This book, like the first two of St. Johns trilogy, tells an exciting story of our
nations founding, which should engage readers of all ages and backgrounds.
U.S. Supreme Court former Chief Justice Warren Burger

One of the most important news stories of the last two centuries comes to
life in this eyewitness account of Americas first Federal elections, the First Congress,
and President Washington creating the Bill of Rights. In this swift-moving and colorful chronicle,
written by St. John as though he were an on-the-scene reporter, listeners will discover how
Congressman James Madison became, in the formative months of the new Republic, the power
behind Washington in the executive branch, while wheeling and dealing in Congress and still
championing a separation of powers; how Madison had to fight both friend and foe of the
Constitution to pass a Federal Bill of Rights in the First Congress; why Washington and
Madison saw the future of America in the frontier West and not in Europe; and how Spanish
and British intriguesand hostile Indian tribes on the American frontierposed a threat to the
survival of the new national government. Vastly entertaining, based on documented and newly-available
sources, this book is both a popular history and an important contribution to the study of the founding
of the American Republic.

This book and its predecessors are a captivating history lessontold like a banner headline news
storyfor Americans wanting to know the roots of the political freedoms they enjoy today.

San Francisco's Jeff Riggenbach has narrated more than fifty titles for Blackstone Audiobooks. He is an author, contributing editor, and producer and has worked in radio for the last thirty years. He is a recipient of the "Golden Mike" Award for his work in radio.