dolly took a little snuff a long henry clay -- a long slide henry clay.s warm and congenial and they didn't mind if you talk politics. jefferson didn't like people to talk politics around him. he likes things smooth you know and calm. so he didn't invite people from both parties to dinner. he would only invite people from one party of the time but no the madisons mix it up. people loved love to dolly. she loved them and they began to feel not only great respect for madison but great warmth because of dolly's entertaining. there's even contemporary testimony to her having been in some not insignificant measure responsible for his getting the nomination in 1808. >> james and dolly were married for 42 years. >> not as long as us. [laughter] >> no. in august as i mentioned they -- we would be married 50 years. tell us what was the highpoint of those 50 years to you? [applause] a question what is the highpoint of those 50 years to you? [laughter] >> not the 42 years with dolly? >> no. >> i new was dangerous to have you ask me a question. one defense i can thin

this is something two of my kentucky forebearers, abraham lincoln and henry clay, well understood, and it's well worth remembering even as we steadfastly reaffirm government's proper limits. the second argument repeated with great frequency by some of our panelists is embracing these reform proposals and touting them on the campaign trail would go a long way toward alleviating the much discussed electoral struggles of today's republican party. so let me just say at the outset that i think there's very little to dispute in either one of these claims. i think that if you were to ask any republicans in washington which group of americans stands to benefit the most, the most, from the ideas and ideals of our party, they would respond without hesitation it's the american middle class. and that any suggestion to the contrary is based on a cheap and dishonest caricature. and yet i think it must also be admitted that in our rush to defend the american ntrepreneur from daily deprivations, they have often lost sight of the fact that our average voter is not john galt. it's a good impulse to be s

henry clay is the first -- as the first speaker of the house that went from the senate over here, elected as speaker and served as speaker every day he served in the house. he started the standing committee process where people discuss these issues before they come to the floor. some of these amendments have not gone through that process and will be given 10 minutes of debate time on the floor, which is rather small when you compare it to the process of each subcommittee on the armed services committee having established their bill, going to the full committee, full day of debate on the bill before it comes here. there is, for example, one amendment made in order, has a great sponsor, wonderful member of this body but it has untold consequences that probably need the experience of being explored. let me give you some examples. it starts with the words notwithstanding any other provision of law -- shah should be -- that should be something that scares someone. it mean this is bill, except for section d which it exempts, takes precedence over everything else that exists in law, not only for

what i mean by a third model, one goes to alexander hamilton talks about the american school and henry clay talked about the american system and lincoln who built the continental railroad. was a real fan of clay. teddy roosevelt and parts of fdr effort. ike's efforts. jfk. that use government to do big projects, that had tremendous economic results and, dramatically raised living standards and elevated the middle class? is there not a third model we want to call the american system where the government does have a sort of, not a prominent but a trigger role that does these big projects that has huge effects, good effects on the middle class? >> yeah. would i say, this is what i mean by facilitating the function of society, including of the markets. there is certainly a place for government to enable these other institutions to function and in fact there are times and places where only government would provide the kind of infrastructure, physical infrastructure, even social history structure that allows these kind of institutions to function. the question is, do you see government in managem

dawley took a little snug alongside henry clay. they shared a snuffbox. it was just warm and congenial and they didn't want to talk politics. jefferson was very different. he didn't like people to talk politics ranting. he lied thanks to move and called and he didn't technically didn't invite people from both parties together. you'd only invite people from one party at a time. but no, the madisons mixed it up. people love dolley. she loved them. they begin to feel not only great respect for madison but i think greater worth because of dolley's entertaining. there is contemporary testimony to her having been in some not insignificant measure responsible for his getting the nomination. spent james and dolley were married for 42 years. >> not as long as us. [laughter] spent in august as i mentioned we will have been married 50 years. telecom what was the high point of those 50 years for your? [applause] i'm going to repeat the question. what was the high point of those 50 years for your? [laughter] not the 42 years with the dolley? >> no. >> i knew it was go

she share add snuff box with henry clay.ther would help madison's prospects. there's contemporary testimony to the fact that, indeed, those gatherings were helpful. dolley would show up in amazing outfits. my favorite is pink with trim and a white velvet turbin with feathers. >> you wrote several books including one for children, which is excellent. "the new york times" said this is probably the best biography of madison we now have. this is pretty thick. what is it, do you think, the fascination with madison and certainly with conservatives? >> well, if you are an advocate of limited government, madison is your man. the reason that he and hamilton became estranged is because hamilton wanted to interpret the constitution meaning they could pass anything that had to do with welfare. madison said we might as well throw the parchment, meaning the constitution into the fire. for people who are advocates of limited government, advocates of intellectual freedom, madison was absolutely committed to the idea that each of us are in c

what i mean by the third model is one that goes back to alexander hamilton and the school and henry clay talked about the american system and lincoln who will the continental railroad and a real fan of clay. teddy roosevelt. bigg government to do projects that have tremendous economic results and dramatically raised living standards and elevated the middle class. is there not a third model called the american system with the government does have not prominent but a trigger role that does these big projects that has huge effects, good effects on the middle class? i would say facilitating the function of society. there is certainly a place for government to enable institutions to function. there are times and places where only government would provide the infrastructure, physical that allowsre constitutions to function. the question is, do you see government in a management role or in a facilitating role? i think the facilitating role is much more friendly to the idea you're suggesting. this basically says the government goal is to enable people to thrive. does not define how they will do