The heights of controversy were higher, the depths were lower. We don't write Federalist Papers now, nor do we write merry racist poems about Sally Hemings.

Q: When "The Rake" did finally settle down it was not without controversy.
How would you describe his relationship with the Randolph clan?

The Randolphs were a proud, prominent and slightly crazy Virginia clan, and Morris fell afoul of their internal divisions. Nancy, whom he married, he loved dearly. Her cousin John, who accused her of being a prostitute and a double murdress, was more difficult to deal with.

Q: What is in your mind the legacy of Morris?

The Preamble of the Constituion, especially the words "We the People," which prophetically shift power from the states to the people. Lincoln would begin the Gettysburg Address by recalling the Declaration-"the proposition that all men are created equal." He ended it by recalling the Preamble-"that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth."

Q: As one who writes "popular biographies", how important is non-academic history in the US? What impact do you think it has on culture, etc.?

There is a great hunger for history that teaching and our own civic rituals hardly satisfy. Popular books take up the slack. Witness David McCullough's best-sellers.

Q: What led you to begin writing on the lives of American founders? What were you hoping to accomplish in writing these works?

I began with Washington, following an interest that had awakened in college, and then was led on to the others. I want my readers to understand and admire great men.

Q: What authors/writers inspired you?

Garry Wills taught a course at Yale my freshman year on Thomas Jefferson, which also included quite a bit of Washington. That was the beginning.

Q: Besides writing critical acclaimed books you are also a journalist. As a
Senior Editor at National Review what is it like to write for the New York
Observer?

The Observer is like four journals of opinion in one, plus bright coverage of New York. It is a delight to appear there. Who else carries Hilton Kramer and Simon Doonan?

Q: I have to ask: Do you read blogs (besides The Corner)? Any in particular?

I read The Daily Dish and Instapundit. After 9/11 I read Debka until I figured out how it works. Half of it is stuff that Israeli intelligence found interesting twenty four hours ago. The rest is stuff that made some Israeli intelligence agent say, "Why are you putting this crap on my desk? Give it to Debka."

Q: One last question: Could you explain again why you drive a 1977 Camero?

It belonged to my mother-in-law. It has a tiny trunk, it doesn't corner well, and it's worthless in snow. But it loves hills and straightaways. I also like the 265 air conditioning--two open windows, going 65 mph.