Thoughts on President James Madison

Hi all, I wanted to share my personal thoughts on the “Great Little Madison”.

James Madison is often overshadowed by Thomas Jefferson, yet Madison’s contribution to our Democratic Republic can be seen as more pivotal than even Jefferson’s. We know that he was the ‘Father of the Constitution’ (a title he often dismissed) and the fourth POTUS, but there’s so much more.

For example, though “the great little Madison” (as Dolley Madison referred to him) was the shortest President (5’4” tall) and soft spoken, he defeated the great orator Patrick Henry (who was so powerful that Washington once wrote to Madison saying that he “has only to say let this be Law—and it is Law.”) in his Anti-Federalist efforts to stop Virginia’s approval of the Constitution.

In 1789 Madison wrote George Washington’s first inaugural address, wrote the House’s response to it, then wrote Washington’s response to the House’s response.

After John Adams’ disregard of the Constitution with the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, Madison, along with Jefferson helped to defeat the Federalist Party and ensured it never held power again. This lead the way to the “Virginia Dynasty” of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, the three Virginia neighbors who lead the United States to a permanent Constitutional foundation of freedom. Three presidencies over a 24 year period. Madison would also go on to serve as our first wartime President and as such, our first Commander in Chief.

There is so much more that can be talked about concerning Madison and here, as the Friends of Madison, I’m really excited to learn more about him.  Despite the fact that we often view him as stoic and void of personality, we need to learn of his humanity, his humor (such as the mocking poems he wrote at Princeton), his faults and regrets (such as his his failure to emancipate enslaved people and his relationship with Payne Todd) and his joys (such as Dolley, his love of family, friends and the joy of learning). Jefferson proclaimed what this new American experiment ought to be, but it was Madison who thought it into existence.