Martin Van Buren: America’s First Politician

Bradley’s (history, Univ. at Albany; coeditor, The Papers of Martin Van Buren, 1782–1862) book about Van Buren’s presidency (1837–41) shows that it started badly and steadily worsened as the issues piled up. Two months into his term, a bank panic erupted. Predecessor Andrew Jackson’s recognition of the Republic of Texas just before leaving office left Van Buren embroiled in a dispute over the future of enslavement in new territories; he was left to carry through Jackson’s policy of forced migration of Indigenous peoples, and he had to address border violence with Canada as well. Many viewed Van Buren as a temporizer, and he ended up serving only one term as president. He lost his reelection bid to William Henry Harrison. Bradley credits Van Buren for what he accomplished without soft-pedaling his failings. Van Buren created the modern political system of parties, nominating conventions, platforms, and even the practice of using “dirty tricks” to ensure election.