History UsefulNotes / MartinVanBuren

His nickname while running for president was "Old Kinderhook" (he was born, and died, in Kinderhook, New York), and his election campaign was known as "the Democratic O.K. Club". While the term "O.K." had been known for a few years, it seems to have been popularized by the election campaign. Van Buren won a relatively comfortable electoral victory, mostly because opposition to the Democratic Party was still in flux, resulting in the nascent Whig Party running ''four'' different candidates against him; in retrospect, however, the result[[note]](As fragmented as the Whigs were, they still came within just a few thousand votes of denying Van Buren a majority in the electoral college. Van Buren would still have won the resulting contingent election in the House of Representatives, but the Whigs quickly realized that had their campaign been better-organized and united behind one candidate, they would have probably defeated Van Buren -- which they would succeed in doing four years later)[[/note]] served to paper over cracks which had been building up in the latter years of Jackson's tenure, and would ultimately sink Van Buren's presidency after just one term. In office, Van Buren could scarcely have been more different from [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority his hard-assed predecessor.]] His public image was of an effete intellectual, and opponents criticized him for serving "unmanly" food like strawberries and celery in TheWhiteHouse.

His nickname while running for president was "Old Kinderhook" (he was born, and died, in Kinderhook, New York), and his election campaign was known as "the Democratic O.K. Club". While the term "O.K." had been known for a few years, it seems to have been popularized by the election campaign. In office, Van Buren could scarcely have been more different from [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority his hard-assed predecessor.]] His public image was of an effete intellectual, and opponents criticized him for serving "unmanly" food like strawberries and celery in TheWhiteHouse.

He tried to regain the Democratic nomination for the following election in 1844, though ultimately dropped out to help UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk secure the nomination over Van Buren's ArchEnemy, Lewis Cass. Cass was nominated when Polk declined to seek re-election in 1848, so Van Buren decided to [[StartMyOwn form his own party]], the antislavery Free Soil Party, to split the vote and prevent Cass from getting elected. This likely wasn't necessary in retrospect, since Cass' Whig opponent, the hugely popular UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor, pretty much had the election in the bag from early on, though Van Buren did get the satisfaction of putting in a relatively good performance for a third-party candidate with a poorly-received presidential tenure already on his résumé.

While a [[TheChessmaster shrewd, brilliant political operator]] and a very decent man, he had the misfortune to oversee a period of economic hardship. Unable to stop the stinging downturn (caused at least partially by Jackson's disbandment of the Bank of the United States), his political enemies gave him the EmbarrassingNickname "Martin Van Ruin". This was just one of many domestic issues whereon he ended up on the losing end. Disputes between America and British UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} nearly led to war, with many criticizing his supposedly weak stance on the issue. He also denied the newly-created Republic of UsefulNotes/{{Texas}}' first request for American annexation on the understandable but unpopular grounds that it would strain relations between the North and South. The ''Film/{{Amistad}}'' trial occurred during his presidency; he supported giving the kidnapped slaves back to UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}. Also, [[MisBlamed contrary to how most people remember it]], the forced and bloody relocation of the Cherokee to reservations west of the Mississippi River (an event known as the "Trail of Tears") happened under Van Buren's presidency, not Jackson's, though Jackson was the one who put the while thing in motion.

'''Martin/Maarten Van Buren''' (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was the eighth president of UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates [[UsefulNotes/AntebellumAmerica (serving from 1837 to 1841)]], and the second from the Democratic Party, after UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson and before Whig president UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison. He was the first president born after [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution America declared its independence]] (which UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} recognized when he was an infant), and unlike his British-descended predecessors, he was from the Dutch-speaking people who originally colonized the Hudson River Valley on both sides of his family, nicknamed the Knickerbockers (the New York Knicks basketball team derives its name from these settlers). His primary language, naturally, was Dutch, making him the only president whose first language wasn't English. Van Buren, having had no ancestry from the British Isles, also has the distinction of being the only president not descended from UsefulNotes/KingJohnOfEngland,[[note]]Yes, even UsefulNotes/BarackObama is descended from King John -- remember, his ''mother'' was a white girl from Kansas.[[/note]] although like all his predecessors and successors, he ''was'' descended from [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfNormandy William the Conqueror]]. He was also famous for possessing HotbloodedSideburns.[[note]]Though they wouldn't have been called sideburns at the time ... that would have to wait for a certain self-admittedly only half-competent [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Union general]] ...[[/note]]

[[caption-width-right:360:Dig those [[{{Pun}} righteous chops]]!]]

-->--"The Presidents", by '''Music/JonathanCoulton'''.

While a [[TheChessmaster shrewd, brilliant political operator]] and a very decent man, he had the misfortune to oversee a period of economic hardship. Unable to stop the stinging downturn (caused at least partially by Jackson's disbandment of the Bank of the United States), his political enemies gave him the EmbarrassingNickname "Martin Van Ruin". This was just one of many domestic issues whereon he ended up on the losing end. Disputes between America and British UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} nearly led to war, with many criticizing his supposedly weak stance on the issue. He also denied the newly-created Republic of [[EverythingIsBigInTexas Texas]]' first request for American annexation on the understandable but unpopular grounds that it would strain relations between the North and South. The ''Film/{{Amistad}}'' trial occurred during his presidency; he supported giving the kidnapped slaves back to UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}. Also, [[MisBlamed contrary to how most people remember it]], the forced and bloody relocation of the Cherokee to reservations west of the Mississippi River (an event known as the "Trail of Tears") happened under Van Buren's presidency, not Jackson's, though Jackson was the one who put the while thing in motion.

Martin/Maarten Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was the eighth president of UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates [[UsefulNotes/AntebellumAmerica (serving from 1837 to 1841)]], and the second from the Democratic Party, after UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson and before Whig president UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison. He was the first president born after [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution America declared its independence]] (which UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} recognized when he was an infant), and unlike his British-descended predecessors, he was from the Dutch-speaking people who originally colonized the Hudson River Valley on both sides of his family, nicknamed the Knickerbockers (the New York Knicks basketball team derives its name from these settlers). His primary language, naturally, was Dutch, making him the only president whose first language wasn't English. Van Buren, having had no ancestry from the British Isles, also has the distinction of being the only president not descended from UsefulNotes/KingJohnOfEngland,[[note]]Yes, even UsefulNotes/BarackObama is descended from King John -- remember, his ''mother'' was a white girl from Kansas.[[/note]] although like all his predecessors and successors, he ''was'' descended from [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfNormandy William the Conqueror]]. He was also famous for possessing HotbloodedSideburns.[[note]]Though they wouldn't have been called sideburns at the time ... that would have to wait for a certain self-admittedly only half-competent [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Union general]] ...[[/note]]

Martin Van Buren was the last sitting vice president to be elected president for 152 years -- the next would be UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Coincidentally, he also followed [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a popular two-term president]] and lost reelection largely due to a weak economy. And not only did he outlive his four immediate successors[[note]]Ninth president UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison died a month into his presidency in 1841, Eleventh president UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk died mere months after leaving office in 1849, Twelfth president UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor died in office in 1850, and tenth president UsefulNotes/JohnTyler died half a year before Buren, in January 1862.[[/note]], he also saw more successors ascend to the presidency than any other president to date, dying after Lincoln had been sworn in as the 16th president (39th President Jimmy Carter has since come the closest, living to see Joe Biden elected as the 46th President).

Martin Van Buren was the last sitting vice president to be elected president for 152 years -- the next would be UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Coincidentally, he also followed [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a popular two-term president]] and lost reelection largely due to a weak economy. And not only did he outlive his four immediate successors[[note]]Ninth president UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison died a month into his presidency in 1841, Eleventh president UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk died mere months after leaving office in 1849, Twelfth president UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor died in office in 1850, and tenth president UsefulNotes/JohnTyler died half a year before Buren, in January 1862.[[/note]], he also saw more successors ascend to the presidency than any other president to date, dying after Lincoln had been sworn in as the 16th president.

Martin Van Buren was the last sitting vice president to be elected president for 152 years -- the next would be UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Coincidentally, he also followed [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a popular two-term president]] and lost reelection largely due to a weak economy. And not only did he outlive his four immediate successors, he also saw more successors ascend to the presidency than any other president to date,[[note]]Ninth president UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison died a month into his presidency in 1841, Eleventh president UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk died mere months after leaving office in 1849, Twelfth president UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor died in office in 1850, and tenth president UsefulNotes/JohnTyler died half a year before Buren, in January 1862.[[/note]] dying after Lincoln had been sworn in as the 16th president.

'''Martin/Maarten Van Buren''' (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was the eighth president of UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates [[UsefulNotes/AntebellumAmerica (serving from 1837 to 1841)]], and the second from the Democratic Party, after UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson and before Whig president UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison. He was the first president born after America declared its independence, and unlike his British-descended predecessors, he was from the Dutch-speaking people who originally colonized the Hudson River Valley on both sides of his family, nicknamed the Knickerbockers (the New York Knicks basketball team derives its name from these settlers). His primary language, naturally, was Dutch, making him the only president whose first language wasn't English. Van Buren, having had no ancestry from the British Isles, also has the distinction of being the only President not descended from UsefulNotes/KingJohnOfEngland,[[note]]Yes, even UsefulNotes/BarackObama is descended from King John -- remember, his ''mother'' was a white girl from Kansas.[[/note]] although he ''was'' descended from [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfNormandy William the Conqueror]]. He was also famous for possessing HotbloodedSideburns.[[note]]Though they wouldn't have been called sideburns at the time...that would have to wait for a certain self-admittedly only half-competent [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Union general]]...[[/note]]

Following the [[UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams election of 1824]], Van Buren and his allies banded together and created the Democratic Party to support UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson. Van Buren effectively ran the new party from behind the scenes and made it the new leading political party in the nation. Before becoming president, he served as a Senator, the Governor of New York, Secretary of State, ambassador to the United Kingdom, and finally Jackson's vice president. Along with UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson, he is the only American who has served as Secretary of State, Vice President, and President.

His nickname while running for President was "Old Kinderhook" (Kinderhook was the town where he was born, and died), and his election campaign was known as "The Democratic O.K. Club". While the term "O.K." had been known for a few years, it seems to have been popularized by the election campaign. In office, Van Buren could scarcely have been more different from [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority his hard-assed predecessor.]] His public image was of an effete intellectual, and opponents criticized him for serving "unmanly" fare like strawberries and celery in the White House.

While a [[TheChessmaster shrewd, brilliant political operator]] and a very decent man, he was unfortunate to preside over a period of economic hardship. Unable to stop the stinging downturn (caused at least partially by Jackson's disbanding the Bank of the United States), he was given the rather EmbarrassingNickname "Martin Van Ruin" by his political enemies. This was just one of many domestic issues whereon he ended up on the losing end. Disputes between America and British Canada nearly led to war, with many criticizing his supposedly weak stance on the issue. He also denied the newly-created Republic of Texas' first request for American annexation on the understandable but unpopular grounds that it would strain relations between the North and South. The ''Film/{{Amistad}}'' trial occurred during his presidency; he supported giving the kidnapped slaves back to Spain. Also, [[MisBlamed contrary to how most people remember it]], the forced and bloody relocation of the Cherokee to reservations west of the Mississippi River (an event known as the "Trail of Tears") happened under Van Buren's presidency, not Jackson's, though Jackson was the one who put the while thing in motion.

He tried to regain the Democratic nomination for the following election in 1844, though ultimately dropped out to help UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk secure the nomination over Van Buren's ArchEnemy, Lewis Cass. Cass was nominated when Polk declined to seek re-election in 1848, and so Van Buren decided to [[StartMyOwn form his own party]], the antislavery Free Soil Party, to split the vote and prevent Cass from getting elected. This likely wasn't necessary in retrospect, since Cass' Whig opponent, the hugely popular UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor, pretty much had the election in the bag from early on, though Van Buren did get the satisfaction of putting in a relatively good performance for a third-party candidate with a poorly-received Presidential tenure already on his résumé.

As to slavery, he personally opposed it, but he was willing to let it continue since the Constitution justified it. While initially skeptical of UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln, Van Buren would praise his handling of [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar the war effort]] not long before he died.

Martin Van Buren was the last sitting Vice President to be elected President for 152 years -- the next would be UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Coincidentally, he also followed [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a popular two-term president]] and lost reelection largely due to a weak economy. And not only did he outlive his four immediate successors, he also saw more successors ascend to the Presidency than any other President to date, dying after Lincoln had been sworn in as the 16th President.[[note]]9th President UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison died a month into his Presidency in 1841, 11th President UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk died mere months after leaving office in 1849, 12th President UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor died while President in 1850, and 10th President UsefulNotes/JohnTyler died half a year before Buren in January of 1862.[[/note]]

* In the ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episode "The Van Buren Boys," Kramer and George are threatened by a street gang called the Van Buren Boys with the secret sign of the number 8 because Van Buren was the eighth president. They apparently picked that name because Van Buren was the man they most admired. The gang is apparently "every bit as mean as he was".

* In an August 2014 episode of ''Series/TheDailyShow'', when there was controversy about political dynasties between UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton and Jeb Bush being considered as the 2016 presidential nominees for the Democratic and Republican Parties respectively, Michael Che met with Martin Van Buren's great-great-great-granddaughter Lily Van Buren.

Martin Van Buren was the last sitting Vice President to be elected President for 152 years -- the next would be UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Coincidentally, he also followed [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a popular two-term president]] and lost reelection largely due to a weak economy. And not only did he outlive his four immediate successors, he also saw more successors ascend to the Presidency than any other President to date, dying after Lincoln was sworn in as the 16th President.[[note]]9th President UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison died a month into his Presidency in 1841, 11th President UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk died mere months after leaving office in 1849, 12th President UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor died while President in 1850, and 10th President UsefulNotes/JohnTyler died half a year before Buren in January of 1862.[[/note]]

Martin Van Buren was the last sitting Vice President to be elected President for 152 years -- the next would be UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Coincidentally, he also followed [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a popular two-term president]] and lost reelection largely due to a weak economy.

While a [[TheChessmaster shrewd, brilliant political operator]] and a very decent man, he was unfortunate to preside over a period of economic hardship. Unable to stop the stinging downturn (caused at least partially by [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Jackson's disbanding the Bank of the United States]]), he was given the rather EmbarrassingNickname "Martin Van Ruin" by his political enemies. This was just one of many domestic issues whereon he ended up on the losing end. Disputes between America and British Canada nearly led to war, with many criticizing his supposedly weak stance on the issue. He also denied the newly-created Republic of Texas' first request for American annexation on the understandable but unpopular grounds that it would strain relations between the North and South. The ''Film/{{Amistad}}'' trial occurred during his presidency; he supported giving the kidnapped slaves back to Spain. Also, [[MisBlamed contrary to how most people remember it]], the forced and bloody relocation of the Cherokee to reservations west of the Mississippi River (an event known as the "Trail of Tears") happened under Van Buren's presidency, not Jackson's, though Jackson was the one who put the while thing in motion.

->''"Martin Van Buren was known as something of a free-spending dandy, [[Creator/ColinBaker favoring brightly colored vests]] and ascots and strange, luminous waistcoats. Only later did we find out that this was because he was a JustForFun/TimeLord."''
-->--'''''Literature/MoreInformationThanYouRequire'''''

* In the 2004 film of ''Film/TheAlamo'', Martin Van Buren appears uncredited with another character portraying UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson during the scene at UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC Van Buren is talking to Sam Houston (Creator/DennisQuaid) while Jackson stands beside him.