heidlers

Advance Praise

"Two of my favorite historians, David and Jeanne Heidler, here explain how a determined band of Andrew Jackson's supporters made him President of the United States, in the process permanently transforming American politics.  The story they tell—carefully researched, cleverly constructed, full of ironies and surprises--is poised to become the definitive account of a still controversial electoral campaign.” — Daniel Walker Howe, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848

“Vividly written, The Rise of Andrew Jackson unpacks Old Hickory’s climb to the White House only to find savvy spinmeisters and shrewd political operatives managing him all the way, often straining to control his legendary temper.  In providing this misunderstood part of Jackson’s story, the Heidlers’ paint a fascinating portrait of the bare-knuckles politics of the 1820s, one that resonates today.” — David O. Stewart, author of The Summer of 1787

"Many thoughtful citizens feared that Andrew Jackson's election in 1828 spelled the death of the Republic, and this book shows why. Written with verve and conviction, it shows how Jackson's handlers first mastered the trick of packaging a volatile character with a checkered history into an irresistible presidential candidate. In The Rise of Andrew Jackson, David and Jeanne Heidler have given us both an eye-popping story and a sober lesson for our time.” — Daniel Feller, University of Tennessee, editor of The Papers of Andrew Jackson

“The election of Andrew Jackson in 1828 was a victory for the hero of New Orleans but also for an emerging form of popular politics. David and Jeanne Heidler tell the story of both with verve and insight. At a moment when Jacksonian analogies are rife, their book couldn’t be more timely.” —  H. W. Brands, NYT bestselling author of The General vs. The President”