### May 23 On May 23, 1787, I was a delegate at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia. It was a hot day and we were all getting restless during a debate on the structure of the legislative branch. Suddenly, I stood up and made a proposal that shocked everyone: to create a President for life! Now, you may be wondering why on earth would I make such a proposal? Well, it was all part of a strategy to push for a stronger executive branch. I knew it was a radical idea and would get people talking and negotiating. And boy, did it work! My idea was met with immediate opposition, but it opened up the discussion and led to a compromise. Instead of a President for life, we eventually settled on a four-year term with the possibility of re-election. This compromise paved the way for the creation of the strong executive branch we have today. Fun fact: During the convention, we had to swear to secrecy and keep all of our discussions confidential. In fact, a curtain was even hung over the windows to prevent eavesdropping! So if you think politics today can get a little crazy, just imagine being cooped up in a hot room for weeks on end, with no air conditioning and strict rules about what you could say. It was a wild ride, but I like to think I helped steer us in the right direction.