Old Hickory (1939)

Hugh Sothern: Andrew Jackson

Quotes 

• Andrew Jackson : [pointing at a map of the local area in Louisiana and explaining his warfare strategy]  Governor, I've decided to stand here: between a river and a swamp.

  Governor Clairborne of Louisiana : But, General, the enemy has a force of 10,000 regulars, veterans, men who beat Napoleon.

  Andrew Jackson : Yes, Governor, I reckon there's fine a lot of fightin' men on earth.

  Governor Clairborne of Louisiana : And you expect to beat them with half as many militia, backwoodsmen most of them?

  Andrew Jackson : Backwoodsmen stopped them in '76. I reckon they can do it again.

  Governor Clairborne of Louisiana : Very well, General, I wish you every success.

  Andrew Jackson : Thank you, Governor.

• Jean Lafitte : [ironically enough, friendly introducing himself after sneakingly forcing his way into the office with a gun]  General Jackson.

  Andrew Jackson : Who are you, sir?

  Jean Lafitte : [smilingly]  Captain Jean Lafitte, at your service.

  Andrew Jackson : [immediately enraged]  Lafitte? The pirate?

  Jean Lafitte : I've been called worse names.

  Andrew Jackson : Not as bad as some of the names I could call you. So, you take advantage of a time like this to rob and plunder, huh?

  Jean Lafitte : You are mistaken, mon General. I come here at considerable risk to myself to offer you the services of my men.

  Andrew Jackson : Your men? Your thieves and cutthroats.

  Jean Lafitte : My men are fighters; you need them, every one. The enemy has landed.

  Andrew Jackson : You lie, Lafitte. My scouts haven't seen any redcoats.

  Jean Lafitte : Mine have; they're only 9 miles from the city.

  Colonel Ed Livingston : [bounding into the office along with General Butler and an Aide]  General Jackson, General Jackson!

  Aide with Message : The enemy is at Villa Rose Plantation, sir.

  Adjutant General Robert Butler : They're bringing up their batteries from the fleet.

  Andrew Jackson : By the eternal, they'll never sleep on American ground!

  Jean Lafitte : If I may suggest, my men are sea fighters, gunners. We ask nothing better than a chance to blow the enemy's batteries off our soil.

  Andrew Jackson : *Our* soil. What claim have you to any part of it? An outlaw, pirate!

  Jean Lafitte : Yes, General, an 'outlaw' if you will; but first, an American.

  Andrew Jackson : You know, Lafitte, I'm gonna give you a chance to make good on that. Colonel Livingston, see that orders are issued commisioning Jean Lafitte as a colonel in the United States militia.

  Colonel Ed Livingston : But Andy, he's a...

  Andrew Jackson : You heard what he said: he's an American! Butler, muster every man in New Orleans who can shoot a gun. Livingston, commandeer those cotton bales; take 'em to lie in a fire.

  [they salute and promptly leave] 

  Jean Lafitte : Mon amie?

  [cheerily tosses the long rifle back to the guard from whom he stole it] 

  Jean Lafitte : Mercie!

• Andrew Jackson : [during the battle against the British redcoats]  Good shot!

  French Gunner : Merci, merci!

  Andrew Jackson : By heavens, you're the dirtiest man I ever saw.

  French Gunner : Merci, mon général! Merci beaucoup!

  Andrew Jackson : [walking over to Tim]  How goes it, Tim, ya old muskrat?

  Tim : Not bad, Andy!

  Andrew Jackson : Good shootin'!

  Tim : We stopped them for good this time, Andy! They're runnin' for their ships!

  Jean Lafitte : [approaching Jackson]  I hope we've been of service, mon général.

  Andrew Jackson : They'll never hang you as an American, Jean Lafitte; you've been a hero of New Orleans.

  [Lafitte smiles proudly and Jackson continues to rouse the rest of the men] 

  Andrew Jackson : Over and after 'em, ya backwood wildcats!

• Rachel Jackson : [while very sick and in bed]  Andy, I've got to talk to you. I want you to promise me you won't fight another duel.

  Andrew Jackson : Don't ask me that, Rachael. Why, the man who slanders you must look to God for mercy.

  Rachel Jackson : But it's a conspiracy, this man will kill you!

  Andrew Jackson : Perhaps.

  Rachel Jackson : But don't you see, dear, it's your enemies - they're trying to strike at you through me. You mustn't let them do that, you must be strong. I know that in you lies the destiny of our people. You must choose a wise course for them to follow.

  Andrew Jackson : But you're askin' me to take the hardest course of all.

  Rachel Jackson : But it's one of the things I-I must ask of you. Promise me?

  Andrew Jackson : I promise, sweetheart.

• Narrator : On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson was inaugurated as the seventh President.

  Andrew Jackson : [being sworn into office at his inauguration]  I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will - to the best of my ability - preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

• Narrator : Andrew Jackson was the first President sprung from the common people and the White House was never closed to the many he called his friends.

  Tim : I just wanted to be sure you got in the White House, Andy; now I'm movin' on.

  Andrew Jackson : Where to, Tim?

  Tim : Out west: Illinois. It's gettin' too crowded around these parts.

  Andrew Jackson : By crackey, Tim, I've got to give you somethin' to remember me by.

  Tim : Thank you, Andy. Give me that pipe.

  Andrew Jackson : Oh, not this old pipe; I'll get ya a new one.

  Tim : If ya don't mind, I'd rather have the one smoked by Old Hickory hiself.

  Andrew Jackson : Oh, why sure, Tim.

  [happily hands him his pipe] 

  Tim : We're dependin' on you, Andy. Ya ain't gonna let none of these smart politicians fool ya.

• Andrew Jackson : Livingston, that was a fine speech Dan Webster made today.

  Colonel Ed Livingston : Andy, it's time you showed your hand on this tariff question. South Carolina may actually secede.

  Andrew Jackson : [regrettably]  South Carolina, our knave state. You know, Ed, I'll bet every man down there voted for me.

  Colonel Ed Livingston : And it's these same supporters who oppose the tariff, while your political enemies like Daniel Webster are for it.

  Andrew Jackson : Fine talker, this fellow Webster.

  [reading the ending from a copy of Webster's speech] 

  Andrew Jackson : 'Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseperable.'

• Narrator : A Jefferson Day dinner was arranged, the President formally invited. It was a political trap!, planned by those willing to split the Union rather than submit to the tariff of abominations.

  Robert Hayno : We'll soon smoke Old Hickory out.

  Vice President John C. Calhoun : All we need is the President's endorsement and the country's split open like a melon.

  Robert Hayno : It's all arranged: first I deliver the Jefferson Day eulogy emphasizing the fact that all the great leaders who framed the Constitution were believers in state's rights.

  Vice President John C. Calhoun : An out and out endorsement of Carolina's stand.

  Robert Hayno : Calhoun, we've got it.

  Vice President John C. Calhoun : Definitely. For, right there we call on the worthy sucessor of Jefferson, another firm believer in state's rights. What else can Jackson say?

  Robert Hayno : [advancing further into the dinner during Jackson's introduction]  The President of the United States.

  [Everyone claps as Jackson stands up] 

  Andrew Jackson : Gentlemen, our Federal Union must and shall be preserved.

  [takes a drink] 

  Andrew Jackson : Excuse me, please.

  [walks away] 

  Vice President John C. Calhoun : Mr. President...

  Andrew Jackson : [turning around]  Well?

  Vice President John C. Calhoun : [sharply]  What will your friends in South Carolina think?

  Andrew Jackson : I've already prepared a proclamation for my friends in South Carolina. It will be enforced, by arms if necessary.

  Robert Hayno : [dismayed]  Arms? Against your own people?

  Andrew Jackson : [sternly]  Against my own flesh and blood if they try to destroy the Union.

  Vice President John C. Calhoun : [aghast]  Do you mean to say that you're going to force this abominable tariff on the South?

  Andrew Jackson : It's not a question of the tariff, we can modify that. The issue you've brought up is disunion.

  [gallantly] 

  Andrew Jackson : This country is an asylum for the weak and the oppressed, to find refuge and support. And as long as I retain my strength, it shall remain united.

  [infuriated] 

  Andrew Jackson : And if you, sir, continue along the line you're going, by the eternal, I'll try you for treason and hang you as high as Haman!

  Elderly Jackson Supporter : Three cheers for Old Hickory!

  [All the men at the dinner cheer 'Hooray!' three times]