Description

Franklin Library leather edition of Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.'s "The Age of Jackson," a limited edition, Illustrated by David Tamura, one of the PULITZER PRIZE CLASICS series, published in 1985. Bound in brown leather, the book has marbled paper end leaves, satin book marker, acid-free paper, Symth-sewn binding, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in near FINE condition. Andrew Jackson, who lived from 1767-1845, was the first President born in a log cabin. He was the son of poor Scotch-Irish immigrants and became an orphan at 14. He grew up on the frontier of the Carolinas, moved to Tennessee, where he became a successful lawyer and landowner. Jackson was tall, 6 ft. 1" and carried himself in the ramrod-straight manner. His face was long and lean and his eyes were dark blue. He had bushy, iron gray hair, brushed high above his head, and a thick hairy chest. Jackson was noted for his terrible temper; at times he would rage uncontrollably for hours. His favorite expletive was "By the Eternal." Jackson won fame as an Indian fighter and a general in the WAR OF 1812. He was nicknamed "Old Hickory" because of his toughness. Jackson bought the HERMITAGE, a plantation about 12 miles from Nashville in 1796. He served as a state delegate and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1796 and was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1797. In 1806, he fought a duel with Charles Dickinson, a lawyer, that ended in Dickinson's death. Dickinson had made insulting remarks about Mrs. Jackson. Jackson was one of the founders of the Democratic Party and was the first "Westerner" and common man to become President. Jackson vetoed more bills than all the Presidents before him put together. He stood ready to argue with Congress or the Supreme Court in the name of all the people. His slogan was: "Let the people rule." The age of Jackson is often described as "the rise of the common man." Jackson demanded state regulation and inspection of banks. He fought for the right of workers to organize labor unions, and called for a 10-hour workday. The Presidential campaign of 1828 was one of the bitterest in American history. Both Jackson and his opponent, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, left the campaigning to friends. Jackson's marriage to Rachel Robards became a campaign issue---with critics saying she was not legally divorced from her husband and she was called a "convicted adulteress." Rachel Jackson died in December 1828 from a heart attack. Jackson said "May God Almighty forgive her murderers as I know she forgave them." Jackson added: "I never can." When Jackson arrived in Washington, D.C. for his inauguration, he was still bitter at politicians who had attacked his wife. He refused to call on President Adams, but the sun shone brightly on Jackson as he walked bareheaded to the Capitol, followed by a huge crowd. The tall, lean, hairy chested, Andrew Jackson stood straight as a soldier at the age of 61. His bright blue eyes shown from a face wrinkled with age and illness. Hundreds of cheering admirers---frontiersmen, farmers, women and children---rushed to shake Jackson's hand. The throng swarmed into the White House and eagerly grabbed cakes, ice creams, and orange punch. They stood on chairs, broke china, tore drapes, and even pushed the President aside. Jackson escaped through a window. But the President lived well and entertained a great deal. Slavery, the Indian issue, and Texas were controversial subjects. George Bancroft wrote: "The feud between the capitalist and laborer, the house of Have and the house of Want, is as old as social union, and can never be entirely quieted. . ." Dr. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. earned a Ph.D. and taught at HARVARD. He published this biography at the age of 22, earning the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1946. He also later served on the staff of Presidents John Kennedy and LB Johnson. 577 pages with an Appendix, Biography and an index. I offer Combined shipping.