How is James Madison presented in the novel, Dolley?

James Madison is presented sympathetically and with a remarkably human touch. When alone with Dolley, James relaxes his political guard and shows a gentle, honest and humorous nature. Brown seems to be indicating that there is a human being behind every public office, and that even the president of the United States cannot merely be a political machine. Ageing and tired but with an unremitting sense of duty, Madison often remarks on the voracious hunger for power and the presidency displayed by younger politicians, while admitting that his job is a difficult, sometimes distasteful one, and one in which he often experiences lack of support and feelings of futility.