Tag Archives: Henry Clay

James Madison and the Next Generation

The Great Little Madison Many historians include numerous worthies in the category of “Founding Fathers,” i.e. those men in mid-eighteenth century America who rose to prominence as the country established itself as a sovereign nation. Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Andrew Jackson, George Washington, James Madison, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Nifty History People, Thomas Jefferson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lincoln: Lessons of the First Campaign

Abe Lincoln of New Salem When Abraham Lincoln was 21, he left the family fold to set out on his own. He jobbed-on with a riverboat to New Orleans, and was exposed to multiple sights and sounds and experiences he … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Abraham Lincoln, American Civil War, Nifty History People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Millard Fillmore: The Insecure Politician

  Millard Fillmore, 14th President, had little illusion about his own capabilities. The Struggling Farm Boy Millard Fillmore (1800-74) was the son of a minister-farmer, living not far from Buffalo, NY. Ministers are seldom rich, and farming is iffy at … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, James K. Polk, Millard Fillmore, Nifty History People, Zachary Taylor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Zachary Taylor: For Want of a Stamp

Zachary Taylor was arguably the most reluctant of our Presidents. ZT: A Brief Run-Up Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was born in Virginia, but grew up near Louisville, when Kentucky was still part of Virginia. His family was relatively prosperous, but young … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, James K. Polk, Nifty History People, Zachary Taylor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

John Tyler: Entitlements

The Whig Party was a brand new national entity in 1840. …And Tyler Who? The Whig Party, originally formed around 1836, was an amalgam of sectional and factional differences, basically centered on their dislike for President Andrew Jackson, whether it … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, Nifty History People, William Henry Harrison | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Zachary Taylor: Surprisingly Electable

  ZT: A Brief Background Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was born to a fine old Virginia family, but the rugged individual type. They moved to the western part of Kentucky when Zachary was still a boy. Independence and ruggedness was a … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, James K. Polk, Nifty History People, Zachary Taylor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Unexpected Death of Zachary Taylor

During the past few decades, a couple of mild kerfluffles were posed by eminent scholars who suspected that POTUS Rough and Ready may have been done in! Ol’ Zach Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was Virginia born to a middle class family … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Nifty History People, Zachary Taylor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tippecanoe and Lincoln: Coalitions

In 1804, the office of Vice President devolved into one of geopolitical accommodation. Geopolitical Accommodation: After the tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr in the Presidential election of 1800, Aaron Burr became Vice President, according to the premise that … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, John Tyler, Nifty History People, Thomas Jefferson, William Henry Harrison | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Martin Van Buren: The Irony of 1840

8th POTUS Martin Van Buren is vaguely remembered today, but…. …he holds a few interesting distinctions. Born in 1782, he was the first President who was not born a British subject. He was the only President who learned another language … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thank You, John Tyler

The Whig party wasn’t really a political party per se, in 1840. It was more a conglomeration of frictional, factional and sectional needs and angsts, and would remain so for the rest of its short 12-year-run. The frictional part centered … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, John Tyler, William Henry Harrison | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment