Alexander Hamilton: A Biography

By Forrest McDonald

Reviewed by Wayne A. Smith


You won't want to put this book about the architect of American government down. McDonald has written an extremely well researched book about Alexander Hamilton, the man who arguably did more to set the American government in motion than any of the other founders. 
Not only thoroughly written, but the author weaves the events of Hamilton's most interesting and significant life into a very readable book. The author is a first class biographer and writer. 
Although George Washington has been described as the "indispensable man" of the Revolution, the title "indispensable man of the first administration" rightly belongs to Hamilton. He faced major issues that would define how the government operated and whether or not our fledgling nation would rest upon a sound financial system. 

Hamilton succeeded brilliantly. Against long odds, he dealt with the assumption issue (state debts incurred during the revolution), coinage, taxation and the establishment of the nation's credit. This was after effective administrative service during the Revolution as Washington's aid (as well as other important posts such as leading the storming of Redoubt No. 10 at Yorktown), writing the Federalist Papers with Madison and Jay, and pushing the ratification of the Constitution through a reluctant New York General Assembly. 

The book also provides fascinating glimpses of political maneuvering among the founders. Although brilliant when establishing our plan of government and enshrining ideals into our framework of governance, they plotted and schemed like the best Tammany Hall politicos. Jefferson is shown to be an idealist even in dealing with current issues. Monroe arguably commits treason when revealing confidential information of President Washington to sympathizers of the French Directorate in order to gain them advantage over the Administration. Madison, so noble in structuring the Constitution, is shown as one of the ablest congressional gamesmen ever to have played. 

These are not necessarily criticisms of the founders. While they rightly hold their reputations for having created our Constitutional government, the portrait of their workings within the system -- buffeted by parochial interests, vanity, ambition and all of the other factors at play on public officials, makes them more human and accessible. 

Throughout all, Hamilton is a steadying influence on events. Guided by the principals of establishing a system of administration and government that will constrain the bad habits of public men and force their ambitions to work toward the public good, as well his overriding drive to put the nation on sound financial footing, Hamilton is revealed as the keystone of the early Federalist period. Without his steadfastness and talents, it is possible that our ideals may have only been words on a paper labled "Constitution" as a backward nation wallowed in debt and succumbed to the machinations of forces from within and without who would use the United States for their own purposes. 

Great book about a Great man. 

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