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Author Stewart, David O.

Title Madison's gift : five partnerships that built America / David O. Stewart.

Publication Info. New York : Simon & Schuster, 2015.

Copies

Location Call No. Status
 Avon Free Public Library - Adult Department  973.51 STEWART    Check Shelf
 East Hartford, Raymond Library - Adult Department  B MADISON JAMES    Check Shelf
 Farmington, Main Library - Adult Department  B MADISON, JAMES    Check Shelf
 Glastonbury, Welles-Turner Memorial Library - Adult Department  BIO MADISON    Check Shelf
 Manchester, Main Library - Non Fiction  973.51 STEWART    Check Shelf
 New Britain, Main Library - Non Fiction  973.51 ST49    Check Shelf
 West Hartford, Noah Webster Library - Non Fiction  973.5109 STEWART    Check Shelf
Description viii, 419 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits, maps ; 25 cm
Summary "Historian David O. Stewart restores James Madison, sometimes overshadowed by his fellow Founders, to his proper place as the most significant framer of the new nation. Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. To reach his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic, he blended his talents with those of key partners. It was Madison who led the drive for the Constitutional Convention and pressed for an effective new government as his patron George Washington lent the effort legitimacy; Madison who wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton to secure the Constitution's ratification; Madison who corrected the greatest blunder of the Constitution by drafting and securing passage of the Bill of Rights with Washington's support; Madison who joined Thomas Jefferson to found the nation's first political party and move the nation toward broad democratic principles; Madison, with James Monroe, who guided the new nation through its first war in 1812, really its Second War of Independence; and it was Madison who handed the reins of government to the last of the Founders, his old friend and sometime rival Monroe. These were the main characters in his life. 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. This partnership was a love story, a unique one that sustained Madison through his political rise, his presidency, and a fruitful retirement"-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents The end of the beginning -- Part I: Alexander Hamilton. Impatient young men ; A powerful effect on our destiny ; A system to last for ages ; Creating the Federalist ; Ratification battles -- Part II: George Washington. Courting the General ; Starting from scratch ; Not altogether useless ; The deal -- Part III: Jefferson. First, friendship ; The Hamilton problem ; Becoming Republicans ; Party warrior ; No time for qualms -- Part IV: James Monroe. Friends and rivals and friends ; Distant diplomacy ; The rupture ; Reclaiming a friend ; The Republican way of war ; Near to a miracle -- Part V: Dolley. All things to all men ; The lady presidentess ; Adam and Eve at Montpelier ; The constitutional sage of Montpelier ; "A sad blot on our free country" ; Farewells..
Subject Madison, James, 1751-1836.
Madison, James, 1751-1836 -- Friends and associates.
Madison, James, 1751-1836 -- Marriage.
Madison, James, 1751-1836 -- Influence.
Presidents -- United States -- Biography.
Statesmen -- United States -- Biography.
Friendship -- Political aspects -- United States -- History.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865.
ISBN 9781451688580 (hardback)
145168858X (hardback)
9781451688597 (trade paper)
1451688598 (trade paper)
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