This is an I-Heart podcast.

This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories.

Our fourth president, James Madison, is often considered a forgotten founder, and that's a shame

as his words have echoed through the ages.

After all, he was the man who wrote the sentence, quote, if men were angels, no government

would be necessary, unquote, and the Bill of Rights.

He's the author of the Bill of Rights too.

Chances are he still affects your life today. Here to tell the story of Madison and his

partnerships that changed America is David O. Stewart, author of Madison's gift. We'd like to

thank the National Archives for allowing us access to this audio.

Let's get into the story.

He was so central to the nation's founding, more central to the founding of the nation than anyone else other than George Washington.

And if you look at the list of his achievements, you get a feel for this, I think.

First, of course, is the calling of the Constitutional Convention, the list of his achievements, you get a feel for this, I think.

First, of course, is the calling of the Constitutional Convention, the writing of the Constitution

at that convention, the Federalist Papers, which were written to support the ratification

of the Constitution.

He was the leading member of the first Congress.

He wrote the Bill of Rights and secured their adoption. I'm

only halfway through my list yet. He was co-founder of the First American Political Party.

In the pivotal election of 1800, he was the co-architect of the transfer of government from

the Federalist Party of John Adams to to Thomas Jefferson as leader of the Republicans.

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