It was Montiesquieu who was the thinker most often cited by the Founding Fathers from 1760-1805, beating out even Blackstone and Locke. No doubt Montiesquieu has fallen out of favor due, at least in part, to his philosophical views, to wit: "God is related to the universe as Creator and Preserver; the laws by which He created all things are those by which He preserves them." ~ Spirit of Laws But his importance in influencing the Founding Fathers, as well as their familiarity with his work, makes this story all the more amazing, in a very sad sense. . ....