American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White HouseThe definitive biography of a larger-than-life president who defied norms, divided a nation, and changed Washington forever 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. |
Contents
Follow Me and Ill Save You | 20 |
A Marriage a Defeat and a Victory | 41 |
You Know Best My Dear | 52 |
Ladies Wars Are Always Fierce and | 70 |
A Busybody Presbyterian Clergyman | 86 |
Major Eaton Has Spoken of Resigning | 98 |
An Opinion of the President Alone | 114 |
Liberty and Union Now and Forever | 124 |
We Are in the Midst of a Revolution | 275 |
THE EVENING OF HIS DAYS 1834 to the | 281 |
So You Want War | 283 |
A Dark Lawless and Insatiable Ambition | 286 |
There Is a Rank Due to the United States Among Nations | 291 |
The Wretched Victim of a Dreadful Delusion | 298 |
How Would You Like to Be a Slave? | 303 |
The Strife About the Next Presidency | 307 |
General Jackson Rules by His Personal Popularity | 153 |
A Mean and Scurvy Piece of Business | 177 |
Now Let Him Enforce It | 198 |
The Fury of a Chained Panther | 208 |
Hurra for the Hickory Tree | 218 |
A Dreadful Crisis of Excitement and Violence | 222 |
The Mad Project of Disunion | 227 |
We Are Threatened to Have Our Throats Cut | 238 |
Great Is the Stake Placed in Our Hands | 248 |
My Mind Is Made Up | 254 |
He Appeared to Feel as a Father | 260 |
The People Sir Are with Me | 266 |
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American Amos Kendall Andrew Donelson Andrew Jackson Donelson Archives Bank battle Benton bill Blair Cabinet Calhoun called Capitol Charleston Cherokee Civil Collection Congress Constitution Correspondence dear December Democracy Duane Eaton election Emily and Andrew Emily Donelson Emily's father federal fight force France Francis Preston Blair Freehling Hayne Henry Clay Hermitage Hickory Historical hope Ibid Indian Ingham Jack Jackson told Jackson wrote Jacksonian James January John Quincy Adams Kendall knew Leonidas Polk letter Lewis Library Lincoln Livingston March Margaret Martin Van Buren Mary Donelson McLane Nashville nation never Nicholas Biddle nullification Papers Parton party PJCC Poinsett political Polk president's Rachel Remini removal Republican Samuel secretary Senate Sérurier slavery Smith South Carolina Southern Stockley Taney tariff Tennessee things thought tion took Union United veto wanted Washington Waxhaw Webster White House wife Wilentz William York