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The Last Founding Father
The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness | Harlow G. Unger
2 posts | 3 read | 3 to read
In this lively and compelling biography Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (17511831) went on to become Americas first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing Americas national and international durability. Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally Americas fifth president. The country embraced Monroes dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of Americas first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history. Like David McCulloughs John Adams and Jon Meachams recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid read and stellar scholarshiphistory in the grand tradition.
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behudd
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️halfway through I was thinking “wow, Monroe was amazing!”&then I realized that Unger might be a bit of a Monroe super-fan, which helped me read more critically.Monroe was still a fascinating character-he began his presidency running unopposed,but by the end of his 2 terms, he was viewed as a relic of an old time.Some of the most interesting bits were about his wife who rescued the wife ofLafayette from a French prison after the revolution!

Crazeedi Looks like a book for me to read! 2y
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rmlargent
Pickpick

Quick, interesting insight into one of the least talked about Founders despite much of our country's geopolitical philosophy having originated from The Monroe Doctrine, for better or worse. Shame we lost so much of his wife's correspondence upon her death.