Jackson was committed to remaining a Man of the People, representing and protecting the Common Man. He possessed a commanding presence, a strong will, and a personality that reflected his strength and decisiveness. Jackson had a lot going for him in the view of the electorate. In the War of 1812, he defeated the British at New Orleans in 1815. He was renowned as an Indian fighter. Jackson's military service had produced a large and influential group of supporters and friends who urged him to seek the Presidency.
The campaign of 1828 was far from clean. Although Jackson and John Quincy Adams removed themselves from the mudslinging, their parties waged a dirty campaign. Jackson was aghast to find his opponents labeling his wife Rachel an adulteress. Shortly after the campaign, Rachel passed away. Jackson blamed his political enemies for her death. To deal with his rivals and the general public, Jackson relied on his "Kitchen Cabinet," an unofficial group of friends and advisers.
Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet
| Martin Van Buren | Secretary of State, Later V.P. |
| John H. Eaton | Secretary of War |
| Amos Kendall | Auditor of the U.S. Treasury |
| Major William B. Lewis | Second Auditor of the Treasury |
| Isaac Hill | U.S. Senator and Editor, New Hampshire Patriot |
| Francis P. Blair, Sr. | Editor, Washington Globe |
| Duff Green | Owner, United States Telegraph |
The Founders of the nation feared a tyrannical President they believed that only a strong Congress could best represent the people. Jackson felt that the Congress was not representing the people that they were acting like an aristocracy. Jackson took the view that only the President could be trusted to stand for the will of the people against the aristocratic Congress. Jackson's weapon was the veto. "Andy Veto" used this power more often than all six previous Presidents combined.
At the same time, Jackson espoused the "spoils system" in awarding government offices. In his view, far too many career politicians walked the streets of Washington. These people had lost touch with the public. Jackson believed in rotation in office. America was best served with clearing out the old officeholders and replacing them with appointees of the winning candidates. This "spoils system" would eventually lead to considerable corruption. To Jackson, rotating the officeholders was simply more democratic.
While he made his share of enemies, Jackson transformed the Office of the President into one of dynamic leadership and initiative. His direct appeal to the people for support was new and has served as a model for strong Presidents to this day.
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A Strong Presidency. Owner, United States Telegraph: Not only was Jackson a strong President, but he was a macho guy too.
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The Common Man always held a special place the border between North and South Carolina to his retirement from the presidency, of the United States)
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many people think that the president has become too strong. The American people expect the president to deal with a huge Throughout American history,
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When to date the start of the history of the United States is debated among historians. one with a strong president, and powers of taxation.
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A strong president who backed the Russians us something special about our history." to put candidates on the ballot in the United States of America.
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It seems there were periods in American history when presidents were SEVEN STRONG PRESIDENTS in a President of the United States of America."
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the role of the national government and the need for strong executive emerged the American presidency of American History
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