James Madison: Father of the Constitution

When the Constitution was being drafted, James Madison—a congressman, intellectual, and politician extraordinaire—was initially skeptical that a “Bill of Rights” was necessary. But by 1789, after being lobbied by his dearest friend Thomas Jefferson, Madison was determined to include it. Celebrated historian Richard Brookhiser recounts the “Father of the Constitution’s” evolution and how, after a hot summer of arguing and bargaining, he persuaded Congress to agree.

Richard Brookhiser is the author of James Madison and eight other books on the founders and their legacy. He was awarded the National Medal of the Humanities in 2008.