Kitchen Cabinetâ€Origin of the Term and Its Political Meaning

The Kitchen Cabinet was a mocking term applied to an official circle of advisers to President Andrew Jackson. The term has endured through many decades, and now generally refers to a politicians informal circle of advisers.   When Jackson came into office after the bruising election of 1828, he was very distrustful of official Washington. As part of his anti-establishment actions, he began to dismiss government officials who had held the same jobs for years. His reshuffling of the government became known as​ the  Spoils System. And in an apparent effort to ensure that power rested with the president, not other people in the government, Jackson appointed fairly obscure or ineffectual men to most of the posts in his cabinet. The only man considered to possess any  real political stature in Jacksons cabinet was Martin Van Buren, who was appointed secretary of state. Van Buren had been a very influential figure in politics in New York State, and his ability to bring northern voters in line with Jacksons frontier appeal helped Jackson win the presidency. Jacksons Cronies Wielded the Real Power The real power in Jacksons administration rested with a circle of friends and political cronies who often did not hold official office. Jackson was always a controversial figure, thanks largely to his violent past and mercurial temperament. And  opposition newspapers, implying there was something nefarious about the president receiving much unofficial advice, came up with the play on words, kitchen cabinet, to describe the informal group. Jacksons official cabinet was sometimes called the parlor cabinet. The Kitchen Cabinet included newspaper editors, political supporters, and old friends of Jacksons. They tended to support him in such efforts as the Bank War, and the implementation of the Spoils System. Jacksons informal group of advisers became more powerful as Jackson became estranged from people within his own administration. His own vice president, John C. Calhoun, for example, rebelled against Jacksons policies, resigned, and began to instigate what became the Nullification Crisis. The Term Endured In later presidential administrations, the term kitchen cabinet took on a less derisive meaning and simply came to be used to denote a presidents informal advisers. For example, when Abraham Lincoln was serving as president, he was known to correspond with newspaper editors Horace Greeley (of the New York Tribune), James Gordon Bennett (of the New York Herald), and Henry J. Raymond (of the New York Times). Given the complexity of issues Lincoln was dealing with, the advice (and political support) of prominent editors was both welcome and extremely helpful. In the 20th century, a good example of a kitchen cabinet would be the circle of advisers President John F. Kennedy would call upon. Kennedy respected intellectuals and former government officials such as George Kennan, one of the architects of the Cold War. And he would reach out to historians and scholars for informal advice on pressing issues of foreign affairs as well as domestic policy. In modern usage, the kitchen cabinet has generally lost the suggestion of impropriety. Modern presidents are generally expected to rely on a wide range of individuals for advice, and the idea that unofficial persons would be advising the president is not seen as improper, as it had been in Jacksons time.

Relationship Between Achilles And Iliad - 1079 Words

What does it take to consider someone a hero? During Greek and Roman antiquity a hero could be defined as a strong, virtuous man who can bravely lead others. In this time period, earning honor for yourself, your family, and your city-state was the most important for a man to achieve. Achilles of Homer’s epic poem Iliad and Aeneas of Virgil’s Aeneid are depicted to be great heroes, although they can only achieve their goals with the assistance of divine intervention. Looking at the relationship between â€Å"heroes† and the gods, Achilles and Aeneas could not have succeeded without help from the gods, leading them toward the inevitable fate the gods wanted for them. Homer describes Achilles to be the fiercest trooper in battle due to his†¦show more content†¦According to the ancient Greek definition of heroism, turning your back on your city-state when they are in dire need of your help is the exact opposite. In turn, he dishonors his name by knowingly no t participating in the war, and wasting the gift of swift feet from his mother and the gods. Overall, Achilles proves himself to be the opposite of a hero throughout the epic. Interference from the gods and the works of fate also play a role in Achilles claim to fame. Homer acknowledges the gods’ superior power of â€Å"Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls of heroes into Hades’ dark, and left their bodies to rot as feasts for dogs and birds, as Zeus’ will was done† (Homer 1) to begin the epic. In this quote Homer depicts Zeus in control of which soldiers die and sending them off to Hades. Homer confirms that the fate of the warriors is out of their hands, and it ultimately decided by the gods. Although the citizens have control over their actions, the gods use their power to sway the actions of them, and keep them on course with what they want to happen. The gods and goddesses even go as far as to wage and trade the lives of their beloved people in order to keep their desired fate in motion. Virgil portrays Aeneas as theShow MoreRelatedMovie, Troy, By Wolfgang Petersen1273 Words   |  6 PagesTroy, by Wolfgang Petersen, the story, although interesting, fails to correctly follow the plot of Homer’s The Iliad in multiple instances. From the overall timeline of the story to the main focus and character development, much creative license was taken in the production. While the movie is certainly fantastic, many differences exist between its main focus and that of The Iliad. The Iliad opens with the Achaeans approaching the Trojan shore. Speaking to Agamemnon from across the water is a priestRead MoreEssay on A Review of the Movie Troy808 Words   |  4 Pagesoffice hit. Troy, based on the Iliad, has proven to be a very loose adaptation of Homers classic and one cannot help noticing the major differences between the book and the movie. One of the most noticeable differences between the book and the movie is the absence of the Gods. In Homers Iliad, the Gods played a major part in the Trojan War. Though the viewers are made aware that the characters believe in the Gods, the only God we see in the movie is Thetis, Achilles mother. The omission of theRead MoreSimilarities Between The And The Epic Of The Iliad1570 Words   |  7 Pagesof years that the epic story the Iliad has survived, which is credited to the famous Greek poet, Homer. In the 2004 film Troy, directed by Wolfgang Peterson, the plot resembles and is based from the epic poem, the Iliad. When the movie Troy was released, there was criticism on how even though the movie was based off of the Iliad, there were numerous differences from the Iliad itself. Even with its differences, the movie, Troy, does have many similarities to the Iliad. Even though there are numerousRead MoreFamily Dynamics in Homers Iliad969 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationships bet ween parents and their sons in the Iliad are not relationships we expect to see in today’s society. The Iliad portrays the relationships between fathers and sons as something more than just physical and emotional. It is based on pride and respect for one another. The expectations of their son are more so to pass on their fathers reputable name and to follow in their father’s footsteps of being noble warriors. These relationships are the driving forces in the Iliad, making eachRead MoreThe Epic Of The Iliad943 Words   |  4 Pages The Iliad tells the story of the battles between the Achaeans and the Trojans, and the events happening during the weeks of arguing between King Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, and Achilles, Greece’s greatest warrior. These events play the role of a playground for the gods, as they often intervene and usually change the outcome of certain events. In regard to Homer, Longinus claims that he feels â€Å"indeed that in rec ording as he does the wounding of the gods, their quarrels, vengeanceRead MoreThe Epic War By Homer915 Words   |  4 PagesThe Iliad may be seen as an account of circumstances that really change the life of one man, Achilles, one of the greatest Achaeans warriors. The loyal war hero is the main character in the Iliad. It is his storyline that creates the essence of the epic war written by Homer. When the poem is first read it seems as though the main theme is about the dominance, gruesomeness, horror, and plain destruction of Troy, however this is not the main focus. We see Achilles transform from youth to adulthoodRead MoreRelationships Between the Gods and Mortals in Homers Iliad638 Words   |  3 PagesQ1.Describe the relationships between the gods and mortals in The Iliad .What are the Greek gods like? The Greek gods are highly partisan beings in the Iliad. The Greek gods side with different armies there is no side that is more moral or favored by the gods than the other. The Trojan War itself was largely begun because of a rivalry between Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. The gods also favor certain mortals Athena prefers Odysseus, for example, while Aphrodite adores Paris. This favoring is notRead MoreHonor And Glory By Homer1574 Words   |  7 Pagestakes the lives of many men. Honor and Glory are what define the hero in the epic poem, The Iliad, written by Homer. Throughout the Iliad, honor and glory is the motivation behind the characters, there are different ways to obtain honor and glory, and the different views of honor throughout the epic poem. The idea of honor and glory are essential to understanding the motivation behind the characters in the Iliad. Glory was gained by the heroic actions and deeds. The best opportunity to gain honor wasRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad And The Odysseys1428 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom Homer’s The Iliad and The Odysseys are depicted on the vases. Each vase has a story and the painters depict the moments or events in the poem in the exact way Homer describes. However, some depictions on the vases could be dramatized by the painters because the painter brought their imagination from the story of Homer. Through the Ancient Greek vases, we can get new information or background information about the Homer’s poem and we can understand the scenes better in the Iliad and the odysseysRead MoreA Comparative Analysis of Odysseus and Achilles Essay1207 Words   |  5 PagesA Comparative Analysis of Odysseus and Achilles The Trojan War was more than a series of battles between opposing forces, it was the climax of an age of heroes. The retrieval of Helen brought together many of the mythological characters of that time onto a single stage. Of the thousands of brave men who fought at Ilion, two men stood above the masses, sharing the title of hero. They were born in the line of those on Mt. Olympus, favored by the gods. Excelling in courage and skill, adored by those

Sue Sylvester Would Hate Me free essay sample

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. At my school, Wednesdays and Thursdays are â€Å"block days† where classes last for eighty minutes instead of the usual forty. On Wednesdays, my last class of the day is A Cappella singing.Or, as we fondly call it, â€Å"Blockappella.† It is the best time of the weekeighty minutes of singing. Admittedly, I am a music nerd so singing for that long is my idea of the perfect class. Fortunately for me, there are many students at Field who feel the same way. A typical â€Å"Blockappella† Wednesday begins with me walking up the stairs next to our classroom, where I can usually hear the muffled voices of my classmates harmonizing on â€Å"Proud Mary,† by Tina Turner. The thought of teenagers willingly singing and harmonizing on a diva tune from the 70s might be baffling for those who don’t watch Glee, but if you spent a day with the Field School Tempo Tantrums then you would certainly understand. We will write a custom essay sample on Sue Sylvester Would Hate Me or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We all share the same bond of having a genuine passion for music and singing. However, my passion for music was not born in A Cappella class. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved music and singing. The walls and shelves of my room are covered with musical artifacts and memories, including the Abbey Road Beatles poster, some real vinyl records, and programs from Broadway shows. I have also been playing piano since I was six and I have been taking voice lessons for four years. While I cannot say that singing came naturally to me at first, I have worked hard to get to where I am now. I’m proud of how my persistence has paid off. I am also lucky to have amazing teachers to help me improve my singing and who encourage my passion for music: especially our A Cappella teacher, David Buffum, fondly known as D-Buff, Buffles and Buff-Man. (Since we call our teachers by their first names at my school, this is appropriatemaybe.) David was in high school and college a cappella groups and even went on to sing in a professional group called The Vineyard Sound. His zeal for music is contagious. Over the past three years, I have learned so much from him about harmonies, chord structures, blending my voice with the rest of the group, and appreciating music as an art form. Every time David plays a video, song, or sound clip, I try to wait before I react to the sound of the piece, because David always tells us, â€Å"It is not humanly possible to truly listen to music if you are talking.† Thanks to David, each time I truly listen, I discover new things about a song that I wouldn’t noticed otherwise. Today all I discover when I hear the boys singing â€Å"Proud Mary† is that they simply cannot sing like Tina Turner, despite their best efforts. When I open the door to the classroom, I find the group of four boys singing in major thirds above one another, snapping along. Entranced by the music, only one looks over to me with a smile and waves. I sit down on the brown suede couch, the prime sitting spot, and listen to them sing. Soon, the rest of the class files in along with David. My fellow A Cappella devotees scramble to talk to him about the great barber shop quartet video they saw last night on YouTube or how ruthless Sue Sylvester was on Glee on Tuesday. David smiles and takes the time to talk to each student, carefully listening and enjoying each conversation, just as he always does. Finally, David claps his hands and announces that it is time to start. He takes out his trusty pitch fork, hears the note, gives us our pitches for one of our songs right on the spot, cou nts us in, â€Å"A-one, a-two, a-one, two, three, four,† and we begin. Eighty minutes of singing. Nothing gets better than that.