[dead]

Good post. Lots of interesting history that I didn't know (I'm too young to remember back then.)

[Grand Old Partisan]

Even Bill Clinton did not betray his country as much as did John Tyler.

[Brilliant]

Good timing.

[PeaRidge]

bump

[meandog]

Tyler was instrumental also in rebuilding the U.S. Navy (much to the detrement of the Confederacy in later years). He directed the Navy to modernize, which resulted in the first steam ship powered with a modern screw: USS Princeton. He also had a giant gun commissioned...it was a 50-pound version of the old 32-pound frigate gun patterned after British ordnance. Tyler was so impressed by the gun's promise, he put a party of dignitaries aboard USS Princeton and sailed down the Potomac to watch it shoot (it had about a 3-mile range). After the performance, as the Princeton was rounding the Potomac's curve around Mount Vernon on its way back to the Navy Yard, Tyler ordered a salute to the first president. Unfortunately, the gun blew up--killing his Secretary of State Cecil Upchur, his Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Gilmer, and his future father-in-law, N.Y. Congressman Tom Gardner.

[society-by-contract]

Hollywood Cemetary is a treasure, but be careful negotiationg the rapids below! I have a scar on my ankle to remind me that the falls at Hollywood can be dangerous.

John Tyler's *grandson* and his wife currently reside at Tyler's plantation, Sherwood Forest:

http://www.sherwoodforest.org/

[plain talk]

thanks good post

[society-by-contract]

Arlington of the Confederacy

It is ironic that Arlington Cemetary was Lee's home. The Army of the Patomac began buring bodies there, so that it would never be returned to R.E. Lee.

[stainlessbanner]

bump

[Brig_Gen_George_P_Harrison_CSA]

Hail to President John Tyler! He was no traitor to us Southrons, who fought for our honor, our traditions, our rights, and our independence.

[Malesherbes]

Indeed a good post. I've visited Sherwood Forest, the old Tyler home still occupied by his descendents. It was a different time, and he was a man of that time and he held to his principles. It is easy, after a century and a half, to condemn those who came before according to the standards of our own time. I do wonder how in the year 2150 our present day politicians will be viewed according to the standards of that future time.

[society-by-contract]

Tyler also, correctly, vetoed the central bank bill congress had recently passed (hooray!):


http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567784/John_Tyler.html

In 1841 Congress began its war with Tyler by passing a bill that reestablished the Bank of the United States. Tyler vetoed the bill as unconstitutional because it gave the states no right of approval over bank branches set up within state borders. A second bank bill was promptly passed by Congress and as promptly vetoed by Tyler. This second veto caused Tyler to be solemnly read out of the Whig Party. His action also led to the resignation of his entire Cabinet except for Secretary of State Daniel Webster.

[Spok]

He was the original 'Johnny Reb'.

In 1861, your state WAS your country. Robert E. Lee would've worn a blue uniform if Virginia had not seceded.

[Verginius Rufus]

James Monroe was an Anti-Federalist in 1788 as a delegate to the Virginia convention which debated ratification of the U.S. Constitution, and was later a Jeffersonian Republican. He became President by defeating the Federalist candidate, Rufus King, in 1816.

[lawnguy]

John Quincy Adams referred to him as "His Accidency".

That is a line that could easily be delivered today on your average cable show. Nice.

President Tyler had 14 kids, the way I read that article. I see he had an appetite that seems to be a common one in the White House ;)

[4CJ]

Bump for a great President.