#3 - The Jacksonian Presidents, Part 1

Previously- William Henry Harrison, one of the war heroes from the War of 1812, found a hard path trying to turn military glory into political success. Martin Van Buren found success in New York politics- he became known as "The Little Magician"- and got elected to the US Senate. John Tyler from Virginia sat in Congress throughout the historic Missouri Compromise, but poor health prompted him to retire from politics. James K. Polk became a lawyer and made some good connections with the most powerful people in Tennessee.

(This blog was inspired by the HBO TV Miniseries, John Adams. I liked this series so much, I wanted to see the same treatment- a six-part TV miniseries- for each of our Presidents. So I've written these blogs to see what that might look like. Regard this blog as a 15-minute segment in an hour-long episode)

January 1, 1824 - Murfreesboro, Tennessee - At the Childress plantation (near Nashville), James K. Polk marries his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Childress. Afterwards, Polk mingles with the wedding guests, many who have come to see one of the rising stars in Tennessee politics. Polk had been elected to the Tennessee State House in the previous year, and he has become friends with Andrew Jackson, the Hero of the Battle of New Orleans and a rising star in national politics. Jackson had encouraged Polk to marry his sweetheart, and Polk had voted in the legislature for Jackson to become a US Senator (back in these days, each state legislature voted for Senators).

February 14, 1824 - Washington, DC - On a cold and snowy night at the Capitol building, Senator Martin Van Buren nervously directs his aides and secretaries. It is the night of the National Caucus, and Van Buren hopes that he can propel his candidate- William Crawford- to victory. In past years, the National Caucus had nominated candidates for Presidential Elections, but by this year, it had lost most of its influence. The trend at this time is for popular votes to select candidates. Van Buren, however, holds onto the idea of the National Caucus- mostly because he is able to manipulate the results. Van Buren has been managing Crawford's campaign since the previous year, but Crawford suddenly became seriously ill, and a doctor's mistreatment caused temporary paralysis. When Crawford- the Secretary of the Treasury in President Monroe's Cabinet- returned to Washington, DC, he could barely speak and his eyes were so damaged that he had to stay in his darkened room. Van Buren is keeping on with the campaign, however, mostly because he doesn't like any of the other candidates. When the votes of the Caucus are cast on that snowy evening in February, the result- to nobody's surprise- is overwhelmingly in favor of Crawford.

Richmond, Virginia - John Tyler reads about the Caucus in the newspaper. Tyler, by this time, has come out of his retirement- he resigned from Congress in 1821- and has taken a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. He discusses the results of the Caucus with one of his colleagues in the House. The feeling among them is that the National Caucus doesn't really matter much these days, so it's a minor victory for Crawford and Van Buren. Continuing the discussion on the presidential election, Tyler talks about how he follows the tradition of Jefferson in maintaining states' rights, and therefore cannot support either Henry Clay or John Quincy Adams (both of whom advocate a program of large national projects- like canals and national roads- which would increase the power of the federal government at the cost of the states). Tyler would have liked to support Gov. DeWitt Clinton because he is building the Erie Canal with money raised by the state of New York and not with funds from the federal government, but Clinton's campaign is fizzling out. By this time, Andrew Jackson has gained attention as a serious candidate, but Tyler is scared by the idea of giving the highest post in the land to a military man. John C. Calhoun believes strongly in states' rights, but he has withdrawn from the Presidential race to run for Vice-President. The only man left for Tyler to support, then, is William Crawford (who believes in states' rights and limited government), whether he's physically fit for the job or not.

Spring, 1824 - North Bend, Ohio - Winter's blanket of snow gives way to the greening of spring, and William Henry Harrison welcomes some visitors to his home. These visitors are some of the most influential men in the state of Ohio, and Harrison is looking to gain their support in the upcoming election for Senator (I wish I had more information here, but it has been difficult to find material on Harrison's early life).

May 1824 - Monticello, Virginia - Van Buren makes a visit to his hero, Thomas Jefferson. During his days-long stay, Van Buren discusses several topics with the 81-year old Jefferson, especially the early days of the Republic- signing the Declaration of Independence, the Revolution, the first days of George Washington's presidential administration. It is a marvelous visit, but Van Buren does not get what he had come for- Jefferson's endorsement of Crawford for President. Jefferson had seen Crawford the previous year, and he probably thinks the man would not live to carry out a full term in office.

August 1824 - Nashville, Tennessee - Polk announces that he will run for US Congress. This means that he must spend most of the next year travelling non-stop throughout his district, and his newlywed wife, Sarah, worries that her new husband's health might fail.

Fall, 1824 - Throughout the rest of the fall season, the political races are in full engagement. Van Buren directs Crawford's presidential campaign and worries about the man's health- on some days, he seems to be recovering, only to fall even worse; Harrison wines and dines the members of Ohio's legislature; Polk travels by horse and by carriage to various places within his district (but his election doesn't take place until August in the following year); Tyler talks with his colleagues in the House of Delegates and decides that he must cast his vote for John Quincy Adams- Crawford's health is too poor to expect him to take the reins of government.

North Bend, Ohio - At his home, William Henry Harrison receives visitors who come to congratulate him on his victory- he has become the next US Senator from Ohio. He starts his term in Congress the following March.

December 1824 - Washington, DC - Congress has started a new session, and in the Senate chambers, Van Buren's desk on the aisle is placed directly behind the new Senator from Tennessee, Andrew Jackson. When Van Buren makes a speech Jackson listens carefully to every word, but he does not trust the man known as "The Little Magician," the sly master of New York politics. When the results of the presidential election gradually come in from around the country, other Senators gather to congratulate Jackson- he has won more popular votes and more electoral votes than the other candidates. Jackson has not, however, won a majority (51% or more), so the House of Representatives must decide among the top three candidates. The Senators discuss the disappointment of Henry Clay- he was sure that his connections in the House would get him the victory, but unfortunately for Clay, he has come in fourth and will not be considered.

Richmond, Virginia - Tyler reads about the election results in the newspaper. His man Adams came in second to Jackson, but there is still a chance that the House might select Adams. Tyler's friend points out the brilliance of Van Buren's campaign management- The Little Magician has managed to get more votes for Crawford, a physical wreck, than for Clay, the masterful Speaker of the House.

Next - The next President doesn't like the job after he wins it, while the others start getting ready for the next election