Crowd in front of White House during Andrew Jackson's first inaugural

This frontispiece illustrates the raucousness of the crowd in front of the White House at Andrew Jackson's first inaugural reception in 1829. During the inaugural festivities, the rowdy mob broke windows, tore down curtains, and stood upon the furniture in their muddy boots. Servants dragged tubs of punch onto the lawn to draw the unruly mob out of the president's house in order to minimize the destruction.

The first inauguration of Andrew Jackson as the seventh President of the United States took place on March 4, 1829.

The White House was opened to all for a post-inaugural reception, and was filled by the public even before Jackson arrived on horseback. Soon afterward, Jackson left by a window and proceeded to Gadsby's Hotel in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The crowd continued to descend into a drunken mob, only dispersed when bowls of liquor and punch were placed on the front lawn. "I never saw such a mixture," said Joseph Story, a justice on the Supreme Court: "The reign of King Mob seemed triumphant." The White House was left a mess, including several thousand dollars worth of broken china.

President's Levee, or all Creation going to the White House, Washington, [March 4, 1829] Illustrated in The Playfair Papers, London: Saunders and Otley, 1841. Frontispiece, Rare Book & Special, Collections Division (84.4)

Title: President's Levee, or all Creation going to the White House / Robert Cruikshank fect. Creator(s): Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, artist. Date Created/Published: London : Saunders and Otley, 1841. Medium: 1 print : aquatint, color. Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Summary: Crowd in front of White House during Andrew Jackson's first inaugural reception in 1829. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-1805 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZC4-970 (color film copy transparency)

Call Number: Illus. in E165.P72 [Rare Book RR] [P&P] [P&P] Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.

Notes:
* Reference copy in WASHINGTONIANA - LOT 4386 59E.
* Illus. in: The Playfair papers. London : Saunders and Otley, 1841, v. 2, frontispiece.

Subjects:
* Jackson, Andrew,--1767-1845--Inauguration, 1829.
* White House (Washington, D.C.)--1820-1830.
* Crowds--Washington (D.C.)--1820-1830.

Format:
* Aquatints--Color--1840-1850.
* Book illustrations--Color--1840-1850.
* Frontispieces--Color--1840-1850.

Collections:
* Miscellaneous Items in High Demand

TEXT RESOURCES: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia