Robert Remini on Andrew Jackson, by Ari Sclar

Although many observers friendly to the administration continued to misinterpret the rotation policy, Jackson always insisted that he aimed only at restoring the government to virtue and honesty. Sometimes he succeeded brilliantly; other times, he failed abysmally…The appointment of the collector of the Port of New York. This was a sensitive and important position. Some $15 million annually passed through the collector’s hands. If any post needed a man of highest integrity, it was this one. And when Van Buren learned that Jackson intended to appoint Samuel Swartwout to the office he almost collapsed …He [Van Buren] wrote to Jackson immediately and warned him…Jackson refused to listen…Swartwout had been an early supporter in New York – unlike Van Buren…Jackson disregarded the advice and made Swartwout the collector…As it turned out, Swartwout initially proved to be a very popular collector…in time, of course, Swartwout absconded [stole] with $1,222,705.09…Jackson’s opponents doubled over with laughter…Here was the dreadful consequence of denying the government the service of an elite bureaucracy in order to serve some idealistic democratic principle.

- Historian Robert Remini

1. How does the above passage reflect the Jackson presidency?

2. What is Remini’s attitude toward Jackson and his policies in this excerpt? Cite specific words or phrases in explaining your answer.

3. Does the passage reflect Jackson’s role as the successor to a Jeffersonian ‘democratic principle’ or is Jackson’s ‘principle’ something new?