Alexander Hamilton

by Ron Chernow

Was it a benign or a cruel destiny that had compelled the widow to outlive her husband by half a century, struggling to raise seven children and surviving almost until the eve of the Civil War?

Eliza Hamilton was committed to one holy quest above all others: to rescue her husband’s historical reputation from the gross slanders that had tarnished it. For many years after the duel, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and other political enemies had taken full advantage of their eloquence and longevity to spread defamatory anecdotes about Hamilton, who had been condemned to everlasting silence.

If Jefferson provided the essential poetry of American political discourse, Hamilton established the prose of American statecraft.

Today, we are indisputably the heirs to Hamilton’s America,

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

Poison-pen artists on both sides wrote vitriolic essays that were overtly partisan, often paid scant heed to accuracy, and sought a visceral impact.

“Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation.”

“There are strong minds in every walk of life that will rise superior to the disadvantages of situation and will command the tribute due to their merit, not only from the classes to which they particularly belong, but from the society in general. The door ought to be equally open to all.”