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VOICE ONE:

THE MAKING OF A NATION -- a program in Special English.

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General Andrew Jackson was elected president ineighteen-twenty-eight. He defeated president John Quincy Adams,after a campaign in which both sides made bitter and viciouscharges. One of those charges was about Jackson's wife. TheGeneral's opponents accused him of taking her from another man. Theysaid Andrew and Rachel were married before her divorce from herfirst husband. This was true. But it happened because MissesJackson's first husband said he had divorced her when he really hadnot done so. Andrew and Rachel completed a second marriage -- alegal one -- when they learned of the mistake.

The campaign charge deeply hurt Rachel Jackson. She was a kindand simple woman. She was proud that Andrew was elected president.But she was not happy about the life she would have to lead as wifeof the president. At first, it was thought she might remain inTennessee, instead of going to Washington. But Rachel Jackson knewher place was with her husband. She would go with him.

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Preparations had to be made forthe move to Washington. And for weeks, the Jackson home was busy.There was little time for Misses Jackson to rest. Her health seemedto suffer. Then on December seventeenth, just a few days before theJacksons were to leave for Washington, two doctors were rushed tothe Jackson home outside Nashville. They found Rachel in great pain.She seemed to be suffering a heart attack. The doctors treated her,and for a time, she seemed to get better.

After a day or so, Rachel was able to sit up and talk withfriends. She seemed cheerful. Jackson was at her side much of thetime. On Sunday, Rachel sat up too long and began feeling worse. Butthe doctors said it was not serious, and they urged General Jacksonto get some rest. He was to go to Nashville the next day. After herhusband went to sleep in the next room, Rachel had her servant helpher to sit up again. Rachel's mind was troubled about the yearsahead in Washington. "I had rather be a door-keeper in the house ofGod," she said, "than live in that palace in Washington."

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A few minutes after ten that night, Rachel cried out and fellfrom her chair. The servants' screams awakened everyone. Jackson wasthe first to get to Rachel. He lifted her to the bed. He watched asthe doctors bent over her. Jackson read in their eyes that life hadleft Rachel. Jackson could not believe it. He sat next to her, hishead in his hands, his fingers through his gray hair.

To his friend, John Coffee, Jackson said: "John, can you realizeshe is dead. I certainly cannot." Rachel was buried two days later.Ten-thousand people went to the Jackson home for the funeral. TheReverend William Hume spoke simply of Rachel Jackson's life. Hetalked of her kindness and humility. And he told how she had beenhurt by the terrible charges made during the election campaign.

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Jackson fought to hold back his tears. When the churchmanfinished speaking, those near Jackson heard him say: "In thepresence of this dear saint, I can and do forgive all my enemies.But those vile wretches who have lied about her, must look to Godfor mercy."

Jackson felt that Rachel's death was caused by the viciouscharges made during the election campaign. He told a friend a fewdays later: "May God almighty forgive her murderers as I know shewould forgive them. I never can." Jackson left his home Januaryeighteenth to begin the long trip to Washington. "My Heart is nearlybroken," he said. "I try to lift my spirits, but cannot."

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In Washington, no one knew what to expect. Senator Daniel Websterwrote a friend at Boston: "General Jackson will be here about thefifteenth of February. Nobody knows what he will do when he doescome. My opinion is that when he comes, he will bring a breeze withhim. Which way it will blow, I cannot tell. My fear is stronger thanmy hope."

Crowds of Jackson's supporters began arriving in the capital.Some wanted to see their man sworn-in as president. Many wanted --and expected -- a government job. General Jackson arrived inAlexandria, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, onFebruary twelfth.

Jackson was sixty-one years old. He was a tall, thin man. Hisface was wrinkled. And his white hair was pushed back from his highforehead. His eyes -- usually sharp and commanding -- were filledwith grief. Jackson's health had never been really good. He carriedin his body two bullets from duels fought years before. But he was atough man with a spirit strong enough to keep moving, even whenseriously sick. For three weeks, the general met with his advisersand friends. He decided on the men who would form his cabinet.

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For the job of Secretary of State, Jackson chose Martin Van Burenof New York, a man of great political ability. He named aPennsylvania businessman, Samuel Ingham, to be Secretary of theTreasury. John Berrien of Georgia was chosen to be Attorney General.His Navy Secretary would be John Branch, a former senator andgovernor of North Carolina. For War Secretary Jackson chose an oldfriend, Senator John Eaton of Tennessee.

Three members of this cabinet -- Berrien, Branch, and Ingham --were friends of John C. Calhoun, Jackson's Vice President. Calhounexpected to be president himself when Jackson stepped down in fouror eight years. Martin Van Buren also wanted the presidency. Hewould do all he could to block Calhoun's ambition.

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Andrew Jackson was sworn-in aspresident on March fourth, eighteen-twenty-nine. President JohnQuincy Adams did not go to the ceremony at the Capitol building.Jackson had said publicly he would not go near Adams. And he did notmake the traditional visit to the White House while Adams was there.Jackson was still filled with bitterness over the charges madeagainst his wife in the election campaign. He felt Adams was atleast partly responsible for the charges.

The sky over Washington was cloudy on the fourth of March. Butthe clouds parted, and the sun shone through, as Jackson began theride to the Capitol building. His cheering supporters saw this as agood sign. So many people crowded around the Capitol that Jacksonhad to climb a wall and enter from the back. He walked through thebuilding and into the open area at the front where the ceremonywould be held.

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The ceremony itself was simple. Jackson made a speech that few inthe crowd were able to hear. Then Chief Justice John Marshallswore-in the new president. In the crowd was a newspaperman fromKentucky, Amos Kendall. "It is a proud day for the people," wroteKendall. "General Jackson is their own president."

From the Capitol, Jackson rode down Pennsylvania Avenue to theWhite House. Behind him followed all those who had watched himbecome the nation's seventh president. The crowds followed him allthe way into the White House, where food and drink had been put outfor a party. Everyone tried to get in at once. Clothing was torn.Glasses and dishes were broken. Chairs and tables were damaged.Never had there been a party like this at the White House. Jacksonstayed for a while. But the crush of people tired him, and he wasable to leave. He spent the rest of the day in his hotel room inAlexandria. The guests at the White House finally left after drinkswere put on the table outside the building. Many of the people leftthrough windows, because the doors were so crowded.

VOICE ONE:

Jackson was now the president of the people. And it seemed thateverybody was in Washington looking for a government job. EverywhereJackson turned, he met people who asked him for a job. They urgedhim to throw out those government workers who supported Adams in theelection. They demanded that these jobs be given to Jacksonsupporters. What Jackson did about this problem will be our story inthe next program of THE MAKING OF A NATION.

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VOICE TWO:

You have been listening to the Special English program, THEMAKING OF A NATION. Your narrators were Stuart Spencer and JackWeitzel. Our program was written by Frank Beardsley. THE MAKING OF ANATION can be heard Thursdays.