time to be divorced. Two years later it became known that Robards had not officially divorced his wife Rachel. Lewis did receive a divorce from his wife only after it had been established that Rachel was living in adultery with another man, Andrew Jackson. To avoid possible legal consequences, Jackson had his marriage re-performed. Rachel was the target of several attacks from her husband's opposition. She was referred to as a "black wench" and branded as a "profligate woman." It had been uncommon to discuss women in public newspapers. However, Rachel was publicly denounced in these newspapers, along with her husband Andrew. (Just before Jackson was elected President, Rachel died of a sudden heart attack. He blamed Adams for allowing the insults to grow towards his wife, stating the stress they caused her led to her heart failure. Jackson would never forget what Adams had done.) The Adams administration continued the personal assault upon Jackson claiming that he mother was a "common prostitute." They asserted that British military officers had brought her to the United States where she married a mulatto man. With this man, she had several children, including young Andrew Jackson. Upon reading this in a local newspaper, Jackson broke down emotionally. He realized that they were no longer insulting him, or someone that was still alive that he could defend. Rather, the memory of his dead mother was being assailed by his opposition. The election was turning more and more harsh and personal between the two candidates. Jackson was enraged with anger. Adams questioned whether the nation was ready for a President from the West as Jackson was from Tennessee. He didn't believe a rugged frontiersman that grew up in a log cabin was capable of running a nation. Adams believed Jackson lacked the necessary education and experience that was needed for such a task. He charged that Jackson had no real governmental experience, and t...
