John Tyler, the Accidental President

De: Edward P. Crapol

Narrado por: Michael Butler Murray

The first vice president to become president on the death of the incumbent, John Tyler (1790-1862) was derided by critics as "His Accidency." In this biography of the 10th president, Edward P. Crapol challenges depictions of Tyler as a die-hard advocate of states' rights, limited government, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Instead, he argues, Tyler manipulated the Constitution to increase the executive power of the presidency. Crapol also highlights Tyler's faith in America's national destiny and his belief that boundless territorial expansion would preserve the Union as a slaveholding republic. When Tyler sided with the Confederacy in 1861, he was branded as America's "traitor" president for having betrayed the republic he once led.

©2006 The University of North Carolina Press (P)2019 Tantor

Particular institution?

Peculiar institution, a phrase well overused to make slavery look less evil. This was not a real good biography.

Attempted Rescue Flounders

The author has put in a great effort trying to convince us and himself of Tyler’s worth by giving him credit for being there while things happened. But even he can’t erase the smears.

He’s set a very low bar for the determination of relevancy in a US president, and then essentially manufactures reasons to support his clearing that bar.

Still, it’s a Tyler biography which is more rare than should be of any President.

Excellent as it Could Be

Having listened to nearly 200 Audible books l would give high ranks to this well written documentary that addresses difficult subjects & issues. The narrator was equally talented & fluid. I can’t imagine someone ranking this presentation low unless they were extraordinarily sensitive on the issues discussed, were not familiar with Presidential biographies, or were expecting some sort of Hollywood ride from an 1800s simple world. I salute the author & enjoyed becoming familiar with the issues at hand during this era. Especially about the annexation of Texas, the fact that Britain’s flag once flew over Hawaii, & Britain also attempted to take Texas on the grounds of preventing it from becoming a slave state. Now Polk’s Presidency falls into sync better with me having previously finished his biography. Well Done.

An insightful and thought-provoking biography

My perception of John Tyler prior to this book was quite limited and biased towards the prevailing narrative: a failure in the White House and a white-supremacist scion of the old South. The author does a fantastic job of bringing this man to life and helping the reader understand the complexity of his nature. His political philosophies were molded by the the icons that preceded him: Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. All were Southern gentlemen and plantation owners from Virginia. They were our fledgling nation's aristocracy. Tyler shared so much in common with them that he may have been perceived quite differently had he come from their earlier era. Instead he came to power just as the South's "peculiar institution" was about to rip the nation apart. And his tragic flaw was that he could not separate himself from that institution or fully recognize its evil.

Tyler probably does not get enough credit for his political acumen. His decisive leadership in the aftermath of William Henry Harrison's untimely death averted a Constitutional crisis over determining how Presidential succession should work. And the precedent he established by quickly assuming the full duties of US President as opposed to some temporary or "acting" role, guided future Presidents Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman and L. Johnson until the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967 finally settled the issue of Presidential Succession into the US Constitution.

Tyler also deserves credit for his leadership in securing the annexation of Texas amid a swirl of domestic and international intrigue. James K. Polk often gets credit for the annexation, even though it was Tyler who worked tirelessly to get the groundwork laid during his administration - despite numerous headwinds in Congress. Had Tyler faltered or delayed action on Texas, its admission to the Union may have come at a higher cost.

Great insights

Too much is not taught about Tyler because of his support of the CSA and slavery.
He was the reason why would we later have the 25th amendment to the Constitution by setting example of Vice President taking control of the government when Harrison died in office.
He also expanded American influence not only over Texas, California, Oregon but also in the Pacific rim.
He built up the naval power of America.
But when states rights challenged by Lincoln he would be the only President to become a citizen of another country after leaving office.
His home and historical records would be destroyed by Northern troops in the war.
But this little known 10th Presidents had a large impact on the future of our country.