by Jon Meacham
from Random House Audio
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Editorial ReviewAndrew 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.
Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency-and America itself.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews:
- Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
- Truly an American Lion
Jackson was not a kind and gentle president, but he was effective. Because of his political skill a Civil War was avoided two decades before the real one. The lasting memory of this book is the destructive role slavery played in our history as a nation.The depiction of Jackson's extended family and the role they played in his presidency is new and very interesting.
- A missed opportunity
I am a biography fan and a history buff. The American Lion was written in the style of a gossip column. The author elevated Jackson's social life and the interaction of Jackson's associates, family and friends to a level of importance rendering the book unreadable. Jackson's contributions to the Executive branch, his successes and failures, are buried in social minutia that strangles the reader's view of the larger issues. I had looked forward to reading the American Lion, especially with all of the... more info
- Jackson made the modern presidency
Jon Meacham's new biography of President Jackson is an interesting focus of Jackson in the White House. It is more about the internal politics of 1830's Washington, then about the larger US and world affairs of the time. Meacham looks at how Jackson approached those larger issues and how he fought through the opposition politics to win nearly every battle he set out to win. If you are a student of Jackson, maybe much of this is well known. For those who haven't studied Jackson, it is an eye opening work... more info
- Old Hickory's White House years
This is an extremely well-written book that tells, in detail, the White House years of Andrew Jackson. Granted, his entire life is covered, but before and after his presidency is more cursory since the emphasis, as shown in the title, is his eight years as president. And what eight years they were! The problems with Soth Carolina, an arguement with France, and a constant battle with Congress over which institution has more control of the destiny of the country. It's no exaggeration to say that Andrew... more info
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