Harrison’s life is the subject of the latest biography in the American Presidents series. Each title in this series has been written by a different author. This volume was written by Gail Collins, an op-ed columnist for the New York Times.
Collins provides readers with the highlights of Harrison’s unpredictable career. He was born on a Virginia plantation in 1773. His father was Benjamin Harrison V, a two-time governor of Virginia and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
William Henry was the youngest of seven children. His early prospects were not that good. He ended up in the military and distinguished himself in 1811 at the Battle of Tippecanoe by leading U.S. troops against American Indians.
During the War of 1812, Gen. Harrison gilded his war hero status with a resounding victory at the 1813 Battle of the Thames. Eventually he became governor of the Indiana Territory. Over the course of 12 years, Harrison acquired millions of acres of native lands including much of what is now the state of Illinois.
Harrison was a key figure in the westward expansion of the U.S. The main impediments to that expansion were the native tribes and the British. Harrison encountered the legendary Shawnee chief Tecumseh. Harrison described him as “one of the finest looking men I ever saw.”
This was the period when Harrison gained his national repute. Collins writes, “When he ran for president, no one would remember anything about the charges of elitism when he was governor or even much about the fights over slavery. His greatest claim to fame would be based on his battle with Tecumseh.”
Harrison built impressive mansions in Indiana and in the Cincinnati area. But he never had enough money. He served in Congress and as a U.S. senator from Ohio.
Collins writes, “Harrison spent three years in the Senate, during which he continued his persistent search for more lucrative government appointments.”
Harrison finagled an appointment as U.S. minister to Colombia. That job paid $9,000 a year, a large salary for 1828. Harrison was a member of the Whig Party. When Andrew Jackson was elected president later that year, Harrison lost his position and returned to Ohio.
In 1836, he secured another government job as clerk of the Cincinnati court of common pleas. He was working for the court when he got the nomination to run for president.
It was a wild campaign. He was exhausted after the election. He then gave the longest inaugural speech in history. Thirty-two days later, Harrison died.
This war hero with fanciful origins in a log cabin became the first president to die in office. His supporters drank hard cider and shouted the slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.” The modern American political campaign had been born.
Vick Mickunas of Yellow Springs interviews authors every Friday at 1:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 11 a.m. on WYSO-FM (91.3). For more information, go online to www.wyso.org/programs/book-nook. Contact him at vick@vickmickunas.com.
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