“Van Buren, like many American master-politicians since, was quite capable of combining party ruthlessness with high-mindedness. He was a political schizophrenic, admitting he abused power occasionally and vowing never to do it again (he did of course). ... American political history has since thrown up repeated exemplars of what might be called the Van Buren Syndrome --- men who could combine true zeal for the public interest with fanatical devotion to the party principle.” Politics InsanityMartin Van Buren Author:Paul Johnson
“Martin Van Buren was a shitty guy. Not just because he was a bad president, and not just because he was pro-slavery. Van Buren was shitty in a very general sort of way. And with all that that implies.” HumorHistoryMartin Van Buren Book:How to Fight Presidents: Defending Yourself Against the Badasses Who Ran This Country Source: How to Fight Presidents: Defending Yourself Against the Badasses Who Ran This Country