Existing comment:
James Monroe, 1758-1831
In 1820, White House incumbent James Monroe stood virtually unopposed in his bid for a second term, an expression of the so-called "Era of Good Feelings" that set in after the War of 1812 and was marked by a temporary halt in two-party factionalism.
Monroe brought to his presidency a style that meshed well with this rancorless climate. When, for example, he vetoed public improvements legislation, he offered Congress suggestions for accomplishing the same end through means that circumvented his Constitution-based objections. The most enduring legacy of his administration, however, was the Monroe Doctrine, which registered opposition to European meddling in the Western Hemisphere. It ultimately became a keystone of American foreign policy.
Gilbert Stuart, c 1820-1822 |