ELECTION #6, 1808. The NASTY-METER stays at 2.

QUOTE from James Madison: "In republics, the great danger is, that the majority may not sufficienty respect the rights of the minority."

ELECTION #6, 1808. Thomas Jefferson's second term was not as smooth as his first term. The main problem was the hostilities between the British and the French. The British were attacking American ships and forcing American seamen to join the British navy. To get even with Britain Jefferson persuaded Congress to pass the Embargo Act which forbade Americans from doing any trade with Britain and France and all the other European countries.

All the Emgargo Act did was cause economic problems for American farmers and New England merchants. They could no longer sell their products to any country in Europe. It ticked people off and Jefferson, instead of being a shining hero, was called "an infernal villain" by one newspaper.
So Jefferson knew when to hang it up and leave the public stage. He said he was going to retire to "my family, my books, and farms."

The CANDIDATES IN 1808.

Jefferson recommended his friend and secretary of state, James Madison, to be the Republican candidate for president. Vice-president George Clinton would remain on the ticket. Madison did not have an impressive appearance. He was only 5'4" and weighed less than 100 pounds and people called him "Little Jemmy." He didn't like to make eye contact and his expression was generally dour - some say he looked like he had just bitten into a sour lemon. However he was extremely bright and had a good grasp of the problems facing the U.S. And he had another ace-in-the-hole that the previous three president never had - that ace was his wife, Dolly. She was seventeen years younger but she was beautiful and vivacious, the Jackie Kennedy of her day.

The Federalists brought back Charles Pinckney and Rufus King, the same two they ran in 1804. They were both unexciting and dull and proved no match for Madison and Clinton. It was time for the Federalists to get some new blood in their party.

The CAMPAIGN

The Embargo Act had put Madison at a disadvantage because so many people were upset by it. But with a possible war against Britain on the horizon the Electoral College went big for Madison.

The WINNER was James Madison.

Madison received 122 electoral votes and Pinckney got 47. And Jefferson gave Madison a nice gift just before he took office on March 4, 1809. On March 1 Jefferson signed a bill repealing the Embargo Act.