Andrew Jackson embodied the contradictory qualities of the young American republic. He expanded the possibilities of the presidency and American democracy, yet also held slaves, carried out a brutal policy of Indian removal from tribal lands, and was contemptuous of women's rights. An early historian called him an “urbane savage” and an “atrocious saint.” This PBS documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, presents an informative and perceptive look at the first truly common man to occupy the White House. Jackson's poverty-stricken family emigrated from Ireland, but by the end of the American Revolution, Andrew had lost his family, yet also acquired his reckless spirit, a will to survive, and a lifelong hatred of the British. “Old Hickory” once killed a man over a gambling debt and was a natural leader (despite his lack of military training) who became a hero during the War of 1812, which helped launch his political career. His wife Rachel was as headstrong as her husband, leaving her first husband to elope with Jackson, an act which haunted her for the rest of her life and led to charges of adultery, which Jackson believed hastened her death on the eve of his inauguration as our seventh president. Jackson, who said he was “born for the storm,” disliked the quiet life of a country squire, and his first-term inaugural party degenerated into a near riot as he opened the doors to the White House. Over the course of his career, Jackson never avoided a political battle, whether it was supporting the Union or taking on the United States Bank. Combining dramatic recreations together with testimony from historians and biographers, this illuminating profile brings to life an era that faced controversies surprisingly similar to our own today. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and the Presidency
(2007) 120 min. DVD: $24.99 ($59.95 w/PPR). PBS Video. Closed captioned. ISBN: 0-7936-9410-8. Volume 23, Issue 3
Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and the Presidency
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