The rise and fall of Martin Van Buren

[@jamesearley694]

I love learning about our former presidents. Please keep doing these segments. Mo Rocka is awesome.

[@MegaJustGeorge]

James, my sir, there is no better media gadfly today than Mo Rocca!

[@Theomite]

I too enjoy bite-sized segments like these. It helps to build an outline for further research rather than slogging through it all from the beginning.

[@michaelhill9106]

Mo Rocca is really good at making history interesting.

[@thudor1]

He was the first to be born an American citizen but also the only one who spoke English as a second language. Wow.

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

"Maarten Van Buren" was how he wrote his name, I think. 🤔

[@natecollins9331]

@@ragingjaguarknight86 The way you pronounce it in Standard Dutch is like "Maartehn Vahn Bure(n)" which the "n" is not pronounced lol, yeah I know it's Bizzare but it's like that in Dutch .

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

@@natecollins9331 interesting. 🤔

[@touchofdumb]

The Melting Pot!

[@57highland]

​​@@natecollins9331Also in Dutch, the "V" is not capitalized, hence "van Buren." The Dutch "Roosevelt" name was originally "van Rosenvelt."

[@TommyLawrenceJr-kx2gm]

I learned he was the 8th President from watching Seinfeld 🤣🤣🤣

[@kamuelalee]

Me too, thanks TV.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

The Van Buren Boys.

[@jackgrimaldi8685]

@@Royale_with_Cheeze They're just as mean as he was.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@imaldi8685 George, trying to make up the secret hand signal, was as useless as Jerry saying "Mulva"

[@kamuelalee]

@@Royale_with_Cheeze Just for that, Jerry will come down to where you work and start heckling you. "Boo...Boo!"

[@lukeoconnell5642]

The park ranger seems so fun... I remember getting a special solo tour of LBJ's boyhood home by a fantastic park ranger there (because no one else showed up for the tour!). Go enjoy some of these amazing historical sites, I really recommend it

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

Did the park ranger tell you about "Jumbo"?

[@deanmay338]

Great story! Yes, keep doing stories like this on presidents. I live in Kentucky and have had the chance to visit Lincoln’s birth place in Hodgenville, KY, his boyhood home in southern Indiana (Lincoln State Park), and his presidential library in Springfield, IL. I have also been to Clinton’s boyhood home. My wife and I are avid campers (small travel trailer). I would love to plan and research camping trips that would involve visiting homes/libraries/memorials of presidents. Thanks again.

[@carmarasmussen8118]

My husband and I visited those Lincoln sites in Kentucky last Fall and went to his home in Springfield, IL and burial site several years ago. We also toured The Hermitage outside of Nashville which is the former home of Andrew Jackson. Went to Mt. Vernon in Virginia in 2021. Monticello is next on our list. The history of our country is so fascinating!

[@deanmay338]

@@carmarasmussen8118 outstanding! I only live about an hour from the Hermitage in South Central Kentucky. We definitely need to get down to check out the Hermitage.

[@TylerD288]

I've been to site of Lincoln's parents wedding in Washington county, near Springfield, KY. They were married in my ancestors cabin, Richard Berry. Also, his wife was a bridesmaid, or at least a friend, of Nancy Lincoln née Hanks. My family intermarried with the Berry's and the name Berry runs prominently in my family. I'm Berry, but also my dad, granddad, and great-great grandad were all "Berry".

[@californianews24]

Exploring historical figures like Martin Van Buren is always fascinating! His journey, from his peak as the 8th President of the United States to the challenges he faced afterward, is a testament to the unpredictability and dynamism of political life. Van Buren's era was marked by significant developments in American politics, including the formation of the Democratic Party and his efforts toward modernizing the political system. His experiences remind us of the resilience needed in public service and the impact one individual can have on the course of history. It's inspiring to delve into the lives of such figures, drawing lessons from their achievements and setbacks alike.

[@wardarcade7452]

They avoided mentioning that President Van Buren had married his cousin Hannah Van Hoes (1783-1819) who died at age 35 of tuberculosis after 12 years of marriage and having borne their four living sons. He would remain a widower the remaining 43 years of his life. Oddly enough, President Van Buren himself avoided mentioning her a single time in his own 900+ page autobio- though some have speculated that he may have done so because he didn't want her memory to be tarnished.

[@frankstallworth5068]

Welp, too late for that!

[@cia4U9525]

Van Buren dined with Abraham Lincoln in his post-presidency, oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation

[@SlayerofFiction]

Buren was fairly racist and the "Trail of Tears" actually happened under him via Jackon's signing of course. I doubt they had much in common as Lincoln was of course a very progressive person of the times.

[@noxus158]

It says van buren was anti slavery​@@SlayerofFiction

[@SlayerofFiction]

@@noxus158 Early on he had stated that "Slavery was a moral evil" However once becoming President he catered to the south From the NPS,which I encourage you to visit and read completely "Van Buren believed the Constitution exempted Black people of African descent, enslaved and free, from its protections, rights and benefits. This view appears in his response to the Supreme Court Justice opinion involving the Dred Scott case:

[@davidpurrott3736]

I drive past this house twice and week and I have lived no further than 30 miles from it my whole life. Shame on me. I promise myself to go there this summer.

[@latinolawdog5067]

Don’t feel too bad. He’s dead. He didn’t notice.

[@skepticalsmurf]

many thanks for that segment… l’m a history nerd,while working as an assistant at a dental practice,l guided our patients to one of four operatories(rooms)which l jokingly named two of them the Van Buren & Filmore suites 😉

[@nathansmo]

Van Buren Boy for life

[@OconByrd519]

Keep it up Mo. Love your segments on presidential trivia !

[@kaeso101]

Dude i cant be the alone one binge watching biographical reports on past US presidents..this stuff is more interesting than i thought

[@WhittWoofs]

Love these segments. We need one for each president. -- Van Buren had interesting thoughts on the idea of a mass political party after serving under Jackson.

[@judithdomangue9995]

Love this video.

[@BudTCat]

I own the Widmer biography on MVB. I learned a lot ... which wasn't difficult because I didn't know much about President Marty to begin with.

[@jdewitt77]

I have that book and i'st really really good. What a joy and a pleasure to read. It's informative and very well written. Mr. Widmer did an excellent job with it.

[@steveconn]

Hudson Valley such a pretty area. Martin invented mutton chops. No mean feat.

[@davey3765]

Ranger Zach Anderson gives me the impression he's a friend of Dorothy and totally fabulous.

[@doody244]

Mo is also. I wonder if they hit it off. Lindenwald would be a beautiful wedding venue. It’s also fairly easy to get there from NYC so guests won’t have a long trek getting there.

[@stephenleblanc4677]

Ranger Zack has charisma to spare.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Ooh... a Van Buren/Jackson movie... with Paul Giamatti as Van Buren, and Clint Eastwood as Jackson? Maybe a buddy movie, like "My Fellow Americans", with Jack Lemmon and James Garner? ;-P

[@doody244]

I like Clint Eastwood but he’s too old for the part now. What about Robert Downey Jr? He’s really a chameleon. Oppenheimer is a perfect example of that. I like the choice of Paul. He was excellent as John Adams. If you haven’t see the miniseries I highly recommend it. You should also read the David McCullough book it’s based on.

[@williamcainevoiceacting]

More president content with Mo!

[@kamuelalee]

"Yeah, well, uh.. you know uh, you didn't hear from me, but, uh, the Van Buren Boys - they never hassle their own kind." -- Kramer

[@laughitupfuzzball]

Martin Van Buren looks liked he’d be guilty of saying, “Inconceivable.”

[@mililaniman]

I enjoy American history stories like this.

[@JMMidwest321]

I knew he was President, but don’t know much beyond that. He does have streets named after him, like there is a Van Buren Street in Chicago…

[@Imissyoulou]

Chicago has MANY streets named after presidents. Adams, Lincoln, Fillmore, Roosevelt, Polk, Jackson, and many more.

[@sean2015]

If you look at a map, you'll see that the streets inside the Loop which are named for presidents, go in chronological order from north to south, in the same order as the presidents served in office. Example: Monroe is north of Adams, Adams is north of Jackson, which is north of Van Buren. (Adams the younger not Adams the older).

[@GeographRick]

Here in Indiana many towns have a Van Buren street and there’s a lot of schools named after Van Buren

[@birdwife589]

i love their videos about obscure presidents

[@JustinCase780]

They forget to mention that he was a grand uncle to Eddie and Alex Van Halens great grandfather.

[@thejessejoint]

thats cool af

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

​​@@thejessejointHe's pulling your leg. Eddie Van Halen's family was mixed race, i.e. Dutch-Indonesian. The Dutch side of his family (his father) came directly from Holland to Indonesia, not from the US.

[@randyneumeyer2107]

You sure?

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

@@randyneumeyer2107 He's BS'ing.

[@darcyperkins7041]

​@@helifanodobezanozi7689It's likely a joke, but they all came from the Netherlands originally so technically it is possible. Going to Indonesia is irrelevant.

[@juddyyoutube]

He was a very successful politician. Senator from New York, Governor of New York, Secretary of State, Vice-President, then President. He was the last Vice-President to immediately ascend to the presidency after their VP term until George H W Bush in 1989.

[@lindablackwell4852]

Thanks, Bernie, for bringing in experts on inequality.👍🏻👍👍🏽👍🏿♥️

[@HansDelli]

After this Van Buren is going in my top 30 US presidents

[@lilysawyer1]

This was fascinating. Thanks for bringing light to an obscure president.

[@ProudBerliozian]

Come on: Chester Arthur had some formidable whiskers. He too was from NY.

[@touchofdumb]

Nice intro to Shock Chops. Wish Mo had a longer format.

[@luislaplume8261]

Martin Van Buren was also known as the Herbert Hoover of the 19th century. Why? Because what is called The Panic of 1837 was the Great Depression of that time. A lot of unemployed sailors and dock workers.

[@KOMET2006]

The expression "OK" comes from 'Old Kinderhook' in reference to Martin van Buren.

[@krash66]

I can't believe you didn't mention what he is most famous for. His nickname was Old Kinderhook, and that is where the expression "OK" comes from. Nearly anywhere in the world you go, no matter what language is spoken, "OK" is nearly universally understood.

[@tua09769]

well, how does a personal nickname of a random president become a word of affirmation and approval? Explain that

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

​@tua09769 I had read years ago that "OK" is an approximation for a Native American word that is spelled "okeh" which means "it is decided" or "it is decidedly so".

[@tua09769]

@@ragingjaguarknight86interesting. Thanks

[@latinolawdog5067]

OK

[@ElvisPress]

@@tua09769 This is what is written on WikePedia: " The term appears to have achieved national prominence in 1840, when supporters of the Democratic political party claimed during the 1840 United States presidential election that it stood for "Old Kinderhook", a nickname for the Democratic president and candidate for reelection, Martin Van Buren, a native of Kinderhook, New York. "Vote for OK" was snappier than using his Dutch name

[@johnkeane5851]

I visited Kinderhook. There was lead water pipes!!!😢😢😢

[@brucekuehn4031]

MVB was portrayed in a Spielberg movie - Amistad, 1997 by Nigel Hawthorne. Good movie, but not great. Van Buren took the side against the slaves because he thought abolitionists posed a threat to national unity. Former president John Quincy Adams, who was serving as a member of Congress, represented the slaves in the Supreme Court and won. Delaying a showdown over the actual institution of slavery would work for about 20 more years until the Secession and Civil War.

[@HabitualJoker]

Oh, so HE’S the reason I can never find a political candidate to vote for that represents my views. Our two party system is one of the things killing the USA.

[@Lotmeister]

I have to admit the only reason I know who Martin Van Buren was is because he was mentioned in an episode of The Monkees. A dance studio calls the band's apartment and offers Peter a free dance lesson if he can name our eighth president. Peter answers correctly, and then mentioning Van Buren becomes a running joke throughout the episode.

[@rocknrollsetmefree]

One of my favorites! I still whisper indignantly, “Martin Van Buren!” whenever he’s mentioned.

[@darrellcook8253]

Yeah me too.

[@brucetrombley6986]

I was once holding a garlic shaker and unknowingly flashed the gang sign of the Van Buren boys just like Kramer.

[@newtheis]

I saw this video, and just had to click on it just to see how many comments would be made about Seinfeld and the Van Buren boys. You are #2.

[@hifijohn]

Be lucky you didnt run into the James K Polk boys.

[@MurphCat-zl8vu]

On the night he won the 1836 election, his backers chanted: "MVB! MVB! MVB!"

[@SirVic42]

Other odd fact about MVB: He is one of only two men to win the Presidency immediately after serving two terms as VP. George HW Bush was the second to do so. When Bush won, he actually said "Thank you, Martin Van Buren." during his speech.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

According to the POTUS website, Andrew Jackson served two terms just prior to MVB. Jackson had two different VPs, MVB being the second. *Vice Presidents: John C. Calhoun (1829-1832); Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)* MVB only served one term as VP. If you have different info, please share.

[@SirVic42]

@@Royale_with_Cheeze You're right. I forgot about Calhoun. He resigned during Jackson's first term, but MVB didn't fill the office until the second term. The Bush statement I am positive about - maybe he was the first sitting VP to win the big job since MVB?

[@debbralehrman5957]

Let's hope so. (Comment on the last words) I guess timing is everything when our President. Thanks Mo👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@bhf614]

I went to Martin Van Buren High School in the NYC borough of Queens

[@A.K.sensationalplan]

Its nice and informative and intresting❤

[@scillyautomatic]

Best commercial Google ever did what "Martin Van Buren". Maybe the only TV commercial they ever did...

[@zanehaus]

When my brother and I would mention Van Buren, we'd always think of them 'chops!

[@ggperez4243]

Van Buren and Quincy Adams are actually the two tied for shortests at 5’6, Monroe was 6’0

[@corym8358]

Madison was 5'4"

[@Mdebacle]

By 1838, about 2,000 Cherokee had voluntarily relocated from Georgia to Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). Forcible removals began in May 1838 when General Winfield Scott received a final order from President Martin Van Buren to relocate the remaining Cherokees. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died in the ensuing trek to Oklahoma. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears

[@Justin.Martyr]

*I've said since Mid 2021, that Trump wouLd Beat ALL these Cases & WouLd be President #47!!!* *Feb. 29, '24; the Packed & Stacked SuPreme Court just made My Prediction a ReALity!!!* *I am Sik of America, I am Sik of the American PeoPLe & ALL History simpLy Led to THIS!!!!* *I Don't even want to Watch thisSHIT, anyMore!!! I Just Put My PersonaL TRUST in JeHoVahGOD!!!* *Justin. James. Martyr ( AT ) G .c | Justin de Eugene, Oregon*

[@markaltenhoff4049]

I enjoyed visiting the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site back in 2019, and we also got to see his gravesite further north in town. I was intrigued how much more successful a farmer he was than a President, hehe.

[@archfapper211]

Ranger Zack tho 😍 I'm gonna drive by the MVB house next weekend actually haha

[@matthewfarmer2520]

I have an very old deed paper 📜 that about the time he was president that has his name at the end signed. I got it at used book shop that a man collected old books 📚 and magazines. I have two more deeds that has another president name on as well.

[@DougLazy-j3u]

The Van Buren boys.

[@rybigbee01]

MVP: the fabulous Park Ranger

[@rfgator22]

Van Buren Boys represent

[@vac-dude9190]

Not making fun of him, but "martin chops" is just 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bonzotheoriginal]

The people used to say, "Van, Van, he's a washed up man". He was too political for America and did not get re-elected.

[@matthewcarey3148]

Matty Van, the Little Magician!

[@1971-jljl]

They say that Martin Van Buren did not own slaves however in his house there were four enslaved women can somebody explain that to me

[@RichardSchiffman-jn1ds]

Yes slaves existed back in the 1840s. You want a cookie 🍪 ?

[@1971-jljl]

@@RichardSchiffman-jn1ds don't you have a pointless protest to be at or a flag to burn somewhere

[@ViscidBeltUSA]

Martin Van Buren: -Not born a British subject. -Not of any British ancestry. -Not a primary English language speaker. He was Dutch 🇳🇱

[@jameseldridge4185]

And he has a small town in very far northern Maine named for him.

[@jacksilver930]

I think that was a mistake about James Monroe and Grover Cleveland being tied for the second shortest President? According to every source I've read, Monroe was 6 feet tall and Cleveland was 5"11.

[@memi5168]

The park ranger tour guide is great!

[@hifijohn]

Remember if you're ever in NYC and run into The Van Buren Boys flash the number 8.

[@rowbehr8]

We need to teach U.S president back in school. I’m surprised people didn’t know he was president.

[@Sbannmarie]

I lived in a presidential neighborhood- never knew who was van buren

[@davidsipos302]

I did a school report on him when I was in 2nd Grade!

[@crazyman8472]

Back when politicians really knew how to rig an election… 😎

[@TDK360]

Had a great nickname The little magician

[@gregruland1934]

Boy, you really missed the point of MVB. Of course, Martin Van Buren's toilet is quite amazing. Even more amazing is that he is the author of the modern-day political party, feared and dreaded by the founders. Of course, the founders were right. Political parties are destroying the Republic today. Thanks, Martin.

[@sharontabor7718]

MVB was correct. With only one political party, we devolve into an autocratic society.

[@danielhalem5799]

And evidently he was the first politician to rise through the ranks for being a good party loyalist. George Washington’s warning about parties in his farewell address ended up being spot on.

[@tuckerbugeater]

who says it's parties that are the problem? @@danielhalem5799

[@brucekuehn4031]

Political parties at least put a little bit of an organizational system in place for elections. You want 37 candidates running with no way to “whittle them down”? Multiple party coalitions that you see in other nations don’t seem to work that well either. Then they make back room deals with each other to assemble a majority in order to govern.

[@danielhalem5799]

@@brucekuehn4031so when the U.S. sets up new governments, why do they install the parliamentary system instead of ours….if ours is so good? The country is owned by two for profit corporations disguised as parties.

[@thomasnowicki5844]

"A dismal presidency and a successful life". Sounds a little like Jimmy Carter?

[@billolsen4360]

The people will not allow a government to continue in power if they are unable to control vital things that are out of their control. Such as the economy and the weather.

[@nilosongproductions8016]

One of the greats Come on - those sideburns!

[@dannymac6368]

OK

[@benniecurrie]

It would have been nice to include his stance on the Amistad African captives incident.

[@Will_Moffett]

It took me like 30 seconds to realize the host wasn't a parity of a guy like the host.

[@johannesnicolaas]

Dutch was his first language... whoah.... that I like (yes, I am Dutch, haha....)

[@doody244]

My grandmother met 🇳🇱 Queen Wilhelmina as a teenager when the monarch was touring the United States. This was during WWII. Both sides of my family settled in Boston. They came over from Austria and Germany during the 🇺🇸 Civil War. What’s really freaky is that my grandmother met the Queen on what would be my birthday 48 years later.

[@pscar1]

No mention of the Amistad?

[@randyneumeyer2107]

That was jq adams

[@brucekuehn4031]

Van Biden was president then

[@michaelsix9684]

most presidents are quickly forgotten

[@w00deey12]

Flash 8 fingers if you run into the VanBuren boys!!!

[@okcomputer0101]

More Rocka, please

[@Goldensuninvegas]

Would of been nice to mention his part in the amistad saga

[@timward3116]

Now we know that Van Buren's theory about having two political parties didn't work. We have two parties that don't represent most of the people who have to choose between them. Bad idea, Martin. Baaaad idea!

[@troybaker1222]

James Monroe was 6’. He wasn’t 5’6” as the ranger said.

[@ChrisW-17]

I've heard that Van Buren's grave is one of the least (if not The least) visited among our presidents. Also, any truth to his nickname Old Kinderhook "O.K." evolving into today's "okay"? Or is that just legend?

[@guyfaux3978]

It's kinda the other way around. "Och aye" (Scottish for "oh, yes") gets "corrupted" in the USA to "OK" because it also sounds like an expression slaves used, "kay," and it became kind of a patois word also used by the Native tribes in the South. So the thought was, "MVB is OK!"

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

I'm a former V boy myself

[@chad017]

I’m a former member of the Van-B Boys.

[@johnhaug9612]

In Gore Vidal's "Burr" Aaron Burr is Van Buren's biological father.

[@jimkinkade6919]

So did Gore Vidal!

[@sandralynnsparks3468]

Van Buren was a lucky man.

[@revolutionaryhamburger]

If we owe this fellow anything for creating our two party system it is scorn.

[@jimdellavecchia4594]

Van Buren was known to really "bend the elbow!!"

[@donaldroberts7242]

Van Buren had kind of same problem George H.W. Bush had , in both cases Jackson and Reagan were tough acts to follow.

[@thetreeoflifegardener4360]

Interesting Ted Widmer mentions Van Buren being in a "secret society." Also, interesting the two-party system which gives the illusion of choice.

[@guyfaux3978]

I wonder what he sounded like-- with a Dutch first language but bilingual and perfectly fluent in English, I'm guessing, something like a very highly educated Afrikaner?

[@nufosmatic]

2:10 - I could do "Martin-Chops"...

[@mezamaldini]

dutch greatness