Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr

This letter is from an 1815 letter of John Adam, which Nancy Isenberg quotes (I got this off the web). I found her book a refreshing and well-referenced addition to my Burr library. I am an avid Burrite. I also feel that every American should be able to debate these men and the politics involved - because then we could have far more intelligent discussions of men and politics today. The more things change, the more human nature reveals itself as the same. Yes, Adams was also a target of Hamilton's venomous arts; but Adams is also agreed to be honest and decent, which means he could probably never get elected today: "I have never known the prejudice in favor of birth, parentage and descent, more conspicuous than in the instance of Col. Burr. That gentleman was connected by blood with many respectable families in New England. [...] He had served in the army, and came out of it with the character of a knight without fear, and an able officer. He had afterward studied and practiced law with application and success. Buoyed up on those religious practicalities, and this military and juridical reputation, it is no wonder that Governor Clinton and Chancellor Livingston should take notice of him. They made him Attorney General, and the legislature sent him to Congress, where, I believe, he served six years. At the next election, he was, however, left out, and being at that time somewhat embarrassed in circumstances, and reluctant to return to the bar, he would have rejoiced in an appointment in the army. In this situation I proposed to Washington, and through him to the triumvirate [Washington, Hamilton and Pinckney] to nominate Col. Burr for a brigadier-general. Washington's answer to me was, 'By all that I have known and heard, Col. Burr is a brave and able officer; but the question is whether he has not equal talents at intrigue.' How shall I describe to you my sensations and reflections at that moment. He had compelled me to promote over the heads of Lincoln, Clinton, Gates, Knox, and others, and even over Pinckney, one of his own triumverates [Hamilton] the most restless, impatient, artful, indefatigable, and unprincipled intriguer in the United States, if not in the world, to be second in command under himself, and now dreaded an intriguer in a poor brigadier. He did however propose it, at least to Hamilton. But I was not permitted to nominate Burr. If I had been, what would have been the consequences? Shall I say that Hamilton would have been now alive, and Hamilton and Burr now at the head of our affairs. What then? If I had nominated Burr without the consent of the triumvirate, a negative in the Senate was certain."

That is, in conjunction with other works such as Chernow's on Hamilton. My most wasted hours in High School were the idealized histories taught about the founder's. This book, and others, tell a much more compelling story of American History that our young people should hear. To the book itself: Burr like many of the prominent men (and women) of the late 18th Century, was ambitious. I believe the author focuses her thesis to strenuously on protraying Mr. Burr as a heroic victim (partly due to his early progressive-feminist beliefs), but this may be necessary to break the negative mind-set so ingrained in conventional history. The reader must also parse the "could have been" and "one could assume that" kind of statements where the author is conjecturing based on limited factual information. These opinions are where the "Rose-colored glasses" come in to play, however, there is compelling evidence supporting her argument without these interpretations adding dubious gloss to his reputation. The author does a tremendous job shedding light on the early politics and rancor that that suffused our country at its birth, and set the stage for the Civil War. Another highlight is the cavalier way in which rumor was disseminated by the press which makes one cognizant of how far Journalism has come (except, maybe, for the NY Times, and parts of the internet), and it's still great influence on the country. Imagine the impact the internet would have had on the election of 1800. It would have been interesting blogging indeed. Overall, the factual information in the face of the conventional historical interpretation of Burr, as well as the little known actions of otherwise revered founders in all their vindictiveness, ruthlessness and greed is worth the read. You don't have to buy into Dr. Isenberg's positive characterization of Burr to enjoy this book, but, if you truly idealize Jefferson and Hamilton, you may get a little indigestion along the way.

I have long found Aaron Burr one of the most fascinating characters in early American history and this is a superb new biography of this political genius and scalawag. "Fallen Founder" is the first of many biographies of Burr written by a professional historian. Nancy Isenberg is on the faculty of the University of Tulsa. That, in itself, does not necessary mean that this book rises above the many other popular accounts of the life of Aaron Burr, but it does help ensure that the more productive methodologies, themes, and documentary resources will be brought to the task. Isenberg has done an excellent job in reinterpreting this important figure in American history. "Fallen Founder" rescues Burr from the popular conception of him merely as a schemer, philanderer, dualist, and seditionist. He was, according to the author, truly one of the nation's founders. He had a significant impact on the implementation of the national government and served well in a variety of capacities. He also championed women's rights, the only founder to do so, and made important contributions to political discourse in that arena. His killing of Alexander Hamilton in a duel proved his political undoing, for it finally gave brutal political opponents the ammunition they needed to discredit him. Moreover, the author convincingly makes the case that Burr's western adventure for which he was charged with treason was essentially a filibuster into Mexico used by his enemies to completely and finally destroy him. In the end, Isenberg corrects the popular historical perception of Burr in "Fallen Founder. She notes that many of Burr's alleged political and personal "sins" were exaggerated and misrepresented by his opponents and enemies. The man was certainly fallible, but Isenberg demonstrates that Burr deserves better and was indeed an important founder. Her book will be a starting point for all future studies of the life of Burr and will aid greatly in understanding the visceral politics of the early republic.

Nancy Isenberg discards the two century old political spin and searches for the truth about Aaron Burr. My experience is that most historians subscribe to the portrait of Burr that was painted by his enemies. He is always sketched as a cartoonish villain. She has performed a service to history by identifying the political smears and describing the real Aaron Burr.She has written a great read that is also thoroughly professional and well researched.

To say that Aaron Burr has been vilified by historians is a gross understatement. It seems that hardly a generation goes by without each new group of historians falling into lock step with their predecessors in a general hatred of this founding father. Most recently Ron Chernow in his book Alexander Hamilton, the bile reserved for Burr is obvious. Then comes Nancy Isenberg and her book Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr. I must admit that I started to let this one go. When it arrived at our public library last week I flipped through it and then put in it on the cart to be processed. Then I picked it up again. And again. Eventually I spent the weekend with Isenberg and Burr. I have to admit that I have started the process of being won over. Nancy Isenberg has spent a lot of time researching Fallen Founder. She includes copious notes which are worth reading. Burr, the killer of everyone's darling Alexander Hamilton was the son of Aaron Burr, Sr. the president of Princeton University. He was bright, hansom, and a charmer. Is it any wonder that he was destined for success? Some how, however, history has chosen to mark Burr as a murderer and traitor. Isenberg does a masterful job at examining Burr relative to his time in history. At 414 pages of text and 107 pages of notes, you'll find the examination of Burr a complete one. You'll want to read this one slowly.