Martin van buren biography cortal consors

Senate Years of Service:

Party:

Democratic Republican; Crawford Republican; Jacksonian

VAN BUREN Martin , a Senator from New York, a Vice President and 8th President of the United States; born in Kinderhook, Columbia County, N.Y., December 5, ; attended the village schools; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Kinderhook, N.Y., in ; moved to Hudson, N.Y.Y., where he died July 24, ; interment in Kinderhook Cemetery.

Bibliography

American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Cole, Donald. Martin Van Buren and the American Political System. Princeton: Princeton University Press, ; Remini, Robert. Martin Van Buren and the Making of the Democratic Party. New York: Columbia University Press,

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Present

The young Martin Van Buren, it turns out, was a superb politician.  Not a charismatic or socially instinctive soul, he nonetheless had quite a knack for politics &#; even as a teenager. As he aged, he thrived on the thrill of the chase whether that meant winning a legal argument in the courtroom, using a hidden loophole to his legislative advantage, or simply out-hustling his opponent and winning an election.

Early in his political career he didn&#;t seem to mind swimming upstream, even if that meant disagreeing with his neighbors and friends (sometimes against his better judgment).  Later in life he became more malleable &#; and cautious &#; and was slower to take sides on the important political issues of the day.  In short, he became quite a skillful politician&#;and a non-committal one when appropriate.

But despite being one of the best politicians of his day the &#;Little Magician&#; made quite a mediocre president. He seemed to forget (or ignore) most of what assisted in his political rise and was an uninspired chief executive.  To be sure, his presidency was also hurt by the faltering economy he inherited from the