He was not what today we would call a charismatic leader; for strength of personality, it is his wife) Dolley, who comes to mind. He was only five feet, six inches tall and in his early years was often in poor health. He lacked the majestic presence and martial prowess of George Washington. His prose, while copious and competent, had none of the bite of Thomas Paine's pam- phlets or the elegance of Thomas Jefferson's letters. In an age when public speaking was a prized political asset, his voice...