Hamilton and Wake are good recommendations. We loved the Hamilton campus (it is cold up there).
Three other schools that I think are outstanding for your area of interest: Dickinson College in PA (very beautiful too); Holy Cross in Worcester, MA; and William and Mary. Academics in general at these are as strong as anywhere. And specifically in your field of interest. And DC programs to boot. I always like to point out that Robert Gates, James Comey, Jen Psaki, John Stewart, and Serge Kovaleski (Pulitzer Prize winning NYT journalist) are all W&M grads (Glenn Close too). Jon Favreau (not the actor) was Obama’s top speechwriter not long after leaving Holy Cross.
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/twc/
https://www.wm.edu/offices/dccenter/
Good luck!