Martin Van Buren

America's First Politician

By: James M. Bradley

Narrated by: Paul Woodson

Martin Van Buren was one of the most remarkable politicians not only of his time but in American presidential history. The principal architect of the party system and one of the founders of the Democratic Party, he came to dominate New York—then the most influential state in the Union—and was instrumental in electing Andrew Jackson president. Van Buren's skills as a political strategist were unparalleled (he was known as the "Little Magician"), winning him a series of high-profile offices: US senator, New York's governor, US secretary of state, US vice president, and finally the White House. In his rise to power, Van Buren sought consensus and conciliation, bending to the wishes of slave interests and complicit in the dispossession of America's Indigenous population—two of the darkest chapters in American history.

This new biography of Van Buren—the first full-scale portrait in four decades—charts his ascent from a tavern in the Hudson Valley to the presidency, concluding with his late-career involvement in an antislavery movement. Offering vivid profiles of the day's leading figures (Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, John Quincy Adams, DeWitt Clinton, James K. Polk), James Bradley's book depicts the struggle for power in the tumultuous decades leading up to the Civil War.

©2024 Oxford University Press (P)2024 Tantor Media

History of a lesser known president helps me understand our party system

I never read anything on Martin van Buren, but this helps me understand American history better. I was completely unaware of his role in instigating modern party politics and this book gives good, detailed information. The use of resources is commendable. I recommend it.

So good!

This title was really good! I’ve listened to it twice since it had so much information to absorb. Highly recommend!

Tedious

Light on the personal and heavy on the political. Very little on his actual presidency.

Interesting and a good listen. Great to bridge the gap.

If you are a history person, this is a great listen. Tells the story that nobody seems to have done so yet, at least not in the long form.

It does annoy me when authors interject today’s cultural viewpoints onto the historical figures.

All in all, it is a very good book.

Excellent

This book discusses so much from the birth of political parties to the savage removal of Indians. I did not realize that Van Buren was a one-term President who attempted to actually return to office. 19th century New York state politics is far more than the Civil War