Grave of Rachel Jackson (1767-1828) at The Hermitage near Nashville. It's not surprising that President Jackson should have visited it every day (probably, like Trump, only when he was in Tennessee), since it was in his back yard. He himself was also buried there, after his death in 1845, so that people nowadays often think of it as his grave too. Photograph via Trip Advisor. |
Had Andrew Jackson Been a Little Later
by Donald J. Trump
I His Wife DiedText from an interview with Salena Zito to be aired on Sirius XM, via Taegan Goddard. We've noticed before what an interesting hold the figure of Jackson has on Trump's poetic imagination, even being involved in that time when he looked at a book.
They destroyed his wife
and she died. He was a swashbuckler,
but when his wife died you know
he visited her grave everyday?
I visited her grave actually
because I was in Tennessee.
II And It Was Amazing
The people of Tennessee
are amazing people. They love Andrew Jackson.
They love Andrew Jackson in Tennessee…
III I Mean
had Andrew Jackson been a little later
you wouldn’t have had the Civil War.
He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart.
He was really angry that he saw what was happening
with regard to the Civil War, he said
“There’s no reason for this.” People don’t realize,
you know, the Civil War, if you think about it,
why? People don’t ask that question,
but why was there the Civil War?
Why could that one not have been worked out?
Jackson was indeed angry when South Carolina began threatening to secede from the Union in a revolt over import taxes protecting northern industry and indirectly discouraging cotton exports, during the Nullification Crisis of 1832, some 28 years before they actually did secede on a different issue, but I think it's a stretch to say that was happening "with regard to" the Civil War of 1860-65. "There's no reason for this" or working that one out don't sound like Jackson's style, which ran more to
Look on this picture of happiness and honor, and say, We, too, are citizens of America—Carolina is one of these proud States; her arms have defended—her best blood has cemented this happy Union! And then add, if you can, without horror and remorse, This happy Union we will dissolve—this picture of peace and prosperity we will deface—this free intercourse we will interrupt—these fertile fields we will deluge with blood—the protection of that glorious flag we renounce—the very name of Americans we discard. And for what, mistaken men! for what do you throw away these inestimable blessings—for what would you exchange your share in the advantages and honor of the Union? For the dream of a separate independence—a dream interrupted by bloody conflicts with your neighbors, and a vile dependence on foreign power. If your leaders could succeed in establishing a separation, what would be your situation? Are you united at home—are you free from the apprehension of civil discord, with all its fearful consequences? Do our neighboring republics, every day suffering some new revolution or contending with some new insurrection—do they excite your envy? But the dictates of a high duty oblige me solemnly to announce that you cannot succeed. (WikiSource)I hope professional historians will take a cue from Trump and start asking why the Civil War took place, that sounds like a terrific research topic. I'm shocked nobody has worked on it.
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