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The White House S01E03 (2026) [Full Movie] [Full Episodes]Full EP - Full
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00:04Well, I'll be damned.
00:19Go check it.
00:33Meaty-eyed little bastard.
00:40Your Excellency, I thought you'd wipe away what looks like birdshed with the British flag captured by our valiant troops
00:54at Yorktown.
00:56Oh, my God, I'm so sorry, Your Excellency.
01:00Don't be.
01:02We fought a whole war for the right to wipe our asses with that rag.
01:07Maybe next time use the newspaper.
01:12More than I've read.
01:21I'll be honest with you, Freeman, here at the White House I prefer to hire white servants, even though on
01:32occasion some of them let me down.
01:37But Dr. Baker tells me you are both diligent and discreet.
01:43The last of those two is something I value highly.
01:47Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion.
01:53Even a prudent enemy is preferable.
01:58De La Fontaine.
02:02Slave, quoting French poetry.
02:05C'est fantastique.
02:07I can see why your master recommended you to me.
02:10There's something a lot to say is all.
02:14When Jefferson moves in to the White House, he essentially rents a slave from a friend of his, a doctor,
02:24for about $8 a month.
02:25The name of the slave is beyond ironic.
02:30John Freeman.
02:32John Freeman had a unique view of American politics.
02:38He had a front row seat to the founding of the United States and the country and the government as
02:46we know it today.
02:49You're a smart man, John.
02:55Just remember this.
02:59All that you see within these four walls, the words you hear, are never to be repeated.
03:13Your secrets are mine.
03:15And should I fail you, let me be struck down.
03:22In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became president.
03:26The White House, thank God, is a bit more built.
03:30Construction has continued.
03:32But it must have seemed very lonely and isolated.
03:36So, thank goodness, in 1801, James and Dolly came to town.
03:42It's taken months to arrive, but they finally installed it last week.
03:47Designed by Alexander Cumming of Edomar.
03:50Oh.
03:52Well, there was me thinking you only hired Scotsman to rake shit up.
03:56Dolly.
03:57Oh, I am so sorry, Your Excellency.
04:02I must remember my manners.
04:04Now you are the president of the supposedly United States.
04:16Well, it's very impressive.
04:19I, for one, shall be glad not to make the track out the back lawn in the middle of the
04:23snowstorm.
04:25Quite so.
04:27Now, let me show you the rest of the changes.
04:32Jefferson, among the many things that he did, he was an architect.
04:37And the White House was a remarkable opportunity for him to put his own personal stamp on the building.
04:45Here we have the new portico.
04:48And this.
04:51This is where we plant a new West Wing.
04:55Well, it's very impressive, Thomas, but do we have the money for all of these improvements?
05:01James Madison has just been selected by Thomas Jefferson as his Secretary of State.
05:07James Madison is a very thoughtful person.
05:10He's known as the father of the U.S. Constitution.
05:12There were critics who made fun of him because of his lack of height.
05:18They called him Little Jimmy, five foot four.
05:22The costs will likely exceed the $14,000 Congress approved for the changes made by Adams.
05:30But I, we, shall charm him.
05:39There's something I would ask of you, Dottie.
05:43With your husband's permission.
05:45Oh, yes, of course.
05:50What is it, Thomas?
05:55Martha's death, almost many years ago, has robbed me, not only of my wife, but of a partner in this
06:05new endeavor.
06:07Guiding light, illuminate this drab cathedral.
06:15I'm not sure I understand, Thomas.
06:19The British is sending over a new ambassador.
06:23Anthony Mary.
06:24And I am supposed to welcome him by giving a dinner here at the President's house.
06:32I would like you to be the hostess.
06:34Me?
06:37Why?
06:39Well, is there a woman in America better suited?
06:42You are clever.
06:44Beautiful.
06:46Widely admired for your sense of style.
06:50And, crucially, you love parties.
06:53And I...
06:55do not.
06:59Dolly is extroverted.
07:01Dolly loves the social scene.
07:05She was particularly valuable during the Jefferson era because Thomas Jefferson was a widower.
07:11His wife, Martha, died in 1782.
07:14And there was really no first lady to speak of.
07:18People always talk about what a figure she cut, how beautiful she looked, with a warm, lovely, hospitable personality.
07:28Oh, I don't know, Thomas.
07:32Our house here in Washington is still unfinished.
07:34Our belongings are scattered in boxes.
07:37There's already so much I need to do.
07:40Well, that brings me neatly to my next request.
07:43I want you both to stay here till your house is ready.
07:46God knows there's enough space.
07:49I won't take no for an answer.
07:53Well, of course, we'd be delighted.
07:55Wouldn't we, Dolly?
07:59Wonderful.
08:00Wonderful!
08:02Must inform the staff.
08:09You didn't have to say yes.
08:12Of course I did. You didn't give us an option.
08:16Anyways, it's not so bad.
08:18But they got indoor privies.
08:38Hello?
08:39Hello?
08:40Hello?
08:41I'm looking for...
08:43Mr. Meyer?
08:45Mayor?
08:46Mayor!
08:47I'm looking for Edward Mayor!
08:51I'm Mayor!
09:02Who the bloody hell are you?
09:05Freeman.
09:06John.
09:07And where did you steal this uniform from?
09:11Freeman.
09:12John.
09:12I didn't steal nothing, sir.
09:14I'm the employer of Mr. Jefferson.
09:16Same as you.
09:18Let's find the truth of it then.
09:20John Freeman comes to the White House.
09:22He's really kind of a butler.
09:25Now, many of the enslaved Africans that came to the White House, Jefferson kept them in the background.
09:32But John Freeman was treated equally to his white servants.
09:39Well, we don't know why they'd bother putting doors on this place if anyone and everyone's just gonna keep marching
09:46in.
09:46What is it, Mayor?
09:47And why are you manhandling Freeman?
09:51Then this man is, as he says, in your employ?
09:56Indeed.
09:57What are they?
10:01He's black.
10:02Self-evidently.
10:05And he wears the same uniform as I.
10:08If you have a point, Mayor, come to it.
10:15I won't wear the same uniform as an ape.
10:22You feel passionately about this?
10:27I do.
10:28Well, then.
10:36You are relieved of your duties immediately.
10:38What?
10:39Your wages will be sent to you in due course.
10:42Goodbye, sir.
10:43Goodbye, sir.
10:50Well, don't just stand there, Freeman, about your duties.
10:55Throughout his entire life, Thomas Jefferson had contradictory actions when it came to slavery.
11:03Even as a lawyer, he argued cases against slavery, and he argued cases for slavery.
11:11Why, Thomas?
11:12Why, Thomas?
11:16You know why.
11:18Why, Thomas?
11:26Why, Thomas?
11:37Why, Thomas?
11:37Why, Thomas?
11:41Why, Thomas?
11:43Why, Thomas?
11:43Because an old friend needs an invitation.
11:48Sir!
11:49Stop!
11:51There you are.
11:56Go andā¦
11:58gonna get out.
11:59I'm so sorry, Your Excellency. You just pushed past me, Andrew.
12:03All right, John. You may leave this gentleman with me.
12:10James Callender wants compensation for a fine that he had to pay in addition to being put into prison.
12:17James Callender is such an interesting character because he did all of this dirty work for Jefferson.
12:24So, what brings you to Washington? Have the distilleries of Richmond run dry?
12:32I've got to take up my post.
12:35I'm sorry, James. To which post are you referring?
12:39When Callender is sprung from jail, he asked Jefferson for a plum post in the federal government.
12:46He wanted to be postmaster of Richmond, Virginia.
12:49And Jefferson had realized that Callender might be a little unreliable.
12:54Callender had a drinking problem that was well known.
12:59It was this hand that placed you in that seat.
13:06My pen.
13:11Now, imagine, for just a second, if I let it slip that all those articles I wrote, savaging your rivals,
13:20were sponsored, written, and paid for by the newly installed president.
13:33I went to prison, Thomas.
13:37Your enemies put me behind bars.
13:41And you?
13:44You left me there, dangling in the wind.
13:52Now, you will recompense me.
13:58The truth is, Mr. Callender,
14:04that I don't know what you're talking about.
14:08I can only assume prisoners disordered your memory.
14:14I was happy, as president, to pardon you, but that is the very limit of my goodwill.
14:22I suggest you leave now, Mr. Callender.
14:25Find a boarding house.
14:27Take a bath, Beth.
14:45Politicians, all the same.
14:49You assume you're undodgable,
14:50but everyone has secrets.
14:54And my singular gift
14:56is finding them.
15:25There are some stains
15:28that never fade.
15:42Clean it up.
15:46And never, ever
15:48let that man
15:51into this building again.
15:55Thomas Jefferson was
15:57not a warm man.
15:59He kept his emotions
16:01close.
16:01In fact, he probably
16:03did not like to feel emotions.
16:05Because when he felt them,
16:06he felt them very deeply.
16:08On the one hand,
16:09he doesn't like interpersonal conflict.
16:12On the other hand,
16:14he puts himself
16:15at the center
16:16of some of the chief
16:17political conflicts
16:19of the early republic.
16:29One of the stories
16:31that really just epitomizes
16:33Jefferson's personality
16:37is something that's known
16:38as the Merry Affair.
16:42And it has to do
16:44with the British ambassador,
16:45Anthony Murray.
16:58Is there nobody here
16:59to announce us?
17:02Outside a quagmire?
17:05Well, inside.
17:06Well.
17:10This.
17:12This is the epicenter
17:13of their new country.
17:18Come.
17:18We are the king's representatives.
17:20Well, the king doesn't have
17:21to attend parties
17:22in a bog swamp.
17:25Oh, God.
17:26What?
17:27They're not going to make us
17:28drink American wine,
17:29are they?
17:30I don't think such a thing
17:31exists, my dear.
17:32Oh, small mercy.
17:44It's a burgundy.
17:46In France.
17:47In England?
17:49Staff only speak
17:50when spoken to.
17:56Sweet Lord, that one.
18:00I've seen shorter giraffes.
18:03Shame on you, Thomas.
18:06That is Ambassador Mary's
18:07wife, Elizabeth.
18:10Do you suppose she lets him
18:11sit on her lap?
18:19Unfortunately, when Anthony
18:21and Mary showed up,
18:22he was walking into
18:23a hornet's nest
18:24because Jefferson
18:25hated the British.
18:27He had gotten himself
18:29really in debt
18:30with British merchants,
18:32and he resented that.
18:34Mrs. Mary,
18:36Ambassador.
18:38Mr. President,
18:40you have a fine
18:41new home here.
18:44Of course, it can't compare
18:45with the vast palaces
18:46your king moves between,
18:48but...
18:49You must be delighted
18:50with how well
18:51your new presidency
18:52has begun,
18:53Mr. Jefferson.
18:54Well, um...
18:55I recall reading
18:56not that long ago
18:57in one of your
18:59newspapers
19:00that if you were elected,
19:02that,
19:02and I memorized
19:03the exact words.
19:06The air will be rent
19:07with the cries
19:08of the distressed.
19:09The soil will be
19:10soaked with blood,
19:11and the nation
19:12black with crimes.
19:15Murder, robbery,
19:17rape, adultery,
19:18and incest
19:19will be openly
19:20taught and practiced.
19:22It is quite a curriculum.
19:26The press here
19:27ride as they please.
19:29We call it free speech.
19:32the first amendment
19:34in our Bill of Rights.
19:37Perhaps you've heard of it.
19:39Mrs. Mary,
19:41Mr. Ambassador,
19:43let me introduce you
19:44to a few more guests
19:45before dinner is served.
19:53I know that face.
19:56Whatever you're thinking,
19:57don't do it.
19:59We need to court the British.
20:01keep them close.
20:04Even if they provoke us.
20:08Quite so, James.
20:10We must know our place.
20:29this must be some sort
20:31of mistake.
20:32They haven't set the cards out yet.
20:34We'll be at the head
20:35of the table
20:35with Mr. Jefferson.
20:39There is no mistake.
20:40They've invited us here
20:42with the intention
20:42of humiliating us.
20:46Anthony and Elizabeth Mary
20:48are both rather stuffy.
20:51And Thomas Jefferson
20:52is notorious
20:53for being informal.
20:58And instead of having
20:59any formal seating,
21:03people would just sit
21:05as they called it,
21:06tell-mell,
21:06which is,
21:07you find your own seats.
21:10Jefferson,
21:10as the host,
21:12he should have escorted
21:13Elizabeth Mary,
21:15but instead he grabs
21:16Dolly
21:16and it becomes
21:17a whole scandal.
21:18Quickly,
21:19Anthony,
21:19quick.
21:27Mes amis,
21:29Anglais,
21:30how is the
21:30bourgundie wine?
21:31Worse,
21:32the ambassador
21:33from France
21:34is there
21:34and Great Britain
21:36and France
21:36are currently
21:37at war
21:37with one another.
21:39Mary feels like
21:40these are purposeful
21:41slights
21:42aimed at the British
21:44and it really creates
21:45a diplomatic crisis
21:46for the Jefferson
21:48administration
21:49at the very time
21:50that America
21:51and Great Britain
21:52are on the verge
21:53of a major trade war
21:55with one another.
21:56This is an outrage.
21:58I think we should
21:59leave immediately.
22:00We're not going anywhere.
22:01We've already
22:02retreated once
22:02from this country.
22:04If there's a battle
22:05he wants,
22:05it's a battle
22:06we shall have.
22:09You should not
22:10have done this,
22:11Thomas.
22:17Dolly Madison
22:18was criticized.
22:19What is this
22:20woman doing
22:22stepping in
22:23as if she is
22:24the wife
22:24of the president?
22:26It's inappropriate.
22:28And what does
22:29Madison think of it?
22:31Why does he allow
22:32his wife
22:33to go off
22:34and do this?
22:39Well,
22:40that's President Byrne.
22:43I suppose
22:44this is what we get
22:45for having
22:45freedom of the press.
22:47and would you like
22:49me to continue?
22:53If you must.
22:57The allegations,
22:58there are many
22:59and lurid.
23:00But to summarize,
23:02they state that
23:03you and
23:04Mrs. Madison
23:05are in a relationship
23:07and that
23:08Mrs. Madison
23:09and her sister
23:10are routinely
23:11pimped out
23:12to foreign
23:13dignitaries
23:14to secure
23:14political favor
23:15by you.
23:18It couldn't
23:19possibly be true.
23:21Dolly Madison
23:22getting pimped out
23:23by Jefferson
23:24to men,
23:25that's crazy.
23:34Have the
23:35Madison's
23:35read these lies?
23:37Yeah.
23:37They have.
23:38They packed up
23:39all their belongings
23:40and left for
23:41alternative lodgings
23:42in town
23:43an hour ago.
23:46Damn,
23:47calendar.
23:51I must stop
23:52them.
24:16God, Thomas,
24:17what are you doing?
24:18You left
24:19without saying
24:20anything.
24:20We had no choice.
24:22It's all nonsense.
24:24You know,
24:25there's nothing
24:26between Dolly
24:27and me.
24:28How could that be?
24:29You're my
24:29dearest friends.
24:31It's not about
24:32what we know,
24:33Thomas.
24:34It's about
24:34what people think.
24:36The disgusting
24:37things they said
24:38about my sister
24:39and me.
24:40About us.
24:42Some people
24:43will believe that.
24:45You asked,
24:46Callender
24:47to start a fire
24:47and now
24:48it is raging
24:49out of control.
24:50The lies
24:51he spreads today
24:52are just that.
24:54Lies.
24:55Tomorrow,
24:56he may hit
24:57upon the truth.
25:01He need only
25:01go to your home
25:02at Monticello
25:03and ask
25:04the right questions.
25:06There was
25:07something else
25:07going on as well,
25:08a little bit
25:08of a secret.
25:09of a secret.
25:11Jefferson
25:12believed
25:13and hoped
25:13that he could
25:14keep it quiet.
25:16You think
25:17you can control
25:17the press.
25:19You cannot.
25:35Captain Lewis.
25:39My thanks
25:40for arriving
25:41so promptly.
25:42It was urgent.
25:43It is.
25:45It is.
25:46I have a special
25:47mission for you.
25:50One that requires
25:51the utmost
25:52discretion.
25:55Meriwether Lewis
25:56is a close
25:57family friend
25:58of Thomas Jefferson.
26:00He had been
26:00in the military
26:02and when Jefferson
26:03was president
26:04he realized
26:04he needed
26:05to hire
26:05a secretary
26:06and he'd come
26:07to admire
26:07and respect him.
26:09Thought he could
26:09trust him.
26:11You understand
26:11what's required.
26:13I won't let you
26:14down, sir.
26:22Mr. Callender?
26:48Keep this brief,
26:51Mr. Callender.
26:54I've been authorized
26:55by an interested body
26:56to offer you
26:56the sum of
26:57fifty dollars
27:00in exchange
27:01for this
27:02one-time fee
27:03or stop writing
27:04any more articles
27:05about President
27:06Jefferson,
27:07his officials
27:08and their families.
27:12I was told
27:13you were in
27:13the army
27:14at one time,
27:14Mr. Lewis.
27:19I wish
27:19the boys
27:20in the barracks
27:20couldn't get enough
27:21of you.
27:23Those blue eyes.
27:27The curls.
27:30Last time
27:31I saw you
27:31like that
27:32was underneath
27:32the regions
27:33of a Parisian
27:34whore.
27:38I won't be
27:39paid a calendar.
27:41He'll accept
27:42this payment
27:42and desist
27:43from your line.
27:49the problem is,
27:51captain,
27:54is that fifty dollars
27:55is such a very
27:57paltry sum of money
27:59for such a big ask.
28:01It's barely enough
28:02to keep a man
28:03in ailing oats
28:04for a month.
28:04Here,
28:07my appetites
28:08are prodigious.
28:12As
28:13have learned
28:15are your
28:17masters.
28:20See,
28:21Jefferson
28:21has a young woman
28:23in his employ
28:24at Monticello.
28:28an attractive
28:30black woman.
28:34A slave.
28:40Now I have
28:41your attention,
28:42captain Lewis.
28:45And soon
28:47I will have
28:49the whole
28:49of America.
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