James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Liberty & Learning - Index

Writing a proof of the falsehood of the Mass of odious Abuse of my Character,
with which News Papers, private Letters and public Pamphlets and Histories have
been disgraced for thirty Years.” 3 For those unwilling to tackle the challenge of
the written word, McCullough’s lengthy work was transformed by Home Box
Office into an easily manageable mini-series featuring the acclaimed actor, Paul
Giamatti. The founders, it seems, have become prime-time fare.
A renaissance in nonfiction literature about the origins of America should
not be altogether unexpected in times of political and social turmoil. 4 After the
September 11 attacks against the United States, the nation’s citizenry naturally
sought a reaffirmation of the nation’s long-held republican principles. The founders,
they discovered, still provided timeless wisdom and showed a remarkable
perseverance during their own equally difficult times. Through a careful study
and understanding of their lives, it is possible to confront modern realities with
renewed courage and a sense of conviction.
One of our nation’s greatest leaders, though, has remained conspicuously absent
from the best-seller lists and from popular history. James Madison remains in the
shadows of the past, unjustly portrayed as a mere acolyte to the great Thomas Jefferson.
In a letter to Benjamin Rush in 1790, Jefferson himself remarked on this
absurdity. Jefferson described Madison as “the greatest man in the world.” 5 Their
friendship, which spanned six decades, was one of equals.
It is perplexing that Madison appears to have been forgotten, while so many
of his contemporaries have been resurrected from obscurity. Even a recent, albeit
modest, 164-page biography about Madison failed to do this great patriot justice
or provide him with suitable respect. Published as part of a larger series on
American Presidents, the book inexplicably featured a full-page picture of James
Monroe (instead of Madison) opposite its title page. 6
In today’s celebrity culture, charisma and fame have become confused for substance
and significance. James Madison would not have fared well in such a
media-driven culture. His writings were scholarly, his arguments nuanced, and
his allegories classical. Worse, he was short in physical stature and unassuming
in public venues. Yet Madison remains a true visionary who keenly understood
human nature, complete with all of its flaws and foibles. He fully realized the
dangers inherent in the concentration of power, in the potential of tyrannies of
the majority, and in the lust for popularity. Thus it was James Madison who
carefully orchestrated the design for a government that would provide stability
for society, control the unrestrained passions of its people, and maximize human
2