The overlooked President

I know when I think of the iconic Presidents of the United States, the first who come to mind are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and both Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt. It's probably due to the amount of history that surrounds these men, but why is James Madison almost always forgotten? The man was not only the fourth President, but also one of the first strong politicians to reside in Washington, D.C. The man just had the misfortune of following three incredibly strong men. However, Madison shared many things with these men. He was a Virginian, an avid gardener, and slave owner like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and he was also an amazing politician like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. However, Madison acted completely different when it came to the treatment of his slaves. Rather than have the slave quarters far from the main house, he brought them right next to where he slept and ate. The houses they lived in were built to last and had wood floors and glass windows. Some might think that this was a gesture of goodwill. He was giving nice living accommodations to his laborers. However, some might see this as a way for him to keep an eye on these "less desirables". He might be considered a progressive for his time by those who believe he did this because of his good nature. In contrast, those who believe he was no better than any other slave owner can interpret this as just another Southerner keeping a watchful eye on his investment. It's difficult to judge his 19th century actions with the lenses of the 21st century, but I reside in the camp that believes he was a progressive.

It was during Madison's presidency that the United States started to progress as a nation. The War of 1812 was a difficult time for the country, but it was followed by a glorious economic boom. James Madison and his policies had much to do with this. And just as the nation was taking shape, so too was the definition of what the duty of the President of the United States was in conjunction with the duties of the first lady. Dolley Madison was, quite frankly, the first legitimate First Lady of the United States. She spent a great amount of time entertaining foreign dignitaries and transformed the White House into the national icon that it is to this day. I believe that it was the partnership between James and Dolley Madison which propelled the United States into the 19th century with fervor.