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SHORT, FAT AND THIN: PRESIDENTS ARE HUMAN, TOO! (PART I) - Page 3

© William

In 1787, a Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to decide the future of the Articles of Confederation. It was there that Madison devised a plan that called for three branches of government (legislative, judicial and executive) and with a Congress empowered to tax, declare war and pass laws for the general welfare of the nation. This plan became the blueprint for a constitution.

Thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. But Madison’s job was not yet through. Each state had to ratify it for the Union to survive, but the Constitution would become effective after nine states gave their approval to the new document. Reaching the required number was problematic. Opponents argued for a bill of rights before they would negotiate. Madison, realizing this, proposed the addition of a bill of rights at the Virginia Ratification Convention of 1788. To fend off criticism, he pledged to draw up a series of amendments protecting individual freedom. The vote was close, but Madison and his allies won. The Constitution was ratified, and true to his word, Madison drew up the Bill of Rights, following his election to the US House of Representatives. Ten of Madison’s original fourteen amendments survived the ratification process, and was adopted in December 1791.

The frail and modest James Madison, who only 15 years earlier, had been unsure of his career plans, now found himself at the center of national attention.

He had firmly established himself, and in so doing, became the architect for our national system of government. The future looked bright for the now middle-aged Madison. Confident and assure, he took as his wife, Dolley Payne Todd in September of 1794. A 26 year old widow with a small son, Madison was 43 years old at the time of their marriage. Dolley was everything that James wasn’t. She was vivacious and outgoing, and proved to be an outstanding hostess. It proved to be not only a perfect match for the couple but for the country as well.

The fledgling nation went through its awkward growing pains. During this time, Madison’s friendship with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson grew into a working relationship. They viewed the Federalist Party, developed by Alexander Hamilton, as a threat to the agrarian republic they envisioned. With the outbreak of the French Revolution, political forces in America took sides. Working behind the scenes, Madison and Jefferson created a viable alternative party, the Democratic-Republican Party.

Tired of political wrangling, Madison left Congress and returned to the Virginia legislature. There, he pushed through Jefferson’s bill establishing religious freedom. During the turbulent administration of John Adams, Madison denounced the Alien and Sedition Acts as unconstitutional displays of political vengeance. Acting upon the advice of Jefferson, Madison wrote the Virginia Resolutions, which assumed states could ignore a law they deemed unconstitutional.

President James Madison (1809-1817)

President William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

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