Showdown in Virginia

The forgotten lawyer Madison trusted to save the Constitution

After the battle for America's independence, another battle played out to ratify the Constitution. In Richmond, founding father James Madison pitted himself against Patrick Henry to secure Virginia's approval with the country's future in the balance. With George Washington at Mount Vernon maintaining neutrality and Jefferson in France, it was left to Madison to strategize ratification. While Madison was a genius who organized approval of the constitution by the barest of margins, key to his success was the relentless effort of his protégé, young attorney George Nicholas, in battling former Virginia governor and national icon Patrick Henry.

Using the rarely seen papers of Nicholas, Denis Fleming Jr. provides a fresh look at the critical role Nicholas played at the behest of soon-to-be President Madison in defeating Henry and saving the nation from a fateful end.