Word: madison
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Although they were not supposed to change the substance of what the convention had so far decided, it was hardly accidental that all five were strong-government advocates, and that one of them was Madison. The actual writer was Gouverneur Morris, a one-legged but rather rakish Philadelphian who boasted what he liked to consider a muscular prose style. And prose styles do have an effect. The convention had given the committee a draft that began: "We the undersigned delegates of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay" and so on. Morris rewrote that so it began: "We, the People...
...presented its constitution on Sept. 12, the delegates eagerly began trying to change things all over again, in ways large and small. Mason of Virginia declared for the first time that summer that there should be a bill of rights. He was voted down by ten states to none. Madison wanted a statement that Congress should create a national university, and Franklin wanted it authorized to dig canals, but they were both voted down...
...eggs in that one basket." Many ERA supporters are wary of fighting another losing battle. "There would have to be a consensus building up in the country that we just have to have the ERA," says Donna Shalala, the newly named chancellor of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "I don't sense it's there...
...James Madison hated the little microphone clipped to his waistcoat, he hated the way the cameramen sniggered at his height, and he hated talking in 20- second sound bites. But he was politician enough to recognize the importance of Good Morning, 13 Sovereign States. Two minutes to explain the Virginia Plan, a few banal questions, and the ordeal would be over. Madison remembered his instructions: no Locke, no Montesquieu, no Plutarch. Just simple declarative sentences, a confident smile and don't fiddle with your wig. "Jimmy, all you got to do is emote," his media consultant had told him. "Flash...
...opening question was about as welcome as an attack of gout. "Mr. Madison," the TV interviewer purred, "how do you react to Patrick Henry's press conference this morning charging that the convention has exceeded its instructions and, quote, 'is hell-bent on tyranny.' " Remain calm, smile, take it in stride. "All citizens of our great state, of course, respect the views of Mr. Henry," Madison said slowly. "But sometimes Pat gets a little too fond of his own rhetoric. To paraphrase my esteemed fellow Virginian: Give me Constitution or give me chaos...