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American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House | 
| Author: Jon Meacham
Creator: John H. Mayer
Publisher: Random House Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $21.98
You Save: $17.97 (45%)
New (25) Used (3) from $21.98
Rating:  47 reviews
Sales Rank: 20878
Format: Abridged, Audiobook
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Abridged
Number Of Items: 8
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6 x 5 x 1.2
ISBN: 0739334581
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.56092
EAN: 9780739334584
ASIN: 0739334581
Publication Date: November 11, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: NEW SEALED IN PUBLISHER'S SHRINKWRAP-GIFT QUALITY-SEE FEEDBACK-WE SHIP 6 DAYS A WEEK
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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.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 42 more reviews...
 A missed opportunity January 8, 2009
Charles J. Gisler
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 pre-publication hype that was accorded this work. However, the book was a disappointment to me.
 Jackson made the modern presidency January 8, 2009
Michael Allison (Layton, UT United States)
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 that demonstrates how Jackson turned the center of power from the legislative branch to the executive branch and made the president the central role in our government. Meacham also lets us look at the other big names of the day including Clay, Calhoun, Webster and Taney.
Meacham takes us through how Jackson's genius both forced the issue of Southern States nullification of federal law and pushed the country to the brink of civil war in order to establish both the unviolability of the constitution and the duty and right of the president to protect the union. Meacham then takes us through the national bank issues again showing how Jackson forced the bank to play it's hand and then disembowled the bank and essentially closed it.
Meacham does a good job of making separate stories out of what were often simultaneous issues, as well as the ongoing infighting within Jackson's own cabinet and family. It does get a bit slow and muddled at times, but these are worth fighting through to get to the central stories of the biography. This is less a complaint about Meacham's style, than just the fact of how difficult it is to write about the multitude of events that occur within the White House.
If, like I, you don't know much about Jackson' s presidency, this is an excellent place to start with the latest information and research in the field. If you are looking for a biography of Jackson that includes his life and career outside of the White House, this is NOT the book you want. Those portions of Jackson's life are only glossed over as they pertain to Jackson's later actions in the White House.
-Mike
 Old Hickory's White House years January 8, 2009
Frank J. Konopka (Shamokin, PA)
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 Jackson created, to a large extent, the powers of the president vis a vis Congress. Before him presidents tended to defer to Congress when running the country, but Jackson firmly believed that, since he was elected by the people he should be the one to decide what was to be done, even if Congress did not always agree with im. He had a firm belief in the correctness of his actions and would brook no opposition, not even from those members of his own family nearest and dearest to him. As a man of his times, he had a moral blindness when it came to slavery, owning many himself and not freeing them after his death, as did several of his predecessors. He was the first non-aristocrat elected president and thus had a close connection to the common man. This is a book that should be read closely by those interested in knowing how the power of the modern presidency came to be developed.
Andrew Jackson Revealed January 7, 2009
J. H. Thillmann (NVA USA)
Andrew Jackson is revealed in the biography. It is an easy read and loaded with interesting factual information. I liked it and recommend it. I give it 4 and one half stars.
American Lion January 7, 2009
Gene C. Emmons (Longmont, CO)
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
Author was thorough, good history lesson, with many surprises. (Amazing how the issues of Jackson's presidency are still important in current administrations.) The only negative comment from me would be that Meacham adds a little of his personal opinion - but I guess that's his prerogative. gene, Longmont, CO
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