by Robert Ruffin | Apr 12, 2023 | Benjamin Franklin, Blow Out the Light, Civil War, First Federal Congress, Quakers, Slavery
When in 1789 the first Federal Congress was called to order, slavery was not supposed to have been on the agenda. James Madison, “Father of the Constitution,” had worked hard to keep this divisive issue out of sight. One Madison compromise was passing the...
by Robert Ruffin | Mar 13, 2023 | Blow Out the Light, James Madison, U.S. Constitution
When we think of James Madison, three things immediately come to mind. First, he was the Father of the United States Constitution. Second, he was the author of the Bill of Rights. Third, he was an intellectual giant. What is not well known, however, (except among...
by Robert Ruffin | Mar 11, 2023 | Blow Out the Light, James Madison, President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson
The screenplay for Blow Out the Light is set in 1790, in the middle of the first meeting of the new Federal Congress of the United States. The meeting was held in three sessions spanning the 1789 to 1791 time period. The 22 Senators and 48 Representatives of the new...
by Robert Ruffin | Feb 2, 2023 | American History, Blow Out the Light, Civil War, First Federal Congress, Quakers, Slavery, U.S. Constitution
James Madison, 4th American President, plays a leading role in Blow Out the Light. I first encountered serious American history in my second year of college. California State University, East Bay offered a two semester American History class. The main text for this...
