#5 James Monroe: Good President but Bad with Money (1817 –1825)

“The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation’s Call to Greatness” by Harlow Giles Unger, 2009

James Monroe is often lumped with James Madison as a Jefferson-type successor in the “Virginia Dynasty”.  However, he was one of the most popular presidents ever and perhaps the best qualified.  But a lifetime in public service was tough on him and his family.

James Monroe was born in Virginia to a medium sized plantation family.  After his parents died when he was young, he was helped by a wealthy and influential uncle, Joseph Jones, but he was also responsible for his younger siblings as well.   In 1776 he dropped out of college and joined a Virginia regiment.  He was so enamored with Washington that he refused to take any salary or expenses , thinking he was imitating Washington in this.  But Washington, who was super wealthy, did accept his expenses paid- so Monroe really screwed himself financially from the start of his public career. 

Monroe crossed the Delaware with Washington and was promoted to captain by him at the age of 18 and cited as one of the reasons for the victory! At over 6 ft tall with a calm manner, he was a great leader and motivator to his men. In fact, throughout his life almost everyone liked Monroe.  He was very good at keeping in touch with people and listening to their opinions.   While recovering from serious injuries from this battle, Monroe became an aid to another general and soon became close friends with the Marquis de Lafayette, after nursing him back to health.

In 1780 he returned to college then began studying law with Thomas Jefferson- whom he quickly idolized. Monroe was probably the most loyal supporter Jefferson had during his lifetime. He adopted Jefferson’s “Anti-federalist/ pro-France” ideology which emphasized states rights and distance from Britain.  He served in the Virginia legislature then became a representative and finally senator to the early US congress, where he befriended James Madison. 

Always struggling to live like the much wealthier Jefferson and Madison, Monroe had to sell much of his land to finance his public service.  There was very little actual cash in early America so soldiers and other public servants were paid with land certificates for “frontier land”.   He also married Elizabeth during this time, who came from a wealthier Virginia family.  She was a loyal and loving wife but prone to bouts of “rheumatism” and had rather expensive taste.  Elizabeth refused to be separated from James no matter where he was sent and followed him with their two daughters.

Beautiful but loved expensive clothes.
Elizabeth Monroe

Monroe was sent by Washington to be ambassador to France during the chaotic French revolution.  He worked hard to convince them that the US was their close ally and we were not allied with Britain.  He also rescued Lafayette’s wife and son from the guillotine.  But Washington supported closer ties to Britain so he recalled Monroe.  When he returned, with personal debts due to some French shopping, he became governor of Virginia and started a plantation right beside Monticello. 

When Jefferson was elected president, he sent Monroe to France to help arrange the Louisiana Purchase then to Britain as ambassador.  But Monroe was in a tight spot with Britain since both Jefferson and Sec. of State Madison did not have any trust for the British .  This created a rift between Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. Monroe returned to America and worked hard on his plantation while many urged him to run against Madison for president.  He would not endorse Madison but did not publicly criticize him either.

After he was elected president, Madison soon apologized to Monroe since he desperately needed him to serve as Sec of State. Madison wanted his help to avoid another war with the British over their harassment of American ships.  Monroe soon realized that war was necessary and the War of 1812 began.  Madison's leadership during the war was weak and lead to the burning of Washington DC. Monroe personally rallied and lead the  troops while also simultaneously serving as Sec of War and Sec of State. Monroe became a supporter/defender of Andrew Jackson and was very popular for the treaty which ended the war. 

Monroe easily won the presidential election in 1816, beginning a time of expansion and prosperity for the country called “The Era of Good Feelings”.  Ironically there were virtually no political parties functioning at this time, which sounds like it would be a good thing.  But it actually made it difficult for Monroe to get groups of congressmen to work together. Monroe expanded roads and canals, gained Florida for the US,  settled northern boundaries with Russia and Britain,  and supervised the passing of the Missouri Compromise, a bill which delayed dealing with the slavery issue for decades. He also supported a location in Africa for slaves to return to and so Monrovia, Liberia was named after him.  He also presented the “Monroe Doctrine” which states that the US would not accept any further involvement of other nations in North and South America.  Monroe was so popular that he basically ran unopposed for a second term. People compared his looks to George Washington, something he encouraged by wearing similar clothes and hats to Washington, even after they were no longer in style.

After the presidency, Monroe struggled to get his expenses reimbursed by the federal government and had to sell his plantation by Monticello.  After a visit by his old friend Lafayette, many saw that Monroe was almost destitute. He became President of the University of Virginia and lived on a plantation near it until his wife died.  Monroe became distraught and unstable after her death- burning any letters or papers that mentioned her.   He moved in with his oldest daughter and soon died on July 4, 1831.  He was the last president to fight in the Revolutionary War.