Part 7/8:
The critiques leveled at Van Buren during his presidency—or as noted by contemporaries like Davy Crockett—paint him as a politically ambitious figure, perhaps more concerned with the mechanics of governance than with the moral implications of his actions. Despite these criticisms and a perceived lack of leadership on critical issues like slavery and the role of Native Americans, Van Buren's legacy as America’s first politician endures as more than just an officeholder.