The man known as “The Father of the Constitution”, James Madison, was huge in history, but he was small on the scene. His friends said he “was not much bigger than a half a bar of soap!” He said he was “about 5’6” while others have described him as 5’2” or thereabouts.
But all admit he was a scholar. Madison has been hailed as the prime creator of the U.S. Constitution, but he rejected such praise, saying: “You give me credit to which I have no claim, calling me THE writer of the Constitution of the U. S. This was not like the fabled Goddess of Wisdom, the offspring of a single brain. It ought to be regarded as the work of many heads and hands.”
After the Constitution was ratified by the U. S. Constitutional Convention, it went to the States for their own State Conventions. Would the States accept it and approve of it? No one knew for sure.
Not only did James Madison convince George Washington to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, he promoted other members and their ideas along the way.
When James Madison was 43 and a Congressman, he met Dolley (Dorothy Payne), she was a 26 widow with two young sons, one a new born and one 18 months old. She was beautiful and vivacious and very popular. He was old and dreary of temperament. It didn’t seem like much of a match made in heaven.
In the upcoming Presidential election it would seem to be very important to consider what our first President of the United States said about one thing to look for:
What a wonderful experience it was today to be introduced to a distant member of the family, by marriage, to a young lady who is an elementary school teacher. And just by chance, she teaches American History!
I want to wish all you Fathers a Happy Father’s Day, 2016! Being a father myself, I know how good it makes you feel to be acknowledged as a good father.