Benjamin Harrison

"He who wears worthily the honors of the Church of Christ cannot fail to be a worthy recipient of the honors of his country." - John Scott Harrison, in a letter to his son after hearing he had been elected deacon of his Church

I'm a fond reader of books on history, and I own many books in the "The American Presidents" series. One of my favorites is the book on Benjamin Harrison, a president who rose above the seamy and laissez-faire aspects of the time known as the Gilded Age.

The book in question is, like all other books in the series, about the life and deeds of the president it covers. It is written so reading any of the others in the series is not required, though I would recommend reading them regardless to get a better idea where the twenty-third American President ranks among his peers in that office.

The book starts by following Harrison in his youth, detailing his educational background, the beliefs he was raised with, and how he came to manhood. Later, it details his later career as a veteran in the Union Army of the American Civil War, his record in the practice of law, and his later positions in the public service of the state of Indiana and then within the federal government. Finally, it covers his nomination and winning the seat of the American presidency, including his triumphs and defeats. His post-presidency to his death is detailed immediately after.

The book makes three claims about Harrison. One, his intense morality is made quite clear. From his youth, he was a fiercely dedicated adherent to his Christian faith, and it's noted he was proudest of his lifelong service to the Presbyterian denomination in which he held the position of deacon from his late twenties to his death. Second, while he began his career in the then fading Whig Party, he became a lifelong advocate of the Republican Party and devoted himself to promoting its agenda, often foregoing his advancement in favor of the party as a whole. Finally, while his presidency was regarded as one in which he was highly active and dedicated to his fellow citizens, it left a mixed reaction in the minds of many of the same.

Myself, I came away with three observations of my own. Harrison's devotion to morals colored his every action, and devotion to the welfare of others over himself made him a rare politician in a time where many were quite venal. He was a republican of the classical model, believing the government had an obligation to assure the prevention of the destitution of those under its care. Finally, his presidency had a lot to recommend in terms of economic dynamism and steering a course through the waters of foreign trade, though he was not the most adept man at handling people, which explains why he alienated many political supporters on personal grounds.

The prose is straightforward, educational, and makes for an enjoyable read. It's the kind of book I would recommend for a book report for most grade to high school-age children. It wastes little time on filler and packs a lot of information in its concisely written chapters.

It's not overly expensive, and like the other books in the same series, I recommend it highly. It can be found in hardcover and Kindle editions on Amazon.

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