it was the body of a New York bricklayer and Mason named Morgan (who had divulged his lodges secrets), Jackson settled the matter ably. He suggested a new party be formed. This party was called the Anti-Masons, and died out shortly. But Jackson had given an outlet for outrage and a few years after the incident would be elected for the first time.Andrew Jackson was one of the most popular Presidents. When he was inaugurated, thousands of the people who elected him, the middle and lower class, thronged the streets of Washington. It had recently rained, and the milling throng quickly turned the streets to mud. In the White House, velvet chairs were imprinted with the muddy boot marks of men, a testimonial to the sort that partied there after the oath was administered. This popularity of the Gineral (as friends and companions of Jackson called him) completely changed how the President was seen. Before, the Hamiltonians and their fellow aristocrats (excepting, of course, the first President, who was elected because he was the only popular national figure) had been aloof, seeing their office as a mark of how much better they were than the common man. But Jackson was merely the First Citizen, a true representative of the people. And he used his popularity to true advantage. Jackson vetoed more bills than his predecessors had in forty years because he would not be intimidated by Congress. When they shoved, he used his popularity to shove back. Harder.When Jefferson was elected and became the President, he did exactly that. He became the President. He did what the Constitution said he could do and what precedent told him could do. When Jackson was elected and became the President, the President became Andrew Jackson. Throughout his term, he would apply his own personal will to his job as Chief Executive. It was Jackson who first claimed that the President had the right to veto a law just because he didnt agree with it, not bec...
