Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren

Democrat, the 8Democrat, the 8thth President (1837-1841) President (1837-1841)

December 5, 1782, at Kinderhook, NYJuly 24, 1862, at Kinderhook, NY

The FirstThe First PresidentPresident

Born an American citizen rather than a Born an American citizen rather than a British subjectBritish subject

Who did not speak EnglishWho did not speak English To belong to the Dutch Reformed ChurchTo belong to the Dutch Reformed Church

And also the first politicianAnd also the first politician- To create a political machine- To create a political machine- To secure a trade agreement with Turkey- To secure a trade agreement with Turkey

The Unique PresidentThe Unique President

To keep the country out of warsTo keep the country out of wars with Mexicowith Mexico with Britainwith Britain

To stick to principles in office as much as To stick to principles in office as much as out of itout of it

The strongest commitment to free The strongest commitment to free market, civil liberties, noninterventionmarket, civil liberties, nonintervention

Personal FactsPersonal Facts

The Fox of Kinderhook, the Little The Fox of Kinderhook, the Little Magician, American Talleyrand, Van RuinMagician, American Talleyrand, Van Ruin

Great-grandfather Cornelius Maesen Great-grandfather Cornelius Maesen emigrated in 1631 from Buurmalsenemigrated in 1631 from Buurmalsen

A distant relative of T. RooseveltA distant relative of T. Roosevelt Small but sturdy, and a dandySmall but sturdy, and a dandy Married 24, widowed 36, 4 sonsMarried 24, widowed 36, 4 sons

Something to be proud ofSomething to be proud of

A man of principles at 15, an ardent anti-A man of principles at 15, an ardent anti-FederalistFederalist

Politician at 18 – in 1800 campaigned for Politician at 18 – in 1800 campaigned for JeffersonJefferson

Admitted to the bar in 1803 without Admitted to the bar in 1803 without higher educationhigher education

Irony of HistoryIrony of History

Presided over the Senate with 2 loaded Presided over the Senate with 2 loaded pistolspistols

Made “O.K.” popularMade “O.K.” popular Reduced the workday of governmental Reduced the workday of governmental

laborers to 10 hourslaborers to 10 hours Lost re-election to William Harrison Lost re-election to William Harrison

because of economic crisis (Panic of ’37)because of economic crisis (Panic of ’37)

Political CareerPolitical Career

New York State Senator, 1812-1820New York State Senator, 1812-1820 US Senator, 1821-1828US Senator, 1821-1828 Governor of New York, Jan-March 1829Governor of New York, Jan-March 1829 Secretary of State, 1829-1831Secretary of State, 1829-1831 Not minister to Great Britain, 1831Not minister to Great Britain, 1831 Vice President, 1833-1837Vice President, 1833-1837

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

The Caroline Affair, 1837 The Caroline Affair, 1837 The Aroostook War, 1839The Aroostook War, 1839 The Texas Question, 1836-1845The Texas Question, 1836-1845 The Russian ConnectionThe Russian Connection

Van Buren praisedVan Buren praised

People find in him a true friend and People find in him a true friend and protector of their rights and liberty protector of their rights and liberty (Andrew Jackson)(Andrew Jackson)

One of the gentlest and most amiable One of the gentlest and most amiable men I have ever met with (W. Irving)men I have ever met with (W. Irving)

L’ami de tout le monde, his principle is L’ami de tout le monde, his principle is the talisman of democracy (John Quincy the talisman of democracy (John Quincy Adams)Adams)

See you in NSee you in Nüürembergremberg

The Trail of TearsThe Trail of Tears The Second Seminole WarThe Second Seminole War VPOTUS – Richard Mentor JohnsonVPOTUS – Richard Mentor Johnson

Prez says Prez says (1(1stst Annual Message to Congress, Dec 5, 1837) Annual Message to Congress, Dec 5, 1837)

Between Russia and the US sentiments of good Between Russia and the US sentiments of good will continue to be mutually cherished. Our will continue to be mutually cherished. Our minister has been received with a frankness and minister has been received with a frankness and cordiality and with evidences of respect for his cordiality and with evidences of respect for his country which leave us no room to doubt the country which leave us no room to doubt the preservation in future of those amicable and preservation in future of those amicable and liberal relations which have so long and so liberal relations which have so long and so uninterruptedly existed between the 2 countries. uninterruptedly existed between the 2 countries.