gilda_elise

Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson's election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson's presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama-the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers- that shaped Jackson's private world through years of storm and victory.

One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will - or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House-from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman-have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision.

Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe-no matter what it took.

I’ve never been a Jackson fan. His policies would bring about the Trail of Tears, and while he is credited for holding back the southern states’ attempt at codifying their right to secede, he agreed with their right to have slaves. So while dealing with the symptom, he was unwilling to confront the “national sin.” I thought to read this book in order to get a better understanding of the man. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the book for that.

The book basically covers Jackson’s years as president, so what molded his character is left a mystery. The first sixty years of his life are covered in the first fifty pages of the book; even his service during the war of 1812 is glossed over. I wished I’d noticed the small lettering at the bottom of the cover, Andrew Jackson in the White House before I started it.

What I did learn about Jackson didn’t really warm me to him. He comes across as rather selfish, expecting his family (a nephew and the nephew’s wife,) to see to his concerns before their own. For me, his bad qualities far outweighed his good ones.

The book itself is well written. While I don’t agree with Meacham’s assessment of Jackson, I do appreciate his writing.