In honor of Presidents’ Day, I will be blogging on the Framers all week, starting with Hamilton, whom I consider to be the most creative of the lot. Whether you agree with his vision for America or not, there can be little doubt that he was a genius, while his origins as an illegitimate child in the West Indies make his prominence in our history a tribute to the American dream, and something close to a miracle.
Here are the questions, and my responses:
1. Given his obvious affection for the British political system, why did he choose the Patriot side? Opportunism, in two different senses. He undoubtedly (and correctly) perceived that his chances of advancement in society, given the circumstances of his birth, were far better if he joined the side supporting the revolution. In addition, he saw the Patriot side as being on the correct side of history, which it ultimately proved to be.
2. What happened to his judgment after he left office? I’m not a doctor, but I’m going to play one on this blog post. Everything I have read about the man suggests that he was manic-depressive. It is perfectly possible that his condition took a toll on his judgment as time went on.
3. Should he remain on the $10 bill? Absolutely. Our financial system has its roots in his ideas.