Heidi’s Reviews > Alexander Hamilton > Status Update

Chp 37: All things are moral to those with great souls (Burr said to Hamilton)

Chp 37: better an opportunist who lusted after money & power (Burr) than a dangerous ideologue, perceived atheism (Jefferson) the imperialists thought. Clergy told their congregations that if Jefferson became president, they would need to hide their Bibles. If forced to choose, Hamilton preferred the person with the wrong morals, as opposed to the one without any (Burr).

Chp 30: the Republican press had a field day with H’s Reynold’s pamphlet. Calendar rejoiced in H’s indiscretion and told Jefferson if you have not seen it no anticipation can equal the infamy of this piece. It is worth all the 50 of the best pens were set against him. Calendar mocked H, “the whole proof in this pamphlet is, I am a rake, and for that reason, I cannot be a swindler.”

Chapter 25: a letter from Angelica Church to her sister Eliza: I have a letter from Monsieur Talleyrand who expresses his gratitude for an introduction to you and My Amiable. My Amiable meaning your husband, who I love very much. And if you were as generous as the. Romans you would lend him to me for a little while.

Chapter 24: “Bring out your dead!”

Chapter 19: William Duer, and bank-o-rama

Chp 19/ about 1/2 way through the book: Mariah Reynolds/ Mary Lewis born in Duchess County NY in 1768, married James Reynolds when she was 15yo, and had a daughter 2 years later.
Extortion racket with husband against many, including Hamilton

Chp 17 “I [Eliza Hamilton] had little of private life in those days. Mrs., Washington, who, like myself, had a passionate love of home and domestic life often complained of the waste of time she was compelled to endure. ‘They call me the first lady in the land, I think that I must be extremely happy,’ She would say almost bitterly at times. ‘They might more properly call me as the chief state prisoner.’”

Chap. 15: Madison‘s apostasy was a painful, personal betrayal to Hamilton. One of Ham‘s supporters, minister-come-speculator Manasseh Cutler told a friend that Ham regarded Madison‘s opposition to his plan as a perfidious desertion of the principles which Madison was solemnly pledged to defend. This falling out was to be more than personal, the rift between Ham and Madison precipitated the two party system

Chp. 14: Washington and Hamilton made a great team. Washington could be hypersensitive to criticism and never forgot snubs. but he had learned to govern his emotions. making him a valuable foil to the volatile Hamilton. Hamilton could be needlessly tactless and provocative. While Washington was conciliatory with an innate sense of decorum.