The Last Founding Father by Harlow Giles Unger (Review)
When I read, I tend to be active in my note-taking, particularly when reading history. It helps me lock in what I’m reading, while also helping to clarify my thoughts to (ideally) apply the knowledge. Sometimes, however, I reach the end of a book and am surprised at how little I have recorded. The Last Founding Father by Harlow Giles Unger is one of those books.
In some ways, my limited notes on James Monroe is fitting. Much like the title of Unger’s biography, Monroe is often treated as the tail end of the Founding Fathers (with all apologies to John Quincy Adams). Monroe also tends to be the least highlighted of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. Yet a quick glance at his service record makes the oversight quite surprising. During his extended years of responsibility, Monroe served as:
Delegate from Virginia to the Congress of the Confederation
United States Senator from Virginia
5th United States Minister to France
4th United States Minister to the United Kingdom
12th and 16th Governor of Virginia
8th United States Secretary of War
7th United States Secretary of State
5th President of the United States
That’s about as accomplished as a person can be, yet many of the oft-told stories of the Revolution tend to overlook Monroe. Part of the reason may be the same challenge that faces many presidents: interesting events make for interesting presidents. Monroe’s tenure coincided with a relatively calm period in American history. As a result, a basic survey of U.S. history is unlikely to touch on much more than the Monroe Doctrine. Even more specialized courses or books on the American Revolution tend to focus on declaring independence, the war with England, and the formation of the Constitution, rather than the quieter period of national stabilization. By the time Monroe took office, even our early tottering during the War of 1812 had given way to a more settled national presence.
This is not to say Monroe had an easy presidency or an uninteresting record, but I did not find his story as compelling as the other early presidents. Here are some of the thoughts I did find interesting from The Last Founding Father:
Descriptions of Monroe by his peers are quite flattering. Unger puts it this way: “He was curious, courteous, open—never arrogant or condescending—and generous to a fault. Abigail Adams later noted his “agreeable affability,” “unassuming manners,” and “polite attentions to all orders and ranks.” Despite his reputation as a quick and easy friend, Monroe was painfully shy around women and struggled in his efforts to woo a wife in his early years.
The biography seemed to take a turn once Monroe ascended to the joint positions of Secretary of State and Secretary of War. From this point forward, the book seemed to shift to a more general history tracking with Monroe’s life rather than insight into Monroe’s evolutionary arc. The book was still engaging yet I prefer when biographies lend more insight into what provides the fuel for motivations and decisions.
The end of Monroe’s presidency brought about the end of “The Era of Good Feelings.” This fleeting era emerged at the end of the War of 1812 as the Federalist Party withered in power and partisanship decreased. It ended as the Missouri Compromise thrust slavery back to the national spotlight and the Panic of 1819 ushered in the country’s first major economic downturn.
Lafayette’s return to the U.S. in 1824 prompted Monroe and the nation to focus on the virtue of self-governance. There is a great responsibility and challenge to govern well, and the task should not be taken lightly. Despite the signs that “The Era of Good Feelings” was ending, Lafayette invigorated patriotism and helped the nation celebrate the joy, freedom, and privilege of self-governance. Lafayette traveled the county and found celebrations of his service wherever he went. He summed up his devotion to the United States with great eloquence: “I have stood strong and held my head high whenever, in the name of the American people, I have proclaimed the American principles of liberty, equality and social order. I have devoted myself to these principles since I was a boy and they will remain a sacred obligation to me until I take my final breath.”
For those operate in the field of government (or even just casual observers of politics), it can occasionally be challenging to hold onto these principles that Lafayette and Monroe embodied. Yet Lafayette’s words underscore why I read history and recommend books that highlight those who embodied the best of public service: the information we consume directly affects the way we see things. It affects the way we hear others. It affects the very way that we speak.
It may not always be clear which path will be the wisest when we attempt to live out the ideals of self-governance, but it seems like a good start to focus on the noble rather than the ignoble. As Lafayette finished his final visit to the United States, he concluded his observations with the most noble of ideals:
“The greatness and prosperity of the United States are spreading the light of civilization across the world—a civilization based on liberty and resistance to oppression with political institutions and the rights of man and republican principles of government by the people.”
If we set our minds on the way we often talk about politics, it is likely that we will also take on the traits of bitter rancor that we so often see. While self-governance demands being an informed people, there is a difference between being knowledgeable and being consumed. As Marcus Aurelius put it, “The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”[1]
History like that in The Last Founding Father helps us remember where we came from, and it helps provide guidance on where we want to go. I may not have taken in-depth notes from Harlow Giles Unger’s book, but he presented James Monroe in a way that reminds readers of the value in being a person of character who serves well. Thinking about the how to be “curious, courteous, open—never arrogant or condescending—and generous to a fault” are worthwhile traits to color our collective thoughts.
[1] Marcus Aurelius. Meditations. Translated by Gregory Hays. New York: Modern Library, 2002, Book 5, section 16.
