The Price of Greatness: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and the Creation of American Oligarchy

Editor (The Weekly Standard) and author (A Republic No More) Cost dispels the myth that the Founding Fathers had a single, unified vision for the nascent United States in this compelling monograph of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and their dueling ambitions for the country. The author describes two themes within which Hamilton and Madison shaped their ideals; for Hamilton, it was national vigor, while Madison sought republican balance. Hamilton hoped to turn the wealthy into conduits for advancing national interests by giving them short-term advantages in the commercial sector. Madison, however, viewed the government as a neutral entity, creating fair policies that benefitted the common good. But rather than pit these goals against one another, Cost makes it clear that both men were justified in their pursuits and that their friendship, devolving into a feud over time, is emblematic of a clash in fundamental American values present since George Washington left office. Equal parts fascinating and alarming, this work illustrates how corrupt our government has always been.