The Last Founding Father

James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness

By: Harlow Giles Unger

Narrated by: Michael McConnohie

In this lively and compelling biography, Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751 - 1831) went on to become America's first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America's national and international durability.

Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America's fifth president.

The country embraced Monroe's dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of Americas first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history.

Like David McCullough's John Adams and Jon Meacham's recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid listen and a stellar scholarship history in the grand tradition.

©2009 Harlow Giles Unger (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] cogent reexamination of a relatively neglected American icon...Unger makes a solid and cohesive argument for Monroe's importance in the early years of the United States....A worthy attempt to rescue Monroe from obscurity for a mainstream audience." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"[A] well-written biography...Unger presents the fifth president as a man of independence and initiative rather than merely a disciple of Jefferson, Madison, and John Quincy Adams...Will appeal to a more popular audience, especially those who enjoy presidential history or studying the Founding Fathers. Historians and history students should read as well." ( Library Journal)

Good introduction, Worth Listening To.

In this biography Harlow Giles Unger brings us a portrait of a man who few know much about today. Born in colonial Virginia Monroe was orphaned at a young age. He took on the responsibility of raising his younger siblings. When the American Revolution broke out Monroe joined up. He became an officer, was wounded at the Battle of Trenton, was decorated by Washington. He served as a Congressman, a Senator, as Governor of Virginia, and as Ambassador to the French Republic. Later he would serve as Secretary of State and Secretary of War under James Madison. He would then succeed Madison as President.

This book has its good and bad points. It is well written and should be easy for the general reader. It is quite informative and gives a good portrait of Monroe. On the downside the author tries a little to hard to build up Monroe by pulling down others around him. Monroe was a firm supporter of the French Revolution and, like Jefferson and Madison, cheered on the slaughter of the former ruling class. This is played down considerably in this book. The author also finds it necessary to try and pull down the character of both John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. Since the younger Adams was the Secretary of State during Monroe's presidency much credit is given to him for the success of the United States in that era. Unger tries to argue that Monroe was the better diplomat. The only reason that he gives is that Monroe was ambassador to France and Adams was not. He ignores the fact that Adams had been involved in Foreign service for most of his life, including a stint as the secretary and interpreter to the first US ambassador to Russia when he was a young teenager. Adams had served as Ambassador to Prussia and Russia. He had helped to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent. To dismiss his many accomplishments with a single backhanded comment was quite uncalled for.

It is a good book and is well worth reading.

Wonderful!

Excellent telling of Monroe's story! The author offers great background material. The book is well read.

Great Read

If you could sum up The Last Founding Father in three words, what would they be?

very well presented

Who was your favorite character and why?

James Monroe

Which scene was your favorite?

Andrew Jackson at the John Quincy Adams inauguration ball.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A true patriot.

Any additional comments?

such a good story

Integrity Matters

I learn something immediately about James Monroe on the first few pages of this biography. I am a better student of history having read Unger's brilliant research and presentation. I have a deep respect for this last founding father of the greatest nation ever founded. James Monroe is so essential for America's success in his early years through his last. Men of outstanding character and integrity are true role models worthy of emulation. James is honored throughout the world as such a man. I am not surprised to learn what a devout man of God he is but one who did not use his Christianity as a political tool to lazily rationale his actions. Here is a man who has a tall stature, like George Washington, who commands a room full of dignitaries because of his intelligence, insight, courage, convictions, and behavior. Unger does not only focus on James but on his immediate family, relatives, and broad range of friends. Much of the American heritage I read attributes the men who came before Monroe for many of the accomplishments that James plays an integral part in either forming or finalizing. He helps usher in a time of burgeoning prosperity that strengthens the young United States of America but always with difficulty and hardship. He endures for duty's sake being his best for God, family, and country. He is truly an American hero deserving of the title, "Great."

Big fan of Monroe

I knew nothing about Monroe prior to reading this book. Easily one of my favorite presidents now. Worth the read.

James Monroe

Thank You, Mr. Unger!

I can't believe that I was so totally unaware of the contributions of James Monroe. He has been totally eclipsed by Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, but according to Mr. Unger he may have been as instrumental as anyone in the success of the war for independence and he apparently played a large role in the Louisiana Purchase.

Without James Monroe would we even have the country we know today? It appears doubtful.

I was also unaware of the huge role he played in James Madison's administration and how successful his own two administrations were.

It is interesting that his popularity literally eliminated the two party system and may have contributed to problems in future years.

I found it a very informative read and would encourage others to learn more about James Monroe.

Hard to swallow

I took great exception to some of Mr. Unger's language repeatedly portraying "indians" as "marauding" and other unfavorable adjectives. I believe that the author embraces Manifest Destiny. I would recommend a more "woke" author who doesn't believe Madison was a hero.

Entertaining but highly biased

I wonder if the author is a distant descendant of James Monroe, as I cannot understand otherwise why he was motivated to write such a biased and whitewashed biography. James Monroe was doubles a great man who did many great things for this country. Mr. Unger highly exaggerates this greatness, painting Monroe and his work as greater than all of the other founding fathers, Washington included.
That being said, this biography did leave me with a greater understanding of that era in American history and the contributions James Monroe made to making this country great. I just wish it had been a little more balanced.

I Had No Idea

I had no idea how big a player in America’s founding James Monroe was. Very inspiring and fruitful life!

Overall a great book

This was a very good biography of James Monroe. I learned a lot of about this president. 40 years ago when I was in elementary school, we pretty much only learned about the Monroe doctrine and the war of 1812 when they came to Monroe. This book did a great job of explaining, those events and policies. I know I have an opinion of James Monroe that puts him in the top tier of all American presidents.