Fritz says, "James Madison was a small, pale, sickly boy with a weak voice." Although five feet six inches tall, his slight build and weak voice made him seem smaller; in fact, "people were forever remarking on his littleness." Furthermore, "All his life he suffered from fever, bilious attacks (liver upsets), and from occasional seizures in which for a few moments he would stiffen and lose control of his mind." These seizures were probably caused by epilepsy. A weak voice, slight stature, and chronic illnesses make Madison seem to be a very unlikely choice for political leadership, yet he would eventually be elected president of the United States.

Disturbing in his early years was his treatment of Americans who opposed the revolution against England. In 1774, he and his father were elected members of the local Committee of Safety, which oversaw the tarring and feathering...