That guy on the $10 bill

April 8, 2009 7:28 AM

An interesting article / biography of Alexander Hamilton has appeared in the current issue of City Journal. Authored by neo-con darling Myron Magnet the article avoids some of the harsher criticisms of Hamilton, but does address his weakness for young women.
posted by Lame_username (12 comments total)

A monarchist who spent his career advocating war from the shadows of power? No wonder the neocons love this guy.
posted by absalom at 8:05 AM on April 8

It's not his weakness. He doesn't own it.

I mean, personally, I like the older women, but that may change as I age. Indeed, I would see a day when that weakness belongs to all men, equally.
posted by Eideteker at 8:46 AM on April 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

OH, yeah, not to mention that as soon as Hamilton ran up against someone in his own party who wouldn't follow his game plan, he attacked the man (Adams) so viciously that it basically caused the entire Federalist party to collapse.
posted by absalom at 8:48 AM on April 8

I was just musing. Summarizing the persons on the faces of the US paper money.
Lincoln died from a gunshot wound.
Hamilton died from a gunshot wound.
Jackson fought 13 duels, killing one. He was shot in a duel, but survived.
Grant was a drunk and had the reputation of being a butcher in his military campaigns.
They had a higher casualty rate than the early rap stars.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 9:07 AM on April 8

Good old Ben Franklin lived a pretty long life, but he did appear to have some familiarity with living large.
posted by Lame_username at 9:15 AM on April 8

"Weakness for young women"? What, when exposed to young women does he lose his super-strength and invulnerability?

What happened to calling a lecher a lecher?
posted by happyroach at 9:35 AM on April 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Weakness for young women"? What, when exposed to young women does he lose his super-strength and invulnerability?

What happened to calling a lecher a lecher?

I learned English from Emily Bronte. I started out including links to his letter asking his friend John Laurens to find him a suitable wife and the modern assertion that other aspects of his letters demonstrate a gay relationship between the two, but I couldn't find a good non-Wikipedia source for the letter than I love, so I chopped the whole thing out and my clever wordplay no longer worked. Mea culpa. The letter is kinda amusing, though:

"She must be young—handsome (I lay most stress upon a good shape) Sensible (a little learning will do) —well bred... chaste and tender (I am an enthusiast in my notions of fidelity and fondness); of some good nature—a great deal of generosity (she must neither love money nor scolding, for I dislike equally a termagant and an economist)—In politics, I am indifferent what side she may be of—I think I have arguments that will safely convert her to mine—As to religion a moderate stock will satisfy me—She must believe in God and hate a saint. But as to fortune, the larger stock of that the better."

posted by Lame_username at 9:58 AM on April 8

absalom: it's not quite fair to suggest Hamilton was of poor character because he was a monarchist. Remember, the revolution started as a protest against various legislative acts against British American colonies. If the colonies had received legitimate representation in Parliament, the American Revolution might well haven never been fought.

Having said that, he was a pretty devious schemer who rode in on Washington's coattails. He was never shy to flex the sort of unthinking power that the Revolution fought against; not only did he did he later advocate an American stamp act, he was also the primary motivator for the Whiskey Rebellion through an excise tax. He felt the disdain early Americans felt for political parties, certainly, but it seems that he did so from an angle opposite others (e.g. Jefferson), evident in his desire for a strong executive.
posted by boo_radley at 10:23 AM on April 8

Awwon Buhh.
Awwon Buhh..
Awwon Buhh!
posted by redsparkler at 11:20 AM on April 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

boo_radley: I mean monarchist in a more general sense - someone who supports massive and unchecked executive power.
posted by absalom at 11:56 AM on April 8

Absalom, yeah, that's certainly true, and I probably should have read it as such. You'd think neocons would lay off a bit with a Democrat in the house, but I guess not.
posted by boo_radley at 12:32 PM on April 8

Grant was a drunk

dances_with_sneetches, that claim was made by his detractors in the military, and does not appear to hold up to scrutiny of his career & general demeanor.

IOW, it was particularly successful character assassination.
posted by IAmBroom at 7:24 PM on April 8