OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY WHICH AMERICAN LEADER HAS PROVIDED THE GREATEST VISIONARY LEADERSHIP?

PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON

     Based on his tenure as President, James Madison in the minds of many does not exactly demonstrate "visionary leadership." However, Madison, through his work with the Constitution, left a much greater footprint on American history, one that elevates him to the level of a true visionary. The structure of our nation's government as delineated in the Constitution, which has endured so many internal and external crises, the unification of a new nation under this structure through his advocacy, and the codification of our most sacred liberties would not have occurred without the determined will of James Madison.

     History textbooks often refer to Madison as the "Father of the Constitution," and while this might be an oversimplification, much of the brilliance of the government's design derives from Madison. The Virginia Plan, Madison's greatest contribution during the Constitutional Convention, outlined his vision of a strong federal government and defined the debate for the rest of the Convention. While proposed by Edmund Randolph, Ralph Ketcham writes in his collection of the Convention debates that Madison had drawn up the proposal before George Washington and the Virginia delegation. Though the Virginia Plan did not survive in its entirety, the overall structure of the executive and judicial branches, along with the House of Representatives, descends from the proposals set forth in the Virginia Plan. Without the influence of the Virginia Plan, the Constitutional Convention might have adopted weak revisions to the Articles of Confederation, leaving in place that ineffective system of government. Had Madison ended his career there, he could already be considered a visionary leader, but he was not finished leaving his mark on American government.

     His leadership would extend outside of the Convention to the general public through the Federalist Papers. Because of New York's stature in the United States, its ratification of the Constitution was necessary for the success of the Constitution. Unfortunately, anti-Federalists seemed poised to succeed at the ratification convention. Madison, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, developed their case for the Constitution in a series of newspaper letters that would become the federalist Papers. Madison's ability to inspire his audience, a skill fundamental to any leader, again prevailed, and through his joint work with Hamilton and Jay secured New York for the federalists. The insight gained from Constitutional Convention, combined with Madison's vision for a strong national government, inspired Madison to produce essays that explain the strengths of a powerful federal government so well that Colin Powell would endorse the Federalist Papers as the most important work for Russian officials to read after the fall of the Soviet Union.

     James Madison's authorship of the Bill of Rights serves as the capstone of his vision for the American government. Initially opposed to a bill of rights, Madison would change his position, especially when many states expected a Bill of Rights in return for ratifying the Constitution. Madison both satisfied the demand to safeguard humanity's natural freedoms of speech, belief, and property and the freedoms against arbitrary government action. Clearly these declarations in the fundamental government document have had an immense impact on all aspects of American life, but Madison's genius does not stop there. To allay the fears that listing those freedoms protected would give the government right to restrict freedoms not listed, Madison created the Ninth Amendment to avoid this "negative pregnant." Madison expanded the Bill of Rights from a narrow list of certain freedoms to a declaration espousing the United States' dedication to liberty in general. Madison, far beyond his time, had developed the structure for a true liberal democracy that, while still not executed perfectly, has shone as an example for the rest of the world.

     From the development and ratification of the Constitution to the Bill of Rights, James Madison led the charge for a strong federal government to avoid the unrest occurring under the Articles of Confederation and for a bill of rights that would ensure the most fundamental liberties of all people. Without his work, the United States would certainly experience the unrest, coups, and harsh regimes that have plagued other elected governments. Madison's intellect and vision for America inspired his colleagues and built the foundation for the United States.