James Madison - Garry Wills

Garry Wills

Category: Political

Narrator: Ira Claffey

Tags: Political, Autobiography & Biographies, Military

The eternal conundrum about James Madison - a key framer of the U.S. Constitution, a formidable political figure, and a man of penetrating analytical intellect and tremendous foresight - is why, when he became chief executive, did he steer the ship of state with such an unsteady hand? Why was this man, whose pre-and post-presidential careers contributed so significantly to the future course of American political history, so lackluster and ineffectual in his tenure as president? In this concise and readable examination of Madisons life and career, Garry Wills outlines the confluence of unfortunate circumstance, misplaced temperament, and outright poor judgment that bogged down Madisons presidency. Though a brilliant theoretician and effective legislator and collaborator, he was not a natural leader of men, and the absence of leadership was keenly felt during wartime. In fact, the War of 1812 was the first foreign war fought under the Constitution, and Madison was forced to adjust many o