Jackson and Trump: Different Parties, Similar Situations

Recently, as my son was completing his summer honors work for U.S. history, I read on some of our past Presidents. When I got to our seventh President, Andrew Jackson. I saw many similarities between him and Donald Trump. Anytime you try to compare people that lived in different eras it can be challenging, and often unfair to both individuals. Who was the better boxer Marciano, or Ali? Mark McGuire broke Roger Maris’s single season home run record but played more games in a season than Maris did.

However, if we were to evaluate these two Presidents by Isaac Asimov’s idea that “The times make the man” or G. Michael Hopf’s concept that “Hard times make strong men” both came into office at just the right time. Before sharing the similarities, let me set the stage each of these Presidents faced as they entered the presidency.

The Times

Andrew Jackson became President when statesmanship, honor, and stewardship were the predominant motivations to enter public service. It was a time of geographic expansion, an evolution in industry, and a surge in political inclusion of the populace. The ranchers, bakers, and candlestick makers were beginning to gain voting rights by the removal of the requirement of property ownership.

Donald Trump on the other hand…well let’s face it, the waters of government have become too muddy. Politics has replaced statesmanship, self-serving elitism has shown stewardship to the door, and honor while it may be chiseled on the monuments of our nation’s capital, is far from the hearts of many of the elected. When Trump entered office, America was suffering an expansion in wasteful, fraudulent federal spending, a mutiny to morality, and the inclusion of new voters as citizenship and identification was done away with.

The times in which both these men were elected, required a leader that would satisfy the people’s change in attitude toward politics and return to them the freedom to realize their goals and dreams. In their times, each received help from a grassroot majority that wanted a more efficient government, and a voice in shaping public policy.

Different Parties

Andrew Jackson entered the presidency in 1828, and many say that he founded the principles of the modern democratic party. Maybe the democratic party of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers but not this gaggle of fools that plague our nation today. Donald Trump, elected as a Republican, had previously enjoyed friendships and endorsed candidates from both parties. Even though these two men were of different parties I found some similarities that affected our national politics.

Neither Jackson or Trump had much of a reputation or experience when it came to national politics. Their reputations were as a war hero in Jackson’s case, and as a successful businessman in Trump’s. The words of Daniel Webster spoken about Andrew Jackson, could apply to Donald Trump as well.

“General Jackson will be here about the fifteenth of February. Nobody knows what he will do when he does come. My opinion is that when he comes, he will bring a breeze with him. Which way it will blow I cannot tell.”

Jackson did bring a breeze that changed the Office of the President and the relations between the three branches of our government. President Trump, well he came in as a tropical breeze with a running head start. We call that a hurricane here in the south. Jackson expanded the power of the Office of the President, Trump returned honor and integrity to it.

Both Jackson and Trump splintered the current parties of their time. Jackson the old republican party, Trump the modern one. Both Presidents held the support of the majority of the “Common man.” The Congress (Specifically the House) was not to be trusted with policy making by both Jackson and Trump.

Both were accused of trying to be a king.

Similar Characters

In looking at the characters of these two men, it is important to note that we are limited to the public persona that is presented to us. None of us were alive when Jackson was President, and few people today enjoy proximity to Trump. One thing we can be certain of is that they are both not perfect because they are just like you and me. As I began to list the virtues in their characters, it became clear to me why these two men appealed most Americans.

“Old Hickory.” A nickname that had been bestowed upon Andrew Jackson by the troops he led in battle during the war of 1812. His soldiers were impressed and admired his toughness and unwavering leadership. More than just a nickname given out of respect, it was a sign of his character. Not sure if Donald Trump has a nickname, but he does have a mission statement, “Make America Great Again.” His ambition for what America could return to, endears him to most Americans.

Both men have been viewed by their enemies as suspicious, ruthless, and hasty in their actions and decisions. Their supporters view them the same but also compassionate, generous, and using caution when needed. Both, when it was needed were resilient and uncompromising. The dovetailing of these virtues together is what made them suitable for what the American people wanted.

Situations

Jackson and Trump each had to deal with immigration. With Jackson it was beneficial as many Europeans migrated to the United States. They became citizens and settled in the cities of the east as factory workers or helped push our nation westward.

With Trump it was a large influx from our southern border. Mostly illegal and seeking the free enterprise that was available to all. Well to be honest most rejected the enterprise and looked for the free.

Then there were Tariffs. The tariffs 1828 and 2025 were thought necessary to protect American industries. Their opponents faced a difficult challenge in that both their hatred for the person, and preference toward special interest over American workers, had to be disguised in their narrative of disagreement.

Both faced outright rebellion and unconstitutional actions from states that opposed their policies.

Before closing I did find one similarity worthy of mention between Jackson and Biden. It was in their campaigns for President. Jackson, as I wrote earlier, had no national political experience. Because of this, one of his brilliant advisors told him to “Say nothing and plant cotton.” Biden on the other hand had too much tenure in politics and without any significant contribution was instructed by his benefactors to, “Say nothing and stay in your basement.”