James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney

James Madison is more famous for his role in developing the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights than for his accomplishments as our fourth president. in James Madison: A Life Reconsidered, historian Lynne Cheney presents a compelling and sympathetic portrait of Madison, arguing that his greatness lies in more than just his “fatherhood” of the Constitution, but also in his roles as congressman, co-founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, Secretary of State, and, of course, as President.

Cheney’s book is well-written and enjoyable to read. Rather than give a full overview of the book, I thought I would point out a few things I learned and conclude with some thoughts of my own on Madison’s presidency.

One thing I learned from reading Lynne Cheney’s biography of James Madison is that Madison suffered from a mild form of epilepsy all his life. This makes his accomplishments all the more impressive, especially considering the primitive state of medicine at the time and the social stigma associated with the disease.

Another interesting tidbit I picked up concerns Madison’s personal courage. When the British invaded Washington DC, rather than simply flee and go into hiding, Madison stayed with the American forces that were stationed outside Washington to prevent further British advances. His presence there provided encouragement for his fellow countrymen in a time when it was desperately needed.

As a whole, however, Madison’s presidency does not compare well with those of his three predecessors, for at least one reason. All four of our first presidents were continually vexed by pressure from the warring nations of Great Britain and France to help them against their enemy. But whereas Washington, Adams, and Jefferson used diplomacy to keep the US out of war, Madison failed in this regard. Instead, Madison gave into the pressure exerted by members of his party to declare war against Britain. He led the US into a senseless war that devastated the US economy and many of its cities (particularly Washington, DC) and that in the end accomplished very little. For this reason, if not for others, Madison fails to make the top tier of US presidents.

Despite this, Madison deserves to be ranked among the greatest of American leaders because of his leading role in producing and then fighting for adoption of the masterpiece that is the US Constitution.

Thomas Jeffferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

I recently finished reading/listening to Jon Meacham's Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power. I'm not going to write a full review of it, but let me briefly say that it was excellent. It is a quick and easy read, thanks to Meacham's excellent writing style. Meacham writes very differently from David McCullough. McCullough's books (at least those I have read) read like novels, whereas Meacham's read like a series of newspaper or magazine articles (not surprising, since Meacham's background is in journalism).

After reading McCullough's John Adams, I felt like I knew Adams quite well. After reading Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, however, I feel like I still barely know Jefferson. It is as if I have merely peeled away one layer of an onion. In all likelihood, this says more about the immense complexity of Jefferson's character than any deficiencies of Meacham's writing. I feel like if I am to truly understand Jefferson (to the extent that he even CAN be understood), I am going to have to read AT LEAST one more book about him. I plan to ready Joseph Ellis' American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, but probably not until after I have gone through all the presidents.

If I could change one thing about this book, I would have Meacham focus more space on Jefferson's two terms as US president. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book as a very good introduction to Jefferson.

Here is a passage from the book that well sums up Jefferson's presidency:

"{Jefferson] endures because we can see in him all the varied and wondrous possibilities of human experience--the thirst for knowledge, the capacity to create, the love of family and of friends, the hunger for accomplishment, the applause of the world, the marshaling of power, the bending of others to one's own vision. His genius lay in his versatility; his larger political legacy in his leadership of thought and of men.

"With his brilliance and his accomplishment and his fame he is immortal. Yet because of his flaws and his failures he strikes us as mortal, too--a man of achievement who was nonetheless susceptible to the temptations and compromises that ensnare all of us. He was not all he could be. But no politician--no human being--ever is.

"We sense his greatness because we know that perfection in politics is not possible but that Jefferson passed the fundamental test of leadership. Despite his shortcomings and all the inevitable disappointments and mistakes and dreams deferred, he left America, and the world, in a better place than it had been when he first entered the arena of public life."

John Adams by David McCullough

Six weeks after starting it, I have finished McCullough's John Adams. I will probably not attempt to write a full review, but let me simply say that it is MAGNIFICENT. After reading, you feel like you know Adams personally. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

In case anyone is interested in reading a full review, here is a link to one. I disagree with the reviewer's contention that the book is "good, not great", but otherwise I think he has done a good job.

https://bestpresidentialbios.com/2013/02/09/review-of-john-adams-by-david-mccullough/