Thank you to everyone who attended the Saturday, May 12 meeting at the Shoreline Regional Library. It was a fantastic turnout and definitely showed support for our association as well as for our special guest speaker and new G&FH co-instructor, Dr. James Rigali. This was a meeting where we really needed to pull together to welcome Professor Rigali and we were collectively able to accomplish just that. We would also like to thank the Nearby History participants and the 2007 Genealogy & Family History students for attending.
Dr. Rigali's lecture selection, the Election of 1824, was very interesting and enlightening. From his lecture we learned that the United States presidential election of 1824 is considered a realigning election and is one of three presidential elections that ended without a clear victory. It was also considered by many well-respected historians that a corrupt bargain had been made which resulted in John Quincy Adams winning the election. No concrete proof has ever been found to prove or disprove these accusations.
John Quincy Adams was elected President on February 9, 1825 after the election was thrown to the House of Representatives to decide as no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes. This was the only presidential election in which the candidate receiving the most electoral votes did not become President. Andrew Jackson received the most electoral votes, but not the majority. It was the first election in which the president (John Quincy Adams) did not win the popular vote. Again, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, but not the election.
Overview of the candidates:
1. General Andrew Jackson, a senator from Tennessee, a charismatic hero of the War of 1812, fought a duel over his wife, was violent and temperamental.
2. John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State, son of former President John Adams, one of the drafters of the Treaty of Ghent, former United States Senator from Massachusetts, never fought a duel and was a strict moral man.
3. William H. Crawford of Georgia, considered the most important man in politics and a master manipulator. Sponsored a bill to cut back on military officers which would have a direct impact on candidate Andrew Jackson. He was President Monroe's choice of candidates. He was also a former United States Minister to France, former United States Senator, former Secretary of War, and the current Secretary of the Treasury.
4. Henry Clay of Kentucky, was called the “Great Compromiser,” gambler, womanizer, attorney for banking and the then-current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
The presidential election was thrown to the U.S. House of Representatives. Only the top three candidates in the electoral vote were candidates in the House: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and William Crawford. Henry Clay, who happened to be Speaker of the House had few electoral votes than the other three and was not included. Henry Clay gave his votes to Adams.
Andrew Jackson was furious when John Quincy Adams was chosen President by the House of Representatives. He expected that, as the winner of both the popular and electoral votes, he should have been elected President. When President Adams appointed Henry Clay as his Secretary of State, Jackson accused Adams and Clay of striking a “corrupt bargain”. Adams was so weakened by this he only served one term. Later, Adams became a active proponent against slavery.
The question and answer period following Dr. Rigali's lecture was both stimulating and educational.
Dr. Rigali's suggestions for further readings on this subject are books by H. W. Brand, who has written about Andrew Jackson and also Robert Remini who has written biographies of Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay.
--Development of a Speakers Bureau from within the membership was discussed. We are looking for volunteers. Do you have expertise in a particular area? Email Janice Campbell Stout at janicecs@comcast.net to volunteer.
Mary Roddy will present "Bagging a Live One" for our September meeting and at the November meeting Linda Palmer will teach us how to create a genealogy family history blog. If you have a specific blogging question you would like addressed please send them to Linda at palmerlr@comcast.net.
--Promotion of the Genealogy & Family History Program was reviewed. The PBS Pledge in March was a great success and Linda Palmer is continuing to organize another Pledge Drive for September. The new Ken Burns World War II documentary will be released in the fall, but will not be available for the September pledge drive. We have requested volunteering for the History Detectives or any history or genealogy related subject.
Several members joined Dr. Rigali for lunch and casual conversation at the Canyons Restaurant. It was a great time for all.
Thank you to all those who have actively participated in making the Alumni Association a success. See you at the next meeting!
