Andrew Jackson was a difficult act for Martin Van Buren to follow, for two reasons, one general and one specific. The general reason was that the general, as Jackson was called before and after his presidency, was the great hero of the age. Van Buren was not. The specific reason had to do with the Specie Circular issued by the treasury department in the last months of Jackson's presidency. It specified that only specie—gold and silver coin—would be accepted in the sale of federal lands. The hard money was less plentiful than the paper notes which had been accepted previously, and the decision drove down the price of land, ruining many speculators and triggering the Panic of 1837, which cast a pall over the country for the next several years. Van Buren was the first president to experience what would become a truism in American politics: that bad times in the economy are bad times to be president.
A bit of trivia: Van Buren was also the only president who spoke English as his second language. He was born into a Dutch-speaking family and learned English only after going to school. Of course, that may be linguistic folklore. Anyone out there know for sure?
A bit of trivia: Van Buren was also the only president who spoke English as his second language. He was born into a Dutch-speaking family and learned English only after going to school. Of course, that may be linguistic folklore. Anyone out there know for sure?
Reputable historians and biographers say yes. But I haven't seen the direct evidence (MVB's testimony on the subject, for example).
The jefferson jackson dinners are now largely called legacy dinners
Another nickname he had was "Old Kinderhook", for his New York birthplace, which is thought to be one source for the modern expression "OK".