CSPAN2 Book TV August 4, 2012
united states on many fronts. they hadn't funded the military, they didn't have a strong navy, and in the summer of 1814, the british seized control of the chesapeake bay area, they invaded the american mainland, took control of washington, d.c. and burned every single official building in washington including the white house. the british came to the treasury, they broke down the doors, and they smashed open every strongbox. and the only good news for the americans was there was nothing in it. [laughter] we were broke. and this, for those of you who keep track of the details, and the...
Source: archive.org