James Madison

The fourth president of the United States, James Madison is often an overlooked founding father. Scholars note, however, that James Madison remains one of the most important figures in American history. Although he did not have a major hand in affairs during the Revolutionary War, James Madison had a hand in every major debate leading to the creation of the United States of America. As an extremely short and sickly individual, people never took notice of his power but he managed to outlive all of the founding fathers.

* James Madison gained the spotlight during the debate surrounding the constitutional convention because of his political genius and ability to get results. Madison helped to iron out many of the compromises that would eventually shape the Constitution. Though he usually did not partake in actual debates, when he spoke people always listened, expecting to hear a spark of genius.

* Possibly his most useful role during the constitutional debate was his role as a primary author of the Federalist Papers. Probably the most important set of American documents next to the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the Federalist Papers set to defuse the one-sided public debate against the passage of the Constitution. Written under the shade of anonymity, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton combined to write the bulk of the Federalist Papers helping to turn the tide of public opinion. Since Virginia was one of the last states to convene on the Constitution, he was able to leverage his earlier work to help the passage in his home state.

* James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were close friends, and many see Madison in the lineage of Jeffersonian democracy. Similarly, Madison grew to hate Hamilton, as their politics differed so drastically which further illuminates his ability and success in working with him. Many scholars note a dichotomy of sorts with James Madison who seemed to reverse many of central ideas later in life. Rather than seeing two Madisons, however, people should not the ability James Madison had to grow. Easily the most brilliant of the founding fathers–maybe besides Alexander Hamilton–James Madison was not afraid to change his position on a number of issues.

Individuals looking over James Madison to the more luminary figures of Virginia like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry is the way that he preferred it. Madison had an innate ability to control the spotlight while sitting outside of it and this may help to explain his difficulty during the presidency. In this light, many presidents who follow a great struggle, not so much as an indication of their inability to preform, but because of their inability to compare.