Happy Birthday James Madison

Today we mark the anniversary of the birth of our countries 4th President, James Madison. As a kid the only thing I knew about President Madison was his wife’s name was Dolly, and she made great cup cakes.

James Madison was a member of that eternal fraternity we would later call “The Founding Fathers.” At the ripe old age of 36, Madison was the primary author of the united States Constitution; a distinction that would earn him the larger than life nickname of “Father of the Constitution.” James Madison was also the author of many of the Federalist Papers, which many feel was Madison’s efforts to strengthen the true meaning of the Constitution, due in part to early attempts to usurp the Constitutions original intent.

James Madison was an enigma to many because of his political swings back and forth throughout his life. As he wrote the Constitution (based on his participation in the creation of the Virginia Constitution), he originally resisted the need for the Bill of Rights, insisting they were not necessary. He would shift from a strict State’s rights proponent, to a reluctant advocate for a stronger central government, back to his original belief that stronger State’s rights and limited central government should be the order of the day.

Madison opinion of another Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, would also shift with time. Madison originally looked upon Alexander Hamilton has a threat to America’s new liberty, but would then enter into a restless relationship with Hamilton during the time of Federalist Paper and Madison’s Presidency.

Madison also had an unusually relationship with Thomas Jefferson. At first Madison and Jefferson did not get along very well. But later they would become very good friends, writing numerous, lengthy conversations back and forth to each other. During Jefferson presidency, Jefferson would come to rely on Madison’s advice, especially on matters of the Constitution.

In Madison we find a fair, intelligent, open-mind, yet cautious man. Madison possessed that rare combination of common-sense and intellect, who was not reluctant to listen to others, and when a convincing argument was made, change his mind. Not bad qualities then, or now.
Happy Birthday President Madison