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American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House |  | Author: Jon Meacham
Publisher: Random House
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
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Rating:  204 reviews
Sales Rank: 39791
Format: Deckle Edge
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1St Edition
Pages: 512
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.7
ISBN: 1400063256
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.56092
EAN: 9781400063253
ASIN: 1400063256
Publication Date: November 11, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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.
Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency–and America itself.
Exclusive Amazon.com Q&A with Jon Meacham and H.W. Brands On the eve of the historic 2008 presidential election, we were fortunate to chat with historians Jon Meacham and H.W. Brands (author of Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) on the similarities of their presidential subjects and how the legacies of FDR and Jackson continue to shape the political world we see today. Amazon.com: One of Andrew Jackson's childhood friends once remarked that when they wrestled, "I could throw him three times out of four, but he never stayed throwed." How emblematic is this of Jackson's career? Meacham: Utterly emblematic. Jackson was resilient, tough, and wily, rising from nothing to become the dominant political figure of the age. He was crushed by his loss in 1824, when, despite carrying the popular vote, he was defeated in the House of Representatives. But, tellingly, he began his campaign for 1828 almost immediately, on the way home to Tennessee. And he won the next time. Amazon.com: What would Jackson think of Franklin Delano Roosevelt? Meacham: I think they would have gotten along famously. It is difficult to imagine men from more starkly different backgrounds—to take just one example, Jackson lost his mother early, and FDR was long shaped by his mother—but they both viewed the presidency the same way: they both believed they should be in it, wielding power on behalf of the masses against entrenched interests. Amazon.com: How important was Jackson's legacy to FDR's Presidency? Brands: Jackson was FDR’s favorite president, and Jackson’s presidency was the one Roosevelt initially modeled his own after. FDR saw Jackson as the champion of the ordinary people of America; he saw himself the same way. He compared Jackson’s battle with the Bank of the United States to his own battle with entrenched economic interests. And just as Jackson had reveled in the enmity of the rich, so did Roosevelt. Amazon.com: Although both were regarded as champions of the people, their backgrounds were drastically different. FDR hailed from a wealthy and politically-connected family, while Jackson was an orphaned son of immigrants. How did each manage to endear themselves to the voters of their day? Meacham: Jackson was in many ways the first great popular candidate. He had “Hickory Clubs,” and there were torchlit parades and barbecues—lots and lots of barbecues. Jackson helped mastermind the means of campaigning that would become commonplace. He also intuitively understood the power of image, and kept a portrait painter, Ralph Earl, near to hand in the White House. Brands: FDR combined noblesse oblige with felt concern for the plight of the poor. His polio had something to do with this—it introduced him to personal suffering, and it also introduced him, in Georgia, where he went for rehabilitation, to poor farmers unlike any he had spent time with before. He came to know them and to feel the problems they faced. He took people in trouble seriously and communicated that seriousness to them. Continue reading this Q&A
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 204
 Dramatic story telling, no historical context July 21, 2010
Richard Gibson (Woodland Hills, CA)
Jon Meacham, the editor of the soon-to-be-sold or put down Newsweek, and author of Franklin and Winston, has written an oddly unbalanced book on Andrew Jackson, as president. As the book tells you, it is not a full biography of the 7th president; its treatment of his pre-White House years is very short. This book focuses primarily on Jackson, as President.
On the good side, it is a very lively, readable book. Meacham is a fine story teller, and Jackson provides many fine stories. The drama and the color of Jackson come across well.
On the negative side, there is virtually no larger context. Meacham's camera is very tight in its focus. We get a great deal about Jackson's life. We get a great deal about his relationship with his family, and his fights with his political enemies. We get next to nothing about the larger context. Jackson, for example, spent a lot of time and energy, destroying the Second Bank of the United States. What WAS the Second Bank of the United States? Why was it created? What did it do? Was destroying it a good thing or a bad thing? Meacham discuses none of this. To him, the 2nd BUSA is simply a powerful, elite institution, which Jackson believed was undemocratic and which Jackson therefore destroyed. Was this a destructive act by an economically illiterate President, or a wise move by a brillant democrat? A case can be made each way, but Meacham discusses neither of those cases.
So, in the end, we are left with a glittering, dramatic portrait, but no real discussion of why Jackson mattered.
 Jackson the Individual July 9, 2010
Wilhelmina
Throughout the book, "Andrew Jackson in the White House: American Lion," the author, Jon Meacham, the editor of Newsweek, strives to depict President Andrew Jackson in a different light. Meacham does not treat Jackson as the military tyrant that killed thousands of Native Americans, nor does he glorify Jackson's actions during the nullification crisis, Meacham merely attempts to humanize Jackson, and shows that like all men Jackson experienced both successes and failures.
Andrew Jackson was born in 1767 in a small town along the border between North and South Carolina, his childhood was defined by the American Revolution. In fact he stood up to a British officer when he refused to shine his shoes. The officer retaliated by scaring Andrew's hand, thus sparking his lifelong resentment towards the British. By the age of seventeen Jackson had no immediate family to speak of; therefore he decided to migrate to Nashville, where he established himself as a farmer, lawyer, politician and military officer. While in Nashville, Jackson fell deeply in love with a wealthy woman named, Rachel Donelson Robards. The only thing standing in the way of the young couple, was the fact that Rachel was already married when Rachel and Jackson began courting and living together. The Jacksons had a happy marriage, but whispers about the origins of their relationship dogged them until Rachel's death in December 1828. Meacham describes this tragedy as one of the hardest things Jackson ever had to go through; he even blamed her death on the stress related from the harsh accusations of Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams during the election of 1828. Meacham makes it apparent that Jackson was basically willing to do anything to acquire vengeance. In fact, Jackson's need to seek revenge often led him to compete in thirteen duals, one of which killed a man.
Jackson is consistently portrayed throughout as the book as the first, "Rags to Riches," or "The Common Man," president. Prior to President Jackson, his predecessors were all educated men, and came from fairly elite backgrounds. This makes it easier for the reader to identify with Jackson's feeling of being an outcast, in a way that is unique from other politicians. Jon Meacham gives Jackson well deserved recognition for essentially being the first president elected by the American People, and additionally for being the first president from the Democratic Party. Jackson revolutionized the way in which the United States goes about electing the president. Meacham addresses the fact that without President Andrew Jackson, the modern presidency would not exist nor thrive in the matter in which it does today. The Majority of the narrative takes an intimate look at Jackson's personal life within the White House, while focusing briefly on his lesser known early political career.
The book approaches the life of Andrew Jackson through the thoughts and opinions of those around him. Meacham and Jackson are similar in the sense that they both derived from broken homes and did not have a strong immediate family; this fact plays a huge role in Meacham's understanding of Jackson. From chapter to chapter Meacham stresses the influence that the people surrounding Jackson had over him. He eloquently interprets the feelings of people like, Henry Clay, Edward Livingston, and Margret Eaton, to better recognize Andrew Jackson's tendencies in human relationships. Every secondary character is developed beautifully and it is evident on each page the influence each person had on the President. Although sometimes it is hard to recall who is who in Jackson's life, Meacham does a wonderful job defining the affiliation between each character and Andrew Jackson. Through stressing the importance of human relations on Jackson's life, the reader cannot help but form a bond, not with the general or President Jackson, but the man Andrew Jackson.
In the Prologue, Jon Meacham introduces Jackson by saying, "He was the most contradictory of men. A champion of extending freedom and democracy to even the poorest of whites, Jackson was an unrepentant slaveholder. A sentimental man who rescued an Indian orphan on a battlefield to raise in his home, yet he was responsible for the removal of Indian ancestral lands [...] Jackson was a strong supporter of states' rights, but he also promised to die, if necessary to preserve the power and prestige of the central government." This description of Jackson sets the stage for the rest of the book. Meacham really stresses the extent of the personal sacrifices and contradictions Jackson had to deal with as President of the United States. Similarly, Meacham provides accounts of the brutal treatment of slaves within Jackson's own family. Although, these slaves were severely disciplined and treated inadequately, Meacham notes that as Jackson lay dying at the hermitage, he stated that "Christ has no respect to color" and that "we will all meet in Heaven."
In comparison to Howard Zinn's A People's History of the World, it seems as if Meacham does glorify Andrew Jackson's mistakes. Although Meacham does mention all of the controversial issues surrounding Jackson, it is almost as if he turns a blind eye and he makes it seem as if Jackson's inadequacies play only a minor role in the grand scheme of his life. Zinn on the other hand amplifies Jackson's faults, he states, "Jackson, while leaving his military post, he also gave advice to officers on how to deal with the high rate of desertion. Jackson suggested whipping for the first two attempts, and the third time, execution" (Zinn 86). In Zinn's mind Andrew Jackson personifies everything that is wrong with the world, white, enfranchised, males. Instead Jon Meacham looks below the surface of Jackson's actions and interprets Jackson as an average American, father figure who would do anything for the country.
Meacham takes extreme pride in the fact that he was able to use primary sources such as, a private collection of Emily Donelson's letters, the memoirs of Mrs. Eliza Williams Chotard Gould, letters between Andrew Donelson and Jackson, and papers between John Quincy Adams and his wife Louisa, all of which have never been published. Due to the unparalleled access in personal documents relating to Andrew Jackson, Meacham was able to focus on Jackson's personal life like never before.
One may find that Meacham's organization is often hard to follow, and it is hard to keep track of which events happened when. Jackson's life is organized chronologically, yet at times it seems as if Meacham became extremely excited about a particular aspect of Jackson's life therefore he arbitrarily added the detail not necessarily in the right place. Meacham often foreshadows events in Jackson's life. Although this technique makes it harder to understand sequential order of events in Jackson's life, it becomes easier to examine trends within Jackson's policies. Through the technique of foreshadowing events it becomes easier for the reader to understand Jackson's questionable decisions and the immense pressure he was constantly under. In addition to utilizing foreshadowing, Meacham also looks Jackson's life as a narrative. This approach makes it easier for the reader to identify with Jackson on a personal level. Also one can begin to understand Jackson's actions by putting themselves in his shoes.
Personally, I really enjoyed reading, Andrew Jackson in the White House: American Lion. Often it is harder for me to get through Non-Fiction books but in this case I really did not mind. Meacham's writings and insight into never before details of Jackson's Life, make this book hard to put down. Although at some points in the middle of Jackson's presidency it was easy to lose interest; Meacham immediately regained my attention through throwing in a saucy story or a personal detail about Jackson. I have a newfound respect for not only Andrew Jackson but all of the presidents. Through reading this book I got the impression that every little decision the president makes can affect the way his legacy is interpreted. I now understand why Jackson was chosen to have his portrait on the twenty dollar bill. I must admit that even after reading this book, I do not agree with a lot of Jackson's political choices, but I now have a better understanding the complex situations that influenced Jackson's decisions.
All in all, the book, Andrew Jackson in the White House: American Lion, provides the reader with deep insight into the inner thinking's of Andrew Jackson and the man he truly was. Meacham serves his purpose to show the President in an original light. Jackson was a lot of things a, farmer, lawyer, lover, officer, lawyer, politician, tyrant, and a family man, but most importantly Jackson did not fit just one of these labels, and through reading this book Jackson will always remain one's mind as merely human being.
Insightful penetrating examination of our 7th President July 8, 2010
John J. Nichols (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Winner of Pulitzer Prize! Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek and author of 4 New York Times best sellers, has written a masterful study of Andrew Jackson, our 7th President. Much maligned, often held in popular contempt, Andrew Jackson literally changed the American concepts of the Presidency, empowering it and all his successors in this office. Students of our system of National Government will find this fascinating. At times this book is ponderous and in my opinion wastes too much time ruminating about Jackson's almost politically fatal devotion to the wife of John Henry Eaton, his Secretary of War. Margaret Eaton was a very controversial woman held in low repute by many people in Washington Society. Jackson was extremely loyal to his friend, John Henry Eaton, and defended Margaret when he should have asked John to resign his position without prolonged delay! Jackson also did not cover himself with glory in his decision to remove the Choctaw and Cherokee tribes from east of the Mississippi, leading to the "Trail of Tears." Nor for that matter was his slave holdings something to be proud of. If you visit the "Hermitage," Jackson's home in Nashville, TN, this painful topic is now linked inexorably with both the "Hermitage" and Jackson, who is buried with his wife, Rachel, in a simple but elegant tomb on the property.
 Fantastic Read July 1, 2010
Heinrich Teuton (Iowa, USA)
This book is a well written, easy to follow biography of Jackson. The author did his homework and produced a fantastic read. The titles of the chapters are cleverly drawn from quotes of Jackson or those involved with him. The story is captivating and Jackson is most definitely an American hero. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has interest in America, Andrew Jackson, the South leaving the Union, or the presidency as it exists today.
Good bio that focuses mainly on the Presidential years June 29, 2010
Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA)
I enjoyed this Jackson biography. You read about his difficult childhood (his mother and father and brother died young), and his growing military skills and his triumph at the Battle of New Orleans. You also read about his controversial courtship and subsequent marriage (it was rumored that his wife was still married to her first husband, and bigamist charges were thrown around during Jackson's Presidential runs. Sad to say, she died just a couple of weeks after he was elected President).
Jackson was fiercely patriotic and stood strong against the efforts of South Carolina to fight for the right to secede from the Union. The first couple of years of Jackson's administration was plagued with scandal over his secretary of war and whether or not his wife was an adulterer,but Jackson fiercely stood by his friend.
You also read about Jackson's support for the removal of Indians from their native lands and sending them out east on reservations (The Trail of Tears). His deception of the Indians is not one of his shining moments.
But Jackson is noteworthy for increasing the powers of the Presidency. He fired a lot of the sacred cows in government when he got elected and hired people who were faithful to him. He was hated by John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and later on, he was even disliked by his own VP John Calhoun.
Later in life, he dedicated himself to serving Christ.
Meacham writes well and keeps you interested. Good books
Showing reviews 1-5 of 204
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