James Madison: A Life Reconsidered

Summary (from the publisher): This majestic new biography of James Madison explores the astonishing story of a man of vaunted modesty who audaciously changed the world. Among the Founding Fathers, Madison was a true genius of the early republic.

Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution and crucial to its ratification. His visionary political philosophy and rationale for the union of states—so eloquently presented in The Federalist papers—helped shape the country Americans live in today.

Along with Thomas Jefferson, Madison would found the first political party in the country’s history—the Democratic Republicans. As Jefferson’s secretary of state, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States. As president, Madison led the country in its first war under the Constitution, the War of 1812. Without precedent to guide him, he would demonstrate that a republic could defend its honor and independence—and remain a republic still.

Review: I won an advanced uncorrected proof copy of this book as a giveaway on Goodreads. 

Lynne Cheney, wife of the former vice president Dick Cheney, has written a comprehensive new biography of fourth president of the United States, James Madison. Known for his modesty and reserve, Madison was instrumental in the writing of the Constitution, was close friends with Thomas Jefferson, and devoted his life to public service to the newly formed United States. Without a doubt, Madison shaped the country and the U.S. that we know today owes him greatly for his years of work.

Cheney has chosen to focus largely on Madison's political contributions rather than his personal life. I was disappointed to close this book after reading nearly 500 pages without a full grasp of what he was like as a person. The author has detailed accounts of his every move politically and all his written works, but his family background, upbringing, and marriage are skimmed over. In fact, the only personal relationship devoted much time in the book is his friendship with Thomas Jefferson. On the other hand, his relationship with Jefferson was very much a working relationship and tied into his political work.

It was interesting to learn that Madison suffered from lifelong attacks that he suspected was epilepsy. Cheney speculates that this could have been the cause of Madison and his wife Dolley remaining childless; he may have felt honor bound to not pass on this affliction to his children. Additionally, much like Jefferson, Madison "was his own architect" and spent much time enlarging his home at Montpelier (272). Like many of the founding fathers, Madison had many talents, among them farming, art, and architecture.

I would have loved to have seen Dolley Madison figure more strongly in this biography, especially since it seems that she was a central figure in Madison's life and the two were very devoted their entire marriage. I was particularly intrigued by the inclusion of the strange tale of Dolley promising Thomas Jefferson's mistress "Sally Hemings a gift if she could name Hemings's newborn child" (311). And so, one of Jefferson's illegitimate children was named Madison. Dolley seems like a fascinating figure, and worked her tireless social charm to her husband's advantage, frequently hosting events in order to charm political figures.

Sadly, like other founding fathers including Jefferson and John Quincy Adams, Monroe ended his life in debt, trying to support numerous family members. Criticized for not freeing his slaves at his death, Cheney speculates that he may not have done so because he feared for Dolley's security and the slaves' ability to succeed on their own in a world that granted them few rights. Interestingly, Madison spent countless hours in retirement "collecting and editing his papers. He wrote to friends and their descendants to retrieve copies of letters he had written, separated official correspondence from private, and, to the everlasting regret of Madison scholars, destroyed or gave away documents that he considered  personal. Mrs. Madison often worked with him, and both he and she struck out lines in letters that they thought might be hurtful" (450-451). I wonder what has been stricken from the historical records thanks to Madison's diligent record keeping.

Stars: 3