James Madison on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

During the greater part of my adult life, it has been my good fortune to be a member of a university founded, as James Madison once said, to educate "republican patriots and genuine scholars." I hope that my analysis of his immeasurable contributions to our political life does not discredit this ideal.

I owe special debts to the Center for Advanced Studies of the University of Virginia for appointments to the position of Sesquicentenniel Fellow on two occasions; to the staff of the Word Processing Center of the College of Arts and Sciences for indispensable secretarial services; and to the Center for Public Service under the direction of James A. (Dolph) Norton for producing finished copy.

Robert A. Rutland, former Editor of the Madison Papers, and his staff never failed to assist my research. Martha Derthick, Richard Marks, Clifton McCleskey, David O'Brien and Robert M. O'Neil read all or portions of this work in various stages. They are responsible only for encouraging me, however. Peter A. Lawler, Nelson B. Ong, and, especially, Jeffrey Hockett served as able research assistants. Nancy Hasler, Sharon Gingras, Pat Hudson, and Barbara Stinnett cheerfully provided secretarial services. The editorial staff of The Greenwood Press combined professional competence with personal warmth in assisting with the final preparation of the manuscript.

My wife, Naomie, has supported and encouraged me in a special way which follows from her understanding of why I needed to write this book.

Charlottesville, Virginia June 10, 1988

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