image: 10 3/4 in x 14 1/2 in; 27.305 cm x 36.83 cm
Object Name:
Lithograph
Object Type:
Lithograph
Place made:
United States: District of Columbia, Washington
Depicted:
United States: District of Columbia, White House
Date made:
1837
Description (Brief):
This print is a reference to the New York state election of 1837, where the Democrats lost to the Whigs. Democratic advisor, Amos Kendall is depicted holding an oversize copy of the newspaper, the “New York Courier and Enquirer,” with part of a headline visible and reading, “Whig Gain.” He reads the news to President Martin Van Buren, a native of New York who was heavily involved in state politics prior to ascending to the presidency, saying, “Oh Sir, we are undone. The Empire State is lost. We are routed in erry [sic] direction. The Whigs have 22,000 maj.” Van Buren who is seated and reviewing various reports on issues such as “Indian Treaties” and the “Treasury,” is visibly angry, holding a similar expression as former president, Andrew Jackson whose portrait he is sitting in front of. Instead of immediately addressing the electoral loss however, Van Buren runs through a list of other concerns, ending with “meanwhile, Blair must make the best of it.” That is a reference to Francis Preston Blair, the editor of the pro-Jackson newspaper, the “Globe.” This print serves to show that Van Buren had bigger things to worry about than the Whigs winning an election, though he should have been worried as he was defeated in the election of 1838 by Whig, William Henry Harrison.
The lithographer of this print is Moses Swett. He began his career in Boston around 1826, working with the Pendletons and Annin and Smith, and as the superintendent of the Senefelder Lithographic Co. from 1828 to 1829. In 1830 he moved to New York, and worked with George Endicott until 1836 when he moved to Washington.
