Frank Theising's Reviews > American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House

First read in 2009. Re-read in 2022 as part of my goal to read a biography of every president. This book is primarily focused on Jackson’s time in the White House, with only a cursory review of his pre and post presidential life. The book does a really good job exploring Jackson’s character, world view, and vision for the country. The Eaton Affair, the battle over the bank of the United States, the nullification crisis, and his Indian removal polices are all covered in great detail. While Jackson was incredibly popular in his own era (and remained so for most of the history of the Democratic Party) he is viewed with more circumspection today. The author clearly acknowledges Jackson’s many faults, but doesn’t get bogged down harping on them. He largely presents a generally positive account of Jackson in his attempt to explain to the modern reader the transformative nature of the Jackson presidency and his impact on the country for generations to come. 4 stars.

What follows are my notes on the book:

Jackson lost his mother and brothers during the Revolutionary War. Suffering those losses at a young age he saw his life and the life of his country as one. It formed in his mind a sacred duty to preserve the union, even if it cost his life (xix). He was one of America’s most important, controversial, and misunderstood presidents. He expanded the powers of the presidency in ways that none of his six predecessors had. He was the first president from among uneducated commoners and the first to use a large circle of private advisors (his Kitchen Cabinet). Prior to Jackson, power tended toward the political and financial elites, after him power was more diffuse. (xx).

He was a man of contradictions. A champion of democracy for the poorest whites, he was an unrepentant slaveholder. He was responsible for the removal of Indian tribes, yet adopted an Indian orphan as his own son. He as the vociferous opponent of a national bank, yet a staunch defender of the Federal government (against the nullifiers/secessionist). He achieved great things while committing grievous sins (xxi).

His wife Rachel died shortly after his election. He would bring a close inner circle with him to Washington, principally Andrew and Emily Donelson. His political rivals were all formidable men: John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, & John Quincy Adams. Jackson benefited from the expansion of ordinary voters (turnout rose from 27% to 57%), overturning the founder’s longstanding fears of democracy and their checks against popular will (i.e. Electoral College). In the 4-way race in 1824, Jackson led the popular vote, but the Jackson lost when the runoff vote went to the House of Representatives. Jackson forever viewed the results as a corrupt bargain between Adams and Clay (45). Thereafter his belief in the virtue of the great majority and himself as the enactor of their will would be his driving force.

In his own mind, he was restoring Jeffersonian Republicanism against the Federalist power brokers. In 1828, he won 56% of the popular vote (178-83 in Electoral College). Clay thought there was “no greater calamity” than his victory. His Cabinet picks were considered underwhelming (including Van Buren at State, Eaton at War, & Ingham at Treasury). He believed the government was suffering from a crisis of corruption (in order to profit elites at the expense of the many) (52).
The major issues he faced in his two terms:
- He was intent on dismantling the federal establishment that concentrated power (i.e. the Bank which was not subject to public control).
- The early test of his authority when SC attempted to nullify federal law after the Tariff of Abominations that slammed southern farmers.
- The removal of Indians west of the Mississippi (he believed coexistence impossible and based on his wartime experiences believed their removal was necessary to defend the country’s borders.
- He viewed debt as a moral evil that placed power in the hands of creditors, consequently he argued against internal improvements (canals, roads, etc).

His first inaugural was purposely vague so as to preserve capital as he assessed the depth of affection from the large crowd assembled. He did however promise “reform” of political abuses. After the succession of Madison, Monroe, and Adams this was the first true turnover of power and he sought to remove the unfaithful or incompetent government employees. The White House reception was chaotic (often described as an unruly mob or rabble) (61).

Jackson found comfort in the presence of his extended family that understood his wants and needs. Unfortunately, they were to clash with the Eaton wing of the Jackson clique. Secretary Eaton’s marriage to Margaret O’Neale (with her questionable sexual virtue) was viewed with abhorrence by respectable society (67). Jackson, seeing parallels to attacks on his late wife’s virtue, let his instincts take over and defended the Eatons. Emily and the other ladies refused to call on her…in an insane twist of fate, this feud would impact the future of the presidency (68).

As an old, sick wounded warrior, many expected Jackson to be a 1-term president. Based on this, Clay, Calhoun, and Van Buren took different approaches to improve their own paths to the presidency. Calhoun was aggressive and combative, becoming THE proponent of nullification, which Jackson viewed as a mortal threat to the Union. The subtle Van Buren backed Jackson (especially on the Eaton drama).

Jackson began clearing the corrupt “Augean Stable,” installing a government to execute his will, much to the consternation of his political enemies. While previous administrations removed in the single digits, Jackson replaced 919 people (82).

Jackson wanted to do for the South what previous generations did for the North: push Indians farther West. He would not tolerate competing sovereignties within the nation. Jackson was direct with the tribes, submit to state law or leave. The Southern states were eager for vast tracts of land in GA, FL, AL, MS, and TN. Speaking as their “Great Father” he genuinely believed he was acting in the Indian’s best interests. Additionally, he often viewed Indians as allies of hostile powers Spain and Britain along the US frontier (93). When Indians killed white settlers, he tended to see England or Spain pulling strings.

Margaret Eaton’s wreaked havoc for the Administration. Eaton refused to resign and Jackson wouldn’t back down his support. Emily and Margaret were in open warfare. On the steamboat Potomac Emily was 8 months pregnant and fainted. Margaret went to help but was spurned and furious. A series of Washington parties made the Eaton situation even more unpleasant.
Jackson’s feud with Biddle and the bank escalated quickly. Biddle did not answer to Jackson and refused to tolerate any interference in the concerns of the bank (103). While technically correct, Jackson had two courses open to him: 1) remove the government’s deposits and 2) deny a renewal of the bank charter. Biddle did not believe Jackson would do either. He was wrong.

He believed himself the defender of liberties of the people, his opponents saw his executive action as prelude to dictatorship. In his first annual message to Congress, Jackson proposed amending the Constitution to give the president a 6 year term based off the popular vote (120). In another passage, he advocated voluntary emigration of Indians (any who chose to remain would be subject to US laws). The sanctity of the Union was his top concern, and the continuing presence of Indians were viewed as a threat (123).

In 1830, the Cabinet nearly cracked up over the Eaton Affair. In a short lived compromise, Jackson would not press for their social inclusion if they agreed not to further gossip.

At an 1830 dinner celebrating Jefferson’s birthday (attended by many nullifiers), Jackson toasted “Our Union – it must be preserved.” Vice President Calhoun followed up “The Union – next to our liberty most dear.” This finally rent the veil and foreshadowed Jackson’s future victories (136).

Jackson’s 1830 veto of numerous interstate internal improvements flummoxed his opponents. Past presidents vetoed bills on Constitutional grounds while Jackson wielded the veto as a weapon to achieve his desired policy goals. Previous presidents vetoed more than the previous six presidents combined. (140).

Jackson ignored previous treaties with Indians but their supporters in Congress did not. In 1830, Jackson and his supporters overturned decades on Indian-policy approving the Indian removal bill. The Eaton affair had reached its nadir, and Jackson sent Andrew and Emily back to TN, but this only exacerbated the feud and bitterness of all involved. Jackson invited various Indian tribes to TN but only the Chickasaws came. They agreed to his terms to head West. It was Tocqueville who recorded the terrors of their removal. The Supreme Court took up the Indian case, but John Marshall essentially refused to acknowledge them as a foreign nation and let them succumb to their fate (152).

The Donelson’s were in anguish during their TN exile and it spilled over in local politics. Jackson was determined to exert control over his household. The Donelsons were equally determined not to give in.

In 1830, Jackson reached new heights of popularity as Francis Blair’s gift for rhetoric and invective promoted Jackson’s politics in his newspaper the Globe. Jackson attacked nullification publicly but floated options for compromise on the tariff.

In 1831, Van Buren’s resignation triggered a series of events that would extricate Jackson from the tangled scandals hindering his administration (171). Eaton would resign to run for a TN Senate seat. This restructured the cabinet and removed the chief thorn in his political and personal life. The cabinet purge did not bring peace to Eaton (he even attempted to duel for treasury sec Ingham over slights). The Donelsons’ return to DC restored peace to Jackson’s domestic life.

Political intrigue grew in the run up to the 1832 election season. Calhoun was the tie breaking vote that rejected Van Buren’s appointment to the UK. Calhoun had finally bested Van Buren, but it would backfire in the long run, placing Van Buren in contention for the VP nomination (and ultimately the presidency (193)).

In 1832, Biddle applied for an early re-charter of the bank, thinking a veto would hurt Jackson at the polls. It was a terrible mistake, the bank wouldn’t kill Jackson, he would kill the bank (201). His veto was one of the most significant in history, establishing the presidency as a source of leadership that didn’t merely bow to Congress. His veto message was good politics as it identified him forever with the aspiring (and now voting) masses.

Jackson responded swiftly to the outbreak of the Black Hawk War and bloodshed in IL. He was slower or refused to enforce Supreme Court decisions that favored the Indians in GA.
Changes to the tariff failed to appease SC, and Calhoun and the SC legislature were moving to formally nullify the law.

Clay suffered from a terrible case of overconfidence in the coming election. He played by the old rules (against campaigning) while Jackson forces promoted his cause through Hickory Clubs, parades, songs, etc. Jackson won overwhelmingly (55% to 37% popular; 219-49 electoral votes). 7 days later, SC nullified the Tariff of 1832 (220). Jackson embarked on his mission to save the union without appearing tyrannical. Calhoun believed any violence would draw other Southern states into SC’s orbit. In his annual message, he kept his temper and proposed tariff reductions since the national debt was being paid off. JQ Adams thought it capitulation to the nullifiers. Instead, Jackson’s move seemed diplomatic and isolated SC radicals. Meanwhile he secretly made military preparations behind the scenes (226).

In his 1832 proclamation, he was more fierce, stating emphatically that disunion by force is treason. Calhoun elected to the Senate where he continued to fight Jackson. John Marshall, no alarmist, took the prospect of disunion seriously. The early weeks of 1833 were tense. The tariff reform bill was moving through Congress which would remove the proximate cause of the crisis. Jackson appeared to be pleasing neither side and Calhoun was feeling confident. In January, Jackson made his next move pushing a Force Bill, asking Congress to give him explicit permission to use the military against fellow Americans (239).

Jackson was in a tough position. He was trying to cut the tariff to appease the South, but feared alienating the North in doing so. His request to approve the use of force risked he might drive moderate southerners into Calhoun’s camp. Many feared the bill would create a military dictator. Clay began searching for a compromise before it was too late. What emerged was the Compromise of 1833 in which there was tariff reform for the South, a Force Bill for the nationalists, and distribution of public land revenues for the West (Jackson vetoed the last measure). It was a combination carrot and stick approach. The author argues that Jackson was the prime player in this drama, not just a trigger happy warrior that was saved by Clay. Jackson projected strength while looking for a way out (246).

After the inauguration, the president was aboard a steamboat when a disgruntled navy officer assaulted him, the first such assassination attempt.

While Jackson won reelection and had vetoed the bank charter, US funds remained in its vault. Jackson looked for way to destroy the bank now and decided to remove the federal deposits. The one obstacle was his new treasury secretary William Duane who refused. Jackson published his decision in the Globe and fired Duane in order to carry it out.

Biddle retaliated by calling in loans and restricting credit to create a popular backlash against Jackson. This created economic havoc. Petitions flowed into the White House begging Jackson for relief. Jackson rebuffed them harshly. In March, Jackson was censured for removing the deposits. But Biddle’s play only solidified Jackson’s arguments against the bank (i.e. that Biddle held too much power as a non-elected official and could abuse it). In 1834, the House voted to move the funds to state banks giving Jackson a huge victory.

Abroad, France was declined to honor its financial obligations to pay the US $5M debt it owed. In his annual message to Congress, Jackson asked for an embargo and a law approving reprisals on French property. France recalled its minister, but they had misjudged American sentiment. Even JQ Adams was siding with Jackson against French condescension. The UK stepped in to mediate and resolved it quickly. The French accepted conciliatory remarks by Jackson and France would pay its debt.

Jackson’s victories spawned the creation of the Whig Party who opposed his monarchical tendencies.

In January 1835, Jackson paid off the national debt. Returning from a funeral, a man twice fired pistols at Jackson (two separate guns misfired). Both guns later proved functional adding a providential mystique to Jackson’s escape. Though his attacker was insane, Jackson believed his political foes tried to assassinate him (299).

In 1835, Jackson sought to curb growing abolitionist sentiment. He asked Congress for a law to prevent Anti-Slavery Society tracts from being circulated or mailed to Southern states as they may incite insurrection. Thought he bill failed, Jackson tacitly allowed the suppression of antislavery mailings.

Jackson set up Van Buren to succeed him in 1836 and the Democratic convention duly nominated him. His opponents painted Jackson as a king-making hypocrite.

It was a tense year. Jackson dispatched a failed envoy to purchase Texas for $5M. Santa Anna was putting down revolt in Texas as American volunteers joined the cause. Another conflict, the 7-year Second Seminole War was also beginning. In Georgia, Cherokee removal continued in order to meet the 1838 deadline (the year after Jackson left office).

In 1835, Congress implemented a gag rule to prevent discussion of emancipation of slaves in DC. JQ Adams became its most vocal opponent.

Texas declared its independence and Santa Anna stormed the Alamo. Jackson officially maintained US neutrality.

Emily Donelson grew terribly sick with tuberculosis. She died at age 29, her husband not at her side because he was helping Jackson.

Van Buren narrowly won the presidency. Jackson had one last fight…to erase the bank deposit removal censure by the Senate. Jackson’s allies succeeded in expunging it from the record.

At the Hermitage, Jackson grew more religious in his later life. A financial panic, followed by depression struck the country months after he left office. There is much historical debate over how much Jackson’s policies contributed to the hard times. He passed away in 1845 at age 78.