Political Quotes

“it is unfortunate that James Madison's legacy is sometimes overshadowed by other prominent Virginians who were also founding fathers of the United States. Most Americans can readily recite the accomplishments of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. And while most people can identify James Madison as an important figure in American history, his exact accomplishments are sometimes less well known than some of his contemporaries. As we approach the 250th anniversary of James Madison's birth, I wish to bring to your attention the outstanding contributions he made to the fledgling United States. During the course of his life, James Madison exhibited all the best qualities of a politician and a scholar. As a politician, he served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Secretary of State, and two-term President of the United States. As a scholar, he is associated with three of the most important documents in American history: the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights. In Virginia, we have paid tribute to James Madison by naming one of our fine state universities after him--James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. More than any other American, Madison can be credited with creating the system of Federalism that has served the United States so well to this day.”