Martin Van Buren: OK
2023-04-16
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Martin Van Buren.
3He was sworn in as the eighth president of the United States in 1837.
4Van Buren had already been working for the White House for several years.
5He had been the secretary of state for President Andrew Jackson, and later his vice president.
6Jackson asked his party, the Democrats, to nominate Van Buren as their presidential candidate in the 1836 election.
7They agreed, and Van Buren won that election easily.
8But he did not win the next election. Or the next. Or the next.
9In his inaugural speech in 1837, Van Buren noted that he was the first U.S. president to be born after the American Revolution.
10He was also the first president who was not from a British family.
11His ancestors were Dutch.
12He remains the only president - so far - who did not speak English as his first language.
13In his inaugural speech, Van Buren predicted better times for Americans.
14But several days later, an economic crisis struck.
15The situation put the country in a depression that lasted for the rest of Van Buren's term.
16It was one reason the president's opponents called him "Martin Van Ruin."
17The depression was not Van Buren's only problem.
18He also faced a dispute with Britain related to the border between the U.S. and Canada.
19The conflict nearly turned into war.
20Historian Joel Silbey says most experts do not think Van Buren was a strong president.
21However, Silbey notes, Van Buren left an important legacy that still operates today:
22He created the modern U.S. political system.
23Van Buren's political education began early.
24His father was a farmer and operated a hotel at a small town in New York State.
25Lawmakers sometimes visited the hotel.
26By listening to them, the future president learned about politics.
27Eventually, Van Buren studied in a law office and became a lawyer.
28In the first years of his career, he defended farmers who were fighting large plantation owners for their land.
29As a result, he developed a reputation for helping the common man.
30Van Buren became a local official, and then a senator and governor of New York.
31When he was 24, he married a young woman he had grown up with.
32But she died of tuberculosis after 12 years, leaving him with four sons.
33Historian Joel Silbey says although Van Buren did not remarry, "he was known as quite charming among the ladies."
34Van Buren had a gift for politics - that is, developing relationships and forming alliances.
35Historian Joel Silbey says most people who knew Van Buren liked him.
36He seemed warm and friendly.
37He tried to keep his work-related life and social activities separate.
38It was not unusual to see him exchange handshakes, smiles and jokes with men who were his political enemies.
39His ability to make friends became a powerful tool.
40Before Van Buren, even lawmakers from the same political party operated independently.
41They had their own beliefs, their own supporters, and their own allies. Van Buren brought them together.
42First he identified people who followed the ideas of Thomas Jefferson: support for independent farmers and states' rights.
43The group had become known as the Democratic Party (although it was in many ways different from the Democratic Party of today).
44Van Buren organized meetings for Democrats to talk about their political beliefs.
45He persuaded them to support the same policies - at that time, the policies of Andrew Jackson.
46Sometimes, Van Buren helped people who supported Jackson's policies.
47He gave them government jobs.
48Van Buren also used a series of meetings to choose one presidential candidate for the party.
49If this process seems clear-cut, it was not at the time.
50During the election of 1824, for example, a single party had four separate candidates for president, one for each part of the country.
51Van Buren's system eventually gave rise to the national conventions that major U.S. parties use today to nominate their candidates.
52Van Buren also helped create the modern political campaign.
53In the 1820s, he saw that many state constitutions were lifting some of their voting restrictions.
54As a result, states were giving more white males the right to vote.
55(Women and most African-American men were still largely prohibited from voting.)
56Historian Joel Silbey says Van Buren wanted to bring these new voters into the Democratic Party.
57He decided to improve on the methods that other, smaller groups had used: campaign events, speeches, and organized efforts to bring people to vote on Election Day.
58Silbey explains that these efforts to persuade and energize voters were new to national politics.
59Now they are some of the major features of political campaigns.
60In the election of 1840, Van Buren sought a second term as president.
61This time his opponents used Van Buren's political techniques against him.
62Silbey says the new opposition party, called the Whigs, used popular speeches and events to portray Van Buren as a failed president.
63Crowds shouted, "Mattie Van is a used-up man!"
64In other words, he no longer had any power or effect in government.
65Critics also made fun of Van Buren's fine-looking, even fussy clothes.
66They portrayed him as a rich, elite candidate.
67They compared him unfavorably to their candidate, a military hero named William Henry Harrison.
68Yet it was Van Buren who had come from a poor family, and Harrison from a wealthy one.
69Even so, Van Buren lost the election of 1840.
70Four years later, Van Buren again sought the presidency.
71This time, even Andrew Jackson did not support him.
72Instead, Jackson backed a man who supported the seizure of Texas and expanding slavery: James Polk.
73But Van Buren did not permit those defeats to stop his political career.
74He ran again in the presidential election of 1848.
75This time, Van Buren withdrew from the Democratic Party he had helped build.
76He ran instead as the candidate of a new, anti-slavery party, called the Free Soilers.
77But even Van Buren's political skills could not persuade voters.
78He did not win a single state.
79After losing this final presidential election, Van Buren finally retired.
80He spent time with his children and grandchildren, traveled, and wrote about his life.
81At 79 he died of heart failure.
82I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Martin Van Buren. He was sworn in as the eighth president of the United States in 1837. 3Van Buren had already been working for the White House for several years. He had been the secretary of state for President Andrew Jackson, and later his vice president. 4Jackson asked his party, the Democrats, to nominate Van Buren as their presidential candidate in the 1836 election. 5They agreed, and Van Buren won that election easily. But he did not win the next election. Or the next. Or the next. 6Presidency 7In his inaugural speech in 1837, Van Buren noted that he was the first U.S. president to be born after the American Revolution. 8He was also the first president who was not from a British family. His ancestors were Dutch. 9He remains the only president - so far - who did not speak English as his first language. 10In his inaugural speech, Van Buren predicted better times for Americans. 11But several days later, an economic crisis struck. The situation put the country in a depression that lasted for the rest of Van Buren's term. It was one reason the president's opponents called him "Martin Van Ruin." 12The depression was not Van Buren's only problem. He also faced a dispute with Britain related to the border between the U.S. and Canada. The conflict nearly turned into war. 13Historian Joel Silbey says most experts do not think Van Buren was a strong president. 14However, Silbey notes, Van Buren left an important legacy that still operates today: He created the modern U.S. political system. 15Early life 16Van Buren's political education began early. 17His father was a farmer and operated a hotel at a small town in New York State. Lawmakers sometimes visited the hotel. By listening to them, the future president learned about politics. 18Eventually, Van Buren studied in a law office and became a lawyer. In the first years of his career, he defended farmers who were fighting large plantation owners for their land. As a result, he developed a reputation for helping the common man. 19Van Buren became a local official, and then a senator and governor of New York. 20When he was 24, he married a young woman he had grown up with. But she died of tuberculosis after 12 years, leaving him with four sons. 21Historian Joel Silbey says although Van Buren did not remarry, "he was known as quite charming among the ladies." 22Political animal 23Van Buren had a gift for politics - that is, developing relationships and forming alliances. 24Historian Joel Silbey says most people who knew Van Buren liked him. He seemed warm and friendly. He tried to keep his work-related life and social activities separate. It was not unusual to see him exchange handshakes, smiles and jokes with men who were his political enemies. 25His ability to make friends became a powerful tool. Before Van Buren, even lawmakers from the same political party operated independently. They had their own beliefs, their own supporters, and their own allies. Van Buren brought them together. 26First he identified people who followed the ideas of Thomas Jefferson: support for independent farmers and states' rights. The group had become known as the Democratic Party (although it was in many ways different from the Democratic Party of today). 27Van Buren organized meetings for Democrats to talk about their political beliefs. He persuaded them to support the same policies - at that time, the policies of Andrew Jackson. 28Sometimes, Van Buren helped people who supported Jackson's policies. He gave them government jobs. 29Van Buren also used a series of meetings to choose one presidential candidate for the party. If this process seems clear-cut, it was not at the time. During the election of 1824, for example, a single party had four separate candidates for president, one for each part of the country. 30Van Buren's system eventually gave rise to the national conventions that major U.S. parties use today to nominate their candidates. 31Model campaigner 32Van Buren also helped create the modern political campaign. In the 1820s, he saw that many state constitutions were lifting some of their voting restrictions. As a result, states were giving more white males the right to vote. (Women and most African-American men were still largely prohibited from voting.) 33Historian Joel Silbey says Van Buren wanted to bring these new voters into the Democratic Party. He decided to improve on the methods that other, smaller groups had used: campaign events, speeches, and organized efforts to bring people to vote on Election Day. 34Silbey explains that these efforts to persuade and energize voters were new to national politics. Now they are some of the major features of political campaigns. 35Live by the sword, die by the sword 36In the election of 1840, Van Buren sought a second term as president. This time his opponents used Van Buren's political techniques against him. 37Silbey says the new opposition party, called the Whigs, used popular speeches and events to portray Van Buren as a failed president. 38Crowds shouted, "Mattie Van is a used-up man!" In other words, he no longer had any power or effect in government. 39Critics also made fun of Van Buren's fine-looking, even fussy clothes. They portrayed him as a rich, elite candidate. They compared him unfavorably to their candidate, a military hero named William Henry Harrison. 40Yet it was Van Buren who had come from a poor family, and Harrison from a wealthy one. 41Even so, Van Buren lost the election of 1840. 42Four years later, Van Buren again sought the presidency. This time, even Andrew Jackson did not support him. Instead, Jackson backed a man who supported the seizure of Texas and expanding slavery: James Polk. 43But Van Buren did not permit those defeats to stop his political career. He ran again in the presidential election of 1848. 44This time, Van Buren withdrew from the Democratic Party he had helped build. He ran instead as the candidate of a new, anti-slavery party, called the Free Soilers. 45But even Van Buren's political skills could not persuade voters. He did not win a single state. 46After losing this final presidential election, Van Buren finally retired. He spent time with his children and grandchildren, traveled, and wrote about his life. 47At 79 he died of heart failure. 48I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 49Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 50______________________________________________________________ 51Words in This Story 52inaugural - adj. happening as part of an official ceremony or celebration when a newly elected official begins an important job 53reputation - n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something 54charming - adj. very pleasing or appealing 55ladies - n. women, usually of high social position 56clear-cut - adj. obvious 57features - n. important parts 58portray - v. to describe someone in a particular way 59fussy - adj. to fancy or complicated