house with them. not only relatives but many political visitors as well. >> she was devoted to him and getting his papers together in that role. was she happy doing that? >> yes, that the point she loved her husband very much. that is where he wanted to stay and so she stayed as well. the descriptions of her at this time weren't the same. she's described as content, adam an

once while mrs. madison was serving at the head of the table, the vice president elbridge gerry offered to do the honors for her. and she responded, no, watch with what ease i do it. and indeed, he had to admit that she did it with unparalleled ease. it was as if he said, she had been born and educated in versailles. >> and looking at their life when they returned there, how was it for them compared to when they lived in the white house? >> well, i think they were besieged by people who wanted to associate themselves with the madisons. many visitors, in addition to, i mean, political visitors in addition to family and friends sort of like the washingtons and the jeffersons, everybody wanted to meet the great personages. so they always had people, you know, in the house with them, not only their relatives but also many, many political visitors as well. >> she was clearly devoted to him and so important to him in getting all of his papers together and that a very important role. was she happy there, do

mr. solis. >> thank you, mr. chairman. and appreciate, again, the witnesses, your testimony. ms. lolly, in particular, i just want to express my condolences for the loss of your mother cheryl at the nursing home in monroe. i represent, in my district, i have the lamouth house in new orleans and i think a lot of people, early off, that was one of the nursing homes with the highest number of deaths per capita. probably around 25 deaths there and, you know, they stopped counting the way that we could find a true number. but devastating as well. we were able to get some guidance from cdc to help them out. but, as you point out, a lot of that. not even being able to visit your mother. i can't imagine how tough that had to be. so my condolences to you. and, you know, let's use this to find out how we can do better. and that's really where it gets to some of the things i've talked about earlier, and i surely want to dig deeper into this question. because we still have seniors dying at nursing homes, that shouldn't be. you know, clearly with covid out there, people shut in that are getti

mr. scalise. >> thank you, mr. chairman. and appreciate again the witnesses, your testimony. miss lolley in particular, i just want to express my condolences for the loss of your mother cheryl at the nursing home in monroe. i represent, in my district, i have the lament house in new orleans and early off that was one of the nursing homes with the highest number of deaths per capita, probably around 25 deaths there and they stopped counting the way that we could find a true number, but devastating as well we were able to get some guidance from c.d.c. but not being able to visit your mother, i can't imagine how it you have that would be. my condolences to you. let's use this to find out how we can do better. and that goes to some things i talked about earlier and surely want to dig into this deeper. we still are having people dying in nursing homes that shouldn't be. and people who are shutting at home and are getting it and we've stemmed the curve and starting to see a climb. the hospitals are not overrun like some of them were and now we're starting to reopen. we need to keep