Richard Brookhiser's James Madison

I have for you a great writer and an interesting subject. Richard Brookhiser is a senior editor at National Review and has written several other books on the Founders. I always enjoy watching him in an interview because he really makes history come alive for me in eye-opening ways. He talks about men who lived 200 years ago as if they're alive today.

James Madison is an interesting figure whom people don't know much about. I find it interesting to read about men who today are remembered in history but who, at the time, probably did not seem to be destined for greatness. Madison wasn't a great speaker at all but he was very intelligent and passionate about his political beliefs. He was also very shy. He is known as the Father of the Constitution but Brookhiser says he is also the Father of Politics and was the first President to have a political First Lady. Madison lead the first party with Jefferson, the Anti-Federalists. He was also one of the first English speakers to use the phrase "public opinion."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/books/review/james-madison-by-richard-brookhiser-book-review.html