Boys and their toys? Book

Very good, extensive study of the life of the eighth President, Martin Van Buren. While a little slow at some points, the book picked up particularly for me when Van Buren became Jackson's Secretary of State. Niven did a good job at portraying Van Buren as a person who, while possessing some admirable qualities, also having his flaws and shortcomings. The reader gets a feel for Van Buren as a career politician, driven by the give and take of political negotiations.