J. Donelson, the President's nephew and secretary, were
included in the group; as was also Francis P. Blair after, in 1830, he
became editor of the new administration organ, the _Globe_. It was the
popular impression that the influence of these men, especially of
Lewis and Kendall, was very great--that, indeed, they virtually ruled
the country. There was some truth in the supposition. In matters upon
which his mind was not fully made up, Jackson was easily swayed; and
his most intimate "Kitchen" advisers were adepts at playing upon his
likes and dislikes. He, however, always resented the insinuation that
he was not his own master, and all testimony goes to show that when he
was once resolved upon a given course his friends were just as
powerless to stop him as were his enemies.
The Jacksonians were carried into office on a great wave of popular
enthusiasm, an for the time being all the powers of government were
theirs. None the less, their position was imperiled almost from the
beginning by a breach within the administration ranks.
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