[neb52]

I always felt Madison was the "Man Behind the Scene" before and during Jefferson's tenure. He seemed to be that nerd slogging away making everything work, while everybody else took it for granted. He wasn't the charming, handsome and courageous soldier type like Washington, Hamilton or Burr. It's often said that Burr was Madison's alter ego. Both became good friends during the Revolution War. Burr even supposedly match Dolly and James during the war, but always secretly coveted Dolly.

[nopardons]

Burr was an opportunist and a nasty piece of work. I suggest that read more about him.

[x]

I always felt Madison was the "Man Behind the Scene" before and during Jefferson's tenure.

Madison worked closely with Washington on some key occasions. There's a recent book out about their relationship. But it looks to me like Madison fell too much under Jefferson's influence as time went on. Madison had the better intellect (if intellect is to be praised for its realism, rather than its romanticism or idealism), but wasn't as confident, certain, determined, or charismatic as Jefferson was.

Madison was a "behind the scenes" sort of person who shunned the limelight, but Jefferson was the dominant personality and true animating spirit in their relationship. For a long time Madison apparently came to feel that to be a Virginian meant following Jefferson, rather than Washington or Marshall.