The framers of the U.S. Constitution who favored having one strong leader of the nation included George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and James Wilson, among others.
- George Washington was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention and supported a stronger union with a new office of a president who could act as a coequal of Congress, providing focus and direction to the new government. Washington's presence and vision helped shape the creation of the Constitution that included a strong executive branch.
- James Madison, known as the "Father of the Constitution," came prepared with a blueprint (the Virginia Plan) for a strong central government, including a method of representation and enforcement of federal authority. He believed in a strong national government with compulsory taxation powers and the ability to regulate commerce, emphasizing the need for an energetic executive.
- James Wilson argued strongly for a single, unitary executive to provide energy, dispatch, and accountability in government. He believed only one executive could effectively represent the nation as a whole and provide the necessary leadership. Wilson's motion for a single executive was accepted at the convention.
- Alexander Hamilton also supported a strong central government and presidency, although his proposal was more extreme, including life terms for national officials. While his ideas were not fully adopted, he played a key role in defending and promoting a strong executive in the Federalist Papers.
Meanwhile, some delegates like George Mason opposed too strong an executive, fearing it could lead to monarchy, and advocated for a Bill of Rights to protect citizens' freedoms.
Thus, the framers who favored a strong leader championed the creation of a single president with significant powers to provide unity, leadership, and effective governance for the nation. This was a fundamental departure from the weaker executive and decentralized authority under the Articles of Confederation.