ISBN James Madison

James Madison

A major new biography of the fourth U.S. president, from New York Times–bestselling author Lynne Cheney

James Madison was a true genius of the early republic, the leader who did more than any other to create the nation we know today. This majestic new biography tells his story.

Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution. His visionary political philosophy—eloquently presented in the Federalist Papers—was a crucial factor behind the Constitution’s ratification, and his political savvy was of major importance in getting the new government underway. As secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson, 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 while remaining true to its young constitution.


About author(s)
Lynne Cheney is the author or coauthor of more than 10 books, including several bestsellers about American history for children. A senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, she has been studying James Madison since 1987 when she was a member of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the Constitution. The wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, she lives in McLean, Virginia, and Wilson, Wyoming.