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Whether Hamilton was America's greatest statesman is a matter of opinion. Still, this is an interesting account of the Hamilton-Burr duel.
1 posted on 02/03/2003 6:08:18 PM PST by 45Auto
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To: 45Auto
Gore Vidal is a total ninnie.

He did write a masterpiece, however, thirty years ago when he penned Burr.

2 posted on 02/03/2003 6:13:12 PM PST by billorites
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To: 45Auto
A very interesting post. Of course I studied much American history during my education, and remember reading about the duel. This is a nice take on it.
4 posted on 02/03/2003 6:18:19 PM PST by dix
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To: 45Auto
It IS too bad dueling is outlawed, I could see a great
future for it in the political arena.
9 posted on 02/03/2003 6:26:49 PM PST by tet68
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To: 45Auto
got milk?
13 posted on 02/03/2003 6:51:09 PM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: 45Auto
Great post.
16 posted on 02/03/2003 7:11:47 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: 45Auto
I know I'm late to this thread, but....BUMP BUMP BUMP!

FMCDH

18 posted on 02/03/2003 7:53:28 PM PST by nothingnew (the pendulum always swings back and the socialists are now in the pit)
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To: 45Auto
Anyone interested in the real and total story of this historic duel should read Duel: Alexander HAmilton, Aaron Burr and the Future of America by Thomas Fleming.

Fleming points out that America was probably better off when the political ambitions of these two men were thwarted.

Outside of Hamilton's financial plan that actually saved the fledgling country, he was a devious plotter who probably deserved what he got.

The main reason that Burr was not elected President in 1800 was that he preffered to be a man and not indulge in backroom deals, while his opponent Jefferson frantically maneuvered behind the scene to discredit Burr and make himself president.

Burr, sadly an egoist, became disillusioned and easy prey for schemers like Wilkinson, but Fleming , despite the two hundred years of bad press that Burr has recieved, pulls off the impossible by almost rehabilitating him.

The ending of Flemings book is this great anecdote concerning Burr's last landlady before his death at 80:

The landlady was given to fits of melancholy and sometimes wished she were dead. Burr always rebuked her and urged her to enjoy herself. During one paricular patch of trouble, she cried, "Oh Colonel, how shall I get through this?"

"Live through it, my dear," Burr said.

The landlady refused to be solaced: "This will kill me, Colonel, I know I can not survive this."

"Well die then, Madame," Colonel Burr said. "But bless me, die game.



19 posted on 02/04/2003 3:20:15 AM PST by metesky
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