American Compact: James Madison and the Problem of Founding (American Political Thought (University Press of Kansas))
Rosen argues persuasively that James Madison has been unfairly criticized by historians, who charge him with inconsistency or political expediency throughout his career. Rosen demonstrates that Madison's shifts from Hamiltonian strong government views to Jeffersonian suspicion of big government were not really fickle accommodations to the prevailing political winds. Rather, he sees Madison as adhering throughout his career to his interpretation of the Constitution and the process by which it was founded. In his own idiosyncratic way, Madison stuck to a position between Hamilton's and Jefferson's. Rosen is associate editor of Commentary, and this book is a revised version of his Harvard Ph.D. dissertation. While heavy going for general readers, it should prove valuable for specialists and serious students of American constitutional history. Rosen offers perceptive analysis of how Madison continues to influence politicians and legal experts. Some of Rosen's points might be too strong (e.g., his argument that the Christian Right is one of the most ardently Madisonian movements in today's political scene), but he has done thorough research and argues his points cogently. Highly recommended for universities and large public libraries.AThomas J. Schaeper, St. Bonaventure Univ., NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.