The Passions of Andrew Jackson

Prof. Burstein of Tulsa University is an expert in the language of early American politics. In this illuminating book, he applies that expertise to Andrew Jackson. Using letters, memos, etc., Burstein structures a biography of Jackson rich in literary and linguistic analysis. He shows how Jackson viewed the world in terms of honor and loyalty, sometimes to the exclusion of all else.
The author then uses these insights to explain Jackson’s several duels, his intense friendships, which sometimes ended in affairs of honor, and his inability to see that his political opponents sometimes had valid points. To Jackson, you were either for his policies, and therefore for him, or against his policies and therefore against him personally. In show more the concluding chapter, Prof. Burstein sums up Jackson’s place in history beside Washington and Jefferson. The author argues that these three presidents were more alike than we sometimes remember, but all are products of their times and cultures. show less

Burstein covers the passions of Jackson who was a highly passionate person in many respects. Burstein states on C-Span that Jackson is "emotionally combustible". He is enigmatic and difficult to contain in one book. Burstein focuses more on the passions and not so much of the two term presidency. I recommend the book and enjoyed it. Jackson is so complex that it takes several books to get a grip on him. There is no one books that covers him well just the same as Washington and Jefferson. He grew up during the Revolution, was an Indian fighter, an Army General, hero of New Orleans, temporary governor of Fl, served in Congress, and elected to presidency 3 times by popular vote, the first time losing to JQA in the Senate. This extremely show more long career is practically impossible to cover in one book. Burstein does cover well his passions. You may see a video of Burstein discussing this book on C Span and its very good......http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/ThePass show less