TWO GREAT MEN, JACKSON AND TRUMP - by Shel St Clair

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Image result for American Lion by Jon MeachamTWO GREAT MEN, JACKSON AND TRUMP by Shel St Clair

I am currently re-reading American Lion by Jon Meacham. It’s a biography about President Andrew Jackson. Woah Cowboy, before any of you leftie commenters start trashing Jackson, I need to say, I don’t care about your opinion. Really. He is a personal hero of mine. (Yes, I know about the Trail of Tears.) Jackson, as a man, triumphs in the nature of his character, will and accomplishments over even the disasters of his era.

I am re-reading it because President Trump has always struck me as very Jacksonian. I have read every biography of Jackson written and everything I can find that he wrote himself. He, like Trump, was a natural Genius. I do not think that Jackson, nor Trump, was/is perfect; there has been only one perfect man. I started rereading it when the Impeachment trial started because I was so struck by the similarities in the political environment of the times.

Jackson loved America as a vision. He loved the idea and the ideal of this nation. Trump’s love of America is the exact same love. They are/were both fierce defenders of the vision of “being American.” They saw/see this vision in terms of both personal freedom and personal responsibility. They were both determined to do what they saw/see as “the right thing” because they both believe(d) that the derision of others was not to be compared with the shame of conscience. Neither cared if everyone agreed with them. They both had/have an innate confidence in the work of providence within themselves.

Jackson, like Trump, was a populous President who was almost universally hated by his opponents. The people loved him and saw him based on his substantial accomplishments in life, but his opponents painted him as an uneducated buffoon. Just like Trump, Jackson’s opponents could not believe that the people could vote for this backwoods man who was not part of what was already the “Washington Elite.” In the end, just like Trump, Jackson by his innate genius and charm won the hearts and minds of every foreign leader and diplomat he met.

The oppositional policy debate over Jackson’s first three years of leadership was remarkably similar to Trumps. The plots against the two leaders are also greatly alike. Even while Jackson accomplished tremendous things for America, his opponents plotted to cheat in the upcoming election to ensure a Jackson defeat.  Alexander Spear wrote to a friend and Jackson supporter, “…A repeat of 1824 with Calhoun and Henry Clay in the villainous roles is under consideration. The understanding appears that Mr. Calhoun’s name is to be run, as a candidate, not because it is expected that he can be elected, but to defeat the election BY THE PEOPLE and thus throw it into the house of representatives where it can be managed as to THEIR best interest…” THEIR opposition to Jackson is unequivocal. -(Meacham, Jon, 2008, American Lion, Random House, Chapter 9) Mind you, Calhoun was Jackson’s Vice President.

Speaking of Jackson, but he might as well be speaking of Trump. “He could be brutal in his application of power, but he was not a brute. He could be unwavering, but he was not close-minded. He was rather, the great politician of his time, if success in politics is measured by the affirmation of the majority of the people in real-time and by the shadow one casts after leaving the stage.” Jon Meacham. I could go on but, read the book. You will be amazed by the similarities between these two men and their Presidencies. - Shel

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