Forcing workers and their spouses out of the plans that they like. TaxesCompanies Say that and government mandates make it more difficult to hire, and doctors warned that the law does not come close to addressing the real problems in the health care system. This is not working as promised and the president knows this. Busy handing out waivers and delays. Protectans want to everyone from the Health Care Loss we can focus on stepby step reforms that actually lower costs. We think it is only clear only fair to give all americans the same breaks the president is giving big businesses. President obamas Energy Policies are not our concern. Republicans have in all of the above Energy Strategy that will lower prices and boost manufacturing, and improve National Security. Is blockingident chances to make energy more affordable, such as the Keystone Energy pipeline. Been five years since the keystone application was first filed. This has passed every environmental review. No taxpayer dollars involved, and it has bipartisan support in congress. So why is the Obama Administration still in the way of this shovel ready project. People in my district are worried about the size and scope of the federal government, and worry that the threat of higher taxes and red tape are choking the engines of our economy. Republicans want to get spending under control and simplify the tax code, making it more flat and more fair for everyone. We have passed several jobs bills to bring common sense oversight to the regulatory process. With tax hikes and similar style policies that have left us with weaker job growth and stagnant paychecks. Again, we have to ask, why . If theres one thing weve heard about is that people Want Congress to focus on expanding opportunities instead of expanding the government. Republican tax plan and you can see this at gop. Gov jobs. This is focused on putting americans back in the driver seat. We want to make sure that the workers this weekend they can continue to do what theyre doing this weekend, building and preserving the American Dream for future generations. At the next washington journal, we speak with the head about the possible intervention in syria and data programs. We will hear from gordon adams, the former policy professor at the school of International Services, and the likelihood of u. S. Military intervention. Then a look at the history of chemical and biological weapons including how they have been the with amy smithin from these will be on w ashington journal here on c span. Times if the most fun ever had was 2006, it look like democrats were going to take back over the house. It was looking bad for republicans. And Vice President cheney wanted to know if we would come over and have breakfast with them. They wanted to know if we would have rectus with them. It was unbelievable how much he had been to so many of these districts over the years. But basically, he was asking us how bad is this . And we said this is pretty bad. There were the caucuses of both sides. We got to see the inside players. With 30 years as a political analyst, he has tracked every congressional race since 1984. See the rest of his interview at sunday night on sunday night on cspan. In a few moments, highlights from season one of our series, first ladies. Then a conversation with chas fagan, about a painting for the series. And president obamas remarks on the situation in syria. Our series first ladies influence and image, traveled to historical sites associated with first ladies. Before George Washington became president while he was away fighting the revolutionary war,Martha Washington ran their plantation and their home, mount vernon. It is clear that martha arrived at mount vernon in 1859 and there was a lot of management that she had to do. When she married George Washington, she brings with her to mount vernon 12 housemates. That is really almost unimaginable luxury. These are slaves that are for the most part, not field labor, not producing crops, which is where your income is coming from. They are doing things like cooking, serving at table, clean the house, doing the laundry, doing selling, this is not productive labor in the sense that it is not productive income. She brings them with her and she brings Financial Resources to the marriage as well as her managerial skills. It makes mount vernon a Successful Operation and it makes it possible for washington to be away for eight years fighting a war. The fact that he has this support system that enables him to volunteer his time and talents to run the revolution is clearly critical. First, a farm manager, who during most literal revolution is a distant cousin of washington. Then run by washington as a nephew. Washingtons nephew. And then it is run by his niece. I think that tells you about the closeness of the family relationship. It is clear that what they are at mount vernon with Martha Washington, she does take charge. Since her interaction with the slaves, she is interacting with the cooks in the kitchen, the maids serving in the house. There are also slave women who are spinning on a continual basis to produce yarn. She supervises what the gardners are doing. Martha was a great lover of gardens and having flowers. She liked having a kitchen where she could go out and bring in vegetables for what they were going to serve at mount vernon. She was the one planning the menus. There were a lot of levels that she is working with. It is a big operation her whole life. The room that we refer to and show off in the mansion as the washingtons bedchamber is the room in the south wing of the mansion that was started in 1775 right before George Washington left to participate in the Continental Congress and the revolutionary war. George washington always referred to it as open quote mrs. Washingtons chamber and as mrs. Washingtons chamber and it is always referred to as her area. She spent time in that chamber, doing her hour of spiritual meditation. Perhaps later in the date writing letters, talking with her coax her cooks to plan menus for the day, giving assignments she also use that room for teaching the children, telling them stories. You can imagine how wonderful it would have been in that room. One of the most notable pieces is the bed in that bed chamber. That is the bed on which George Washington died. But we also know that Martha Washingtons had a role in acquiring that bad. Another piece in the room had a very close connection with Martha Washington, her desk. Although very little of the correspondence between george and washington george and Martha Washington has survived, because they savored their private correspondence. Two letters had been found that had slipped behind one of the drawers in that desk. That is the preserver of that little bit of very personal correspondence. It is not just the place where she slept. I cant picture her sitting in her easy chair by the fire i can really picture her sitting in her easy chair by the fire with her grandchildren around. And i imagine it mustve been very comfortable for her. Before she became first lady in 1797 and during her early married life, Abigail Adams spent her time in quincy, massachusetts. The story of Abigail Adams in the revolutionary war is a story of sacrifice, commitment to country, and abigail rose to the occasion. For the first 10 years of their married life, john and abigail lived in this home from 1764 1774. It is where they raised their four children. That was the birthplace of their second child, john quincy adams, who went on to become the sixth president of the United States. It was also an important home because the primary link between she and john adams, who was serving in philadelphia at with the second Continental Congress was the letter writing. It was from this house that she was provided a window back here that he was provided a window back here of what was happening in the colonies during the war. She would report to him about the militia. During the battle of bunker hill and emptied 75, she took her young son to the high point the in 1775, she took her young son to the high point of the hill and would watch the battle. She would report to john adams about what was happening. She was literally the eyes of the colony in that area. This room in particular could be considered the classroom for abigail, the schoolmistress, and her four children. One must remember that the schools were closed down. The children did not benefit from a formal education. Instead it was up to abigail to teach the lessons. Not only of arithmetic and french, but also plurality, literature, and what was going on in the revolutionary war. She was there educator and this was the room where many of those losses would have taken place. She reported to john adams during the revolution are at revolution at one point that she began to take up the works of lawless into history. Rollins ancient history. I know if anyone has ever read it, but for a 7yearold boy to accomplish this, he had a very good instructor in Abigail Adams. Ever the patriot, Abigail Adams opened a home next door, john adamss birthplace, for refugees. She rented out the house to a farmer, mr. Hayden, and his son. They would provide for her here. She reported in one of the letters that she met with have with very ill treatment. She asked mr. Hayden to share his house with the refugees, but he refused. By the time she received a response from john adams, like many things, she had taken care of the problem. She had paid mr. Hayden to leave the premises and therefore, could provide for the refugees herself in the house. She reports to john that again Young John Quincy is marching out behind house behind the militia. She welcomed these militiamen to her home and supported the revolutionary war with her actions. In 77, abigail realize they have outgrown their Battle College cottage. She began to negotiate with her cousin to purchase the house youre standing in front of right now. John adams enjoyed a lot of peace and tranquility in this home, as did abigail, so he christened it peace field. There were two smaller bedrooms on the third floor and a small kitchen at the back of the house. There were about seven and a half rooms to this home essentially. This was their home base. Before becoming first lady, have a bill would spend nine years in this house. The first year, she was essentially setting up the house after just returning from europe. She had remembered this house as one of the grand houses in quincy, but her perception of grand had changed since living in europe. She began making plans for a way to enlarge the house. She wanted to improve on the size and height of the ceilings and the size of the space. She would tell her daughter not to wear any of her large hats because the ceilings were too low. She began working with architects to enlarge the size of the home, in effect, doubling the size, adding a long haul and along entertainment room where she would receive her guests. The sensitivity to the architecture on the outside and the flow of the home, she had the builder dig down so they could lower the floors and get the high ceilings that she desired without disrupting the architecture on the outside of the house. You step down two steps and you are in a different world. A typical day for abigail would be to rise at 5 00 a. M. She had many chores to do and much of her child a time was spent attending the farm, taking care of the orchard, and taking care of the house. She also loved those Early Morning hours to spend by herself, preparing herself for the day. But most importantly, having a chance to indulge in one of her novels. Although this is a president ial home, it is the home of a family. Abigail, instead of having servants do the work for her, even as the first lady, she would also be contributing to the kitchen and the running of the household. This is something she continued throughout her life, no matter what her position was. She was very involved. She had children and grandchildren visiting her here and this was a very active and lively household. She also spent a great deal of her time writing, because their misfortune in being a part was our fortune. In one letter, when he is asking her to come to a philadelphia, have a deal with right of the room she was in and the window and the view that she saw. The beauty that unfolds outside of the window of which are now right tensley to forget the past, an indication that while she was back at peace field, she was on a new beginning as the first lady of the United States, as the wife of the president , and still as a mother. She would describe life here at peace field so romantically that john adams would reply in one of his letters, oh, sweet little farm, what i would do to enjoy the thee without interruption. The lettis letter is one that everyone associates with Abigail Adams. What is lesserknown and fascinating about the letter is the comments that come quite far down in the letter. The first section of her letter to john is questioning and voicing her concerns about vas role in the revolutionary war. She writes, what sort of defense virginia can make against our common enemy, whether it is those situated as to make enable the fence, but are not the gentry lords and Common People baffles, are there unlike the gentry . And she points out more. Of this i am certain, that it is not founded upon that generous and christian principle of doing to others as we would that others should do unto us. Brought up as a quicker, Dolly Madison was known for her warm hospitality, social graces, and sense of elegance and style. If you were a visitor, you would enter at the front door and be shown immediately into the madisons great drawing room. Mrs. Madison had many lady friends that she would invite your. Margaret bayard smith was a favorite of hers, and the daughter of Thomas Jefferson were also frequent visitors. It also include her own family, her sisters especially, anna and lucy. They were always welcome guests, who often stayed for extended visit here at mount year. Montpelier. In the drawing room, you see many of the faces of american states mint, but also entities like the bust of athena, the declaration of independence, and the nurture of homework, and they need a miniature of homer, and then you have a painting that was 200 years old even when it madisons purchase it. In blending the classic and the american, they are trying to place in america in the Important Role of history. This is where they would have dinner. They would have a chance to meet one another, conversed socially and casually, and then they might be invited to dine in the dining room. After supper, the ladies would then adjourn back into the drawing room. Maybe they would serve some coffee and tea. This was the social center of the house. If you were an invited guest of the madisons or part of the intimate circle of family or friends, you would be invited into the dining room from the drawing room. And here, Dolly Madison would in an unusual setting for the timeframe set at the head of the table and her husband, james, would sit at the center of the table. Dolly would direct in, it with direct the conversation and james would be able to engage in intimate conversation with the people immediately to his right and left. This table today is that for eight people, but there could be as many as 20 people served in the dining room. That would not be unusual. And indeed, Dolly Madison considered dining at maag pier to be so much more relaxing than entertaining in washington. She said she would rather serve 100 people here than 25 in washington. Many historical figures were here with the medicines. James monroe is here, general lafayette, henry clay, margaret bayard smith, Dolly Madisons good friend and writer from washington. Once, the Vice President offered to do the honors for her what she was sitting at the head of the table. And she responded, oh, no, watch with what each id do it, and indeed he said, he had to admit the ease with which she did it. It was if, he said, that she was born in paris. Here we have very creation of something that we still have. This is typically of typical of the style of the day. A jazz classic lines, a simple trade, and a much more simple and elegant fashion than that either before or after it. This is what she would have worn while she was the first lady. It was the regency style. But many of the dresses were more elegant. This represents what she wore at her inaugural. This was James Madisons first inaugural. And it is described as a symbol of velvet. And she wore pearls simple, obhof velva it. And she wore pearls. It was an indication of the dining that you would find in the courts of europe. Dolly was setting a style that was unique to american fashion. A lot of people think that dolly set the fashion of the turban. And that is not quite true. It began in persia, and it moved through france and england. But dolly popularized the style and it was considered her top a classic look, to where some extravagant turbaned often topped with feathers on top of her head. And sometimes, they thought her fashion was a little too regal. There is one instance where she wore something that was lined in hermine. And she had some guilt edging in her turban. And people said this was overstepping things. She looked to rebuild, to queenly. And they were afraid thatqueen dolly was setting they were afraid t