LESSER-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS



LESSER-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS

Or PRESIDENTIAL PARAGRAPHS - #8

Mort Fox

Another first, a born American citizen was elected president! Martin Van Buren, our 8th president was born in 1782, after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. All of his predecessors were born as British subjects.

At the age of 14 Van Buren’s formal education ended when he started reading law in the office of a local attorney. He continued to study there for six years. Of course, he had other important duties, such as sweeping the floors and firing the stove. He then went to New York City, and for the next year he polished his legal talents in the law offices of a prominent lawyer there. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1803.

At the age of 24 he married Hannah, age 23. They were actually distant cousins and were happy for about 10 years until she contracted tuberculosis. Because of her passing, Van Buren would become the first president to occupy the White House without a First Lady. His daughter-in-law would fulfill those duties.

Prior to the presidency, Van Buren held several elected offices. In 1812 he was elected to the New York Senate where he fought to eliminate the infamous and illogical imprisonment of debtors. He also worked to combat fraudulent bank practices. Van Buren served as state attorney general for four years while continuing as state senator.

Van Buren served as United States Senator from 1821 to 1828. In 1828 he ran for governor of New York. His sole reason to abandon the senate and become governor was to insure the election of Andrew Jackson. Van Buren had great political clout in the state. Jackson needed the substantial New York vote to win the 1828 election. He and Jackson had become acquainted and very close while both served in the senate. His tenure as governor was only for 2 months. His mission was accomplished as Jackson was elected. Van Buren resigned as governor to become Secretary of State in the Jackson administration.

Van Buren served as secretary of state only from 1829 to 1831, doing a very commendable job. His short tenure in this office was not the result of any falling out with the president. Quite to the contrary, they were as thick as ever, even more so. As a result, Jackson chose Van Buren as his vice presidential running mate.

In 1836 Van Buren was the candidate for president, thanks to Jackson. He went on to be elected. His inaugural address was, in part, a justification for the infamous practice of slavery, at least where it already existed. After all, what was good for our founding fathers and earlier, was good enough for us.

His term was rocked in just 2 months after inauguration with the beginning of the Panic of 1837.

Before it was over in 1843, about 900 banks failed in the country. He also had to contend with a bloodless war along the Canadian border as the exact border, in part, had not been established. Before his death in 1862 he had become more anti-slavery and supported the Civil War.

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