In 1787, the year our founders signed the U.S. Constitution — Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Alexander Hamilton about his fears of an autocratic dictator in America: “If once elected, and at a second or third election outvoted by one or two votes, he will pretend false values, foul play, hold possession of the reins of government, be supported by the States voting for him…” https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/20/founding-fathers-demagogues-civic-virtue/.Five years later, Alexander Hamilton wrote this to George Washington: “When a man unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper…is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity… It ...