James Madison's Gift: The Power of Partnership

On April 30, 2015, David O. Stewart delivered a Banner Lecture entitled “James Madison’s Gift: The Power of Partnership.”

To reach his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic, James Madison blended his talents with those of key partners—the dashing Alexander Hamilton, the heroic George Washington, the magnetic Thomas Jefferson, and the soldierly James Monroe. With those extraordinary partners, Madison led the drive for the Constitutional Convention, pressed for an effective new government, co-wrote the Federalist Papers, secured the Constitution's ratification, drafted and won adoption of the Bill of Rights, founded the nation's first political party and guided the nation through the War of 1812. Then he handed the leadership of a happy nation to his old friend and sometime rival Monroe. But it was his final partnership that allowed Madison to escape his natural shyness and reach the greatest heights. Dolley was the woman he married in middle age and who presided over both him and an enlivened White House. Their partnership was a love story, a unique one that sustained Madison through his political rise, his presidency, and a fruitful retirement.

David O. Stewart, an attorney and an independent historian, is the author of several books, including The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution, American Emperor: Aaron Burr’s Challenge to Jefferson’s America, and Madison’s Gift: Five Partnerships That Built America.

This lecture was cosponsored with the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Virginia.

The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

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