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74 reviews for:
The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness
Harlow Giles Unger
3.52 AVERAGE
74 reviews for:
The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness
Harlow Giles Unger
3.52 AVERAGE
I don’t think he will crack my top 5 but he may be in my top ten presidents. Integral to the Louisiana purchase, attempted to lead a government without pushing political parties (though this definitely failed), imitated George Washington as often as he could as president, and held nearly every political role the possibly could (state rep/senator, us senator, secretary of war, state governor, ambassador to France and to UK, Secretary of State, & President) after a military career in the Revolutionary War. Loved learning that he was childhood/grade school friends with John Marshall, and how their political lives continued to intersect. He also was in favor of women’s education when the vast majority of men were not. Definitely some cons: slaveowner, role in Hamilton’s demise, somewhat of a political puppet for Madison and Jefferson... but generally like him more now than I did before reading this book.
I liked James Monroe as a man and President. I long for the national harmony that seemed to exist during his first term. While any author who dedicates so much time and research to an individual will likely express some sort of bias, I noticed it quite a bit in this book. Which was fine - just an observation.
I continue to work my way through presidential biographies from Washington to.... I really enjoyed Monroe - he led a fascinating life and by all accounts came across as a really good man, committed revolutionary, and dedicated public servant. I wished the author dug a little deeper, particularly into the Monroe Doctrine since for better or worse that is a large part of his legacy. On to Quincy Adams!